Clinical Pastoral (Hospital Chaplaincy) Education (CPE)

Program Overview

The Clinical Pastoral (Hospital Chaplaincy) Education program is a 12-month certificate course delivered as a blended learning program with online and in-person (hospital residency) components. Students require 42 credit units to complete the course program,which includes a research project and hospital practicum/internship.

Instructors and Preceptors

Course instructors will be drawn largely from ministers at Schools of Theology affiliated with the Churches of Christ within and outside Nigeria. Psychologists, counsellors, and community health educators at Nigerian Universities and Colleges will also provide teaching content. The students will be supervised and mentored during their practicum by ministers with experience in chaplaincy.

Program Implementation

• Students Recruitment and Instructional Approach: interested Christian ministers (i.e. students) will apply online via the Marjorie Bash College portal. The students will take courses online and in person at Marjorie Bash College. Instruction will include videos, texts, and simulations.
• Accreditation and Credentialing: As an accredited higher education institution, Marjorie Bash College will obtain approval for the program from the Department of Higher Education, Abia State Ministry of Education. Graduates of the program will receive a badge as Hospital Chaplain from the College, including a registration number. The program will explore opportunities for collaboration with other accreditation agencies and similar programs within and outside Nigeria.
• Participating Hospitals: as part of the training, students will be posted to collaborating hospitals. These hospitals will include public, missionary and private institutions in Abia, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States (Nigeria). Marjorie Bash College will sign a memorandum of understanding with the hospitals. It is anticipated that graduates from the program will provide periodic (e.g. weekly) chaplaincy services at these hospitals.
• Anticipated Impact and Evaluation: The Chaplaincy Program will collaborate with Abia Cancer Support Group and the Patient Navigation Program to serve cancer patients. The college will initiate a periodic evaluation of the program to determine utilization, and impact on the lives of patients, their families and the hospital staff. Chaplaincy students and other students at the college will be involved in data collection for evaluation.