Master of Divinity

in Chaplain Ministry

(MDivCh)

Go where others don’t! That is what chaplains do. If God has called you to reach people beyond church, in places most ministers are not prepared or trained to go, then the MDiv in Chaplain Ministry at B. H. Carroll may be for you. The work of chaplains can be highly complex and very different from parish ministry. We will help you develop a strong educational foundation to minister effectively as a chaplain in specialized settings of healthcare, military, corrections, corporate/workplace, public safety, and community/lifestyle. 

See Admission Requirements.

Program Description

The Master of Divinity in Chaplain Ministry degree prepares persons for ordained ministry and for general pastoral and religious leadership responsibilities in institutional, congregational, and public settings. It is designed to prepare persons for ministry in pluralistic environments such as:

  • institutions associated with the military, health care, correctional facilities, and corporate or industrial settings;
  • disaster scenes and other catastrophic events requiring crisis intervention and spiritual leadership;
  • locations identified with transitory populations such as airports, seaports, recreational venues, and national parks;
  • and special interest groups such as civic clubs, sports teams, truckers and bikers.

All the classes required for the MDiv program are offered Online.

Program Goals

The central goals (adapted from ATS standard 4.3) of the Carroll M.Div. in Chaplain Ministry degree, as an advanced professional program oriented toward preparing persons for ministry in pluralistic environments, include the following:

Goal 1: Master of Divinity in Chaplain Ministry degree recipients will give evidence of a thorough and discerning knowledge of their own religious beliefs and practices in the context of the broader Christian heritage.

Goal 2: Master of Divinity in Chaplain Ministry degree recipients will give evidence of an understanding of institutional realities within which they minister.

Goal 3: Master of Divinity in Chaplain Ministry degree recipients will give evidence of personal growth in faith, emotional maturity, moral integrity, and public witness. They will also give evidence of development in the following capacities requisite to a life of pastoral and institutional leadership: intellectual growth and affective behavior; individual identity and corporate cooperation; and ecclesial and public leadership.

Goal 4: Master of Divinity in Chaplain Ministry degree recipients will give evidence of personal theological reflection on the practice of ministry and demonstrate leadership in public, institutional, and ecclesial settings.

Goal 5: Master of Divinity in Chaplain Ministry degree recipients will give evidence of the ability to minister in pluralistic, institutional settings.

Goal 6: Master of Divinity in Chaplain Ministry degree recipients will give evidence of being able to minister in high intensity settings.

These core goals are achieved uniquely at B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary through specific learner-centered competencies that have their bases in four theologically-oriented Learning Clusters of Carroll’s foundational curriculum.

MDiv in Chaplain Ministry

Total Units Required: 74
Course Completion Guide

This degree includes 2 courses in Basic Skills in New Testament Greek and Old Testament Hebrew (4 total credit hours), designed for students interested in enhancing their capacity for study and interpretation of the biblical texts by learning basic grammatical forms and functions of Biblical New Testament Greek and Old Testament Hebrew, and the use of helpful lexical and exegetical tools for translating biblical texts.

Courses

Course TitleCourse NumberCredits
CORE COURSES - 34 Hours
1 GatewayBHCTI—50002
Old Testament (Choose 2 of 3)SWBLI—5111, 5112, 51134
New Testament (Choose 2 of 3)SWBLI—5211, 5212, 52134
Biblical InterpretationSWBIT—51112
Christian Theology (Choose 2 of 3)FHBTH—5111, 5112, 51134
Christian Heritage (Choose 2 of 3)FHCHS—5111, 5112, 51134
Baptist HeritageFHCHS—52112
Principles of TeachingMFFND—51152
Administration of Church FamilyMFADM—51122
Leadership in MinistryMFLDS—51112
Christian DisciplinesWMWOR—52112
Christian WorshipWMWOR—51112
Christian WitnessWMEVA—51112
ADDITIONAL STUDIES - 30 Hours
Biblical Languages ISWBLA—53112
Biblical Languages IISWBLA—53122
Biblical BackgroundsSWBIT —52112
Biblical Preaching ISWBPR—51112
Biblical Preaching IISWBPR—51122
Philosophy of ReligionFHPHI—51112
Christian EthicsFHETH—51112
ApologeticsFHPHI—52112
Chaplain MinistryMFPMN—56112
Religious LandscapeFHPHI—52132
Liturgy and CeremonyWMWOR—56112
Pastoral CareMFPMN—51112
Counseling Methods and TechniquesMFPSY—56212
Pastoral Care of Persons in Crisis and GriefMFPMN—52112
Conflict Resolution MinistryMFPMN—52212
ELECTIVES - 6 Hours
(Any Course)2
(Any Course)2
(Any Course)2
PRAXIS - 4 Hours
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)MFPMN—51164
Crisis Ministry CertificationMFPMN—56310
Capstone ExaminationBHCTI—52110
Total Units:74

1  Gateway is required in the first term.

MDiv in Chaplain Ministry with Biblical Languages

Total Units Required: 76
Course Completion Guide

This degree includes 3 courses in New Testament Greek and 3 courses in Old Testament Hebrew (12 total credit hours) designed for students interested in enhancing their capacity for study and interpretation of the biblical texts by acquiring the language knowledge to learn to read the New and Old Testaments in their original languages.

Courses

Course TitleCourse NumberCredits
CORE COURSES - 34 Hours
1 GatewayBHCTI—50002
Old Testament (Choose 2 of 3)SWBLI—5111, 5112, 51134
New Testament (Choose 2 of 3)SWBLI—5211, 5212, 52134
Biblical InterpretationSWBIT—51112
Christian Theology (Choose 2 of 3)FHBTH—5111, 5112, 51134
Christian Heritage (Choose 2 of 3)FHCHS—5111, 5112, 51134
Baptist HeritageFHCHS—52112
Principles of TeachingMFFND—51152
Administration of Church FamilyMFADM—51122
Leadership in MinistryMFLDS—51112
Christian DisciplinesWMWOR—52112
Christian WorshipWMWOR—51112
Christian WitnessWMEVA—51112
ADDITIONAL STUDIES - 42 Hours
Old Testament Hebrew ISWBLA—51112
Old Testament Hebrew IISWBLA—51122
Old Testament Hebrew IIISWBLA—51132
2 Elementary Greek ISWBLA—42110
2 Elementary Greek IISWBLA—42120
New Testament Greek ISWBLA—52112
New Testament Greek IISWBLA—52122
New Testament Greek IIISWBLA—52132
Biblical BackgroundsSWBIT —52112
Biblical Preaching ISWBPR—51112
Biblical Preaching IISWBPR—51122
Philosophy of ReligionFHPHI—51112
Christian EthicsFHETH—51112
ApologeticsFHPHI—52112
Chaplain MinistryMFPMN—56112
Religious LandscapeFHPHI—52132
Liturgy and CeremonyWMWOR—56112
Pastoral CareMFPMN—51112
Pastoral Care with Persons in crisis and griefMFPMN—52112
Conflict Resolution MinistryMFPMN—52212
Counseling Methods and TechniquesMFPSY—56212
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)MFPMN—51164
Crisis Ministry CertificationMFPMN—56310
CapstoneBHCTI—52110
Total Units:76

1  Gateway is required in the first term.
2 Elementary Greek I & II must be taken as a prerequisite to New Testament Greek. These units of Elementary Greek may be transferred in if taken previously.

Units Required - Non-Biblical Languages Track

Units Required - Biblical Languages Track

Avg Years

Cost per Unit

Dr. Jim Browning, DMin

Dr. Jim Browning, DMin

Jim Browning, with over 30 years experience as an active duty military chaplain, is the Director of the Marsh Center for Chaplain Studies since 2020. He earned his Doctor in Ministry and Master of Divinity degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX.

Phone: (210) 417-6040

Email: jbrowning@bhcarroll.edu

Interested in the Master of Divinity in Chaplain Ministry program?

I readily benefitted at Carroll from the steadfast commitment to the Word of God, professors who love the Lord, and classmates walking this road into ministry alongside me.

The demand for highly trained chaplains of all types is significantly increasing. By bringing together B.H. Carroll’s educational excellence and the Marsh Center for Chaplain Studies vocational experience, students are achieving a deeper understanding of the opportunities awaiting them in chaplaincy ministry. Preparation is the key. Through the collaborative synergy between the Marsh Center and B.H. Carroll, students achieve an education that is relevant, focused, and applicable.