The Diploma in Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Research Literacy is designed to equip chaplains, spiritual care providers and pastoral care educators who work in research-driven environments with the tools they need to work alongside interdisciplinary colleagues to develop practices informed by scientific inquiry, and design and implement their own evidence-based research. D.C.S.C.R.L. students will study alongside colleagues in the Doctor of Ministry program, in the Chaplaincy/Spiritual care concentration, in a professional learning community that is multi-faith, culturally competent, spiritually grounded, and pedagogically innovative.
The curriculum is designed to foster interest and curiosity in professional chaplains about their own and others’ provision of spiritual and religious care that give rise to research inquiry and critical thinking. Students will develop and master rigorous data collection methodologies appropriate for their ministry setting.
San Francisco Theological Seminary has designed this program so that it may be considered by participants for use as continuing education to enhance the professional knowledge and pastoral competency of chaplains certified through the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc.® an affiliate of the Association of Professional Chaplains®.
Requirements
The Diploma in Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Research Literacy requires 18 units. Students take three required courses, one elective, and six units fulfilled through a field research project.
Hybrid Courses
Courses in the Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Research Literacy concentration will be taught in a hybrid format that includes both an online component and a 2-3 day meeting on campus.
Required Courses (9 units)
The three required courses provide a framework for evaluating existing research, understanding methods of data collection, quality, and usage that might be used within various chaplaincy contexts, and theological reflection on the history and politics of research. They are:
• Action Research and Evidence-Based Research Methods
• Quantitative vs Qualitative Research Methods
• The Politics of Research: Ethical, Epistemological, and Ontological Issues
Elective Seminar (3 units)
Students will take 1 elective seminar, selecting from seminars offered in the Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care concentration and other program options within the D.Min. program, based on their particular professional needs and research interests.
Field Research Project (6 units)
It is envisioned that most students will design a field research project through the work in the required core courses, that includes gathering data on a student-defined research question and presenting the results in a final paper.
Course Descriptions
Action Research and Evidence-Based Research Methods
The first of three core courses in the Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Research Literacy concentration, this course provides a framework for evaluating existing research, understanding methods of data collection, quality, and usage that might be used within various chaplaincy contexts.
Prerequisite: at least one of the following -- 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education, Board Certified Chaplain, or eligible for certification.
Quantitative vs Qualitative Research Methods
The second of three core courses in the Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care Research Literacy concentration, this course provides a framework for evaluating existing research, understanding methods of data collection, quality, and usage that might be used within various chaplaincy contexts.
Prerequisites: at least one of the following -- 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education, Board Certified Chaplain, or eligible for certification; and Action Research Methods course #1 (above)
The Politics of Research: Ethical, Epistemological, and Ontological Issues
The third of three core courses in the Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care Research Literacy concentration, this course provides a framework for evaluating and working with evidence-based research in various chaplaincy contexts through theological reflection on the history and politics of research.
Prerequisites: at least one of the following -- 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education, Board Certified Chaplain, or eligible for certification; and Action Research Methods courses #1 and 2 (above)
For additional information regarding the D.C.S.C.R.L., please visit the web page https://sfts.edu/academics/diploma-in-chaplaincy-spiritual-care-research-literacy/
