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ATLANTA — Georgia State University is the first public university in the country to offer a pathway for graduate students interested in becoming certified chaplains.
This new graduate certificate program grows from a partnership between Georgia State’s Department of Religious Studies and the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC). APC is the professional association that board certifies chaplains in military, hospital, prison and other specialized settings in the United States. The association serves more than 5,000 chaplains who are involved in chaplaincy care of all persons, respecting their diverse cultures, identities, abilities and beliefs.
A chaplain is someone who provides spiritual care for people in settings like hospitals, universities or the military. Chaplains can provide spiritual care from the beginning of someone’s life to the end. Unlike a pastor or priest, chaplains work in settings and situations where their care can benefit people from a variety of religious or spiritual backgrounds.
Molly Bassett, chair of Religious Studies at Georgia State, said this new program will open doors for students who want to become a chaplain.
“We felt it was important to launch this program with APC because the association takes a multifaith approach to their certification process and actively promotes the profession of chaplaincy to people from many walks of life,” Bassett said. “By opting into careers in spiritual care, these professionals will be able to meet the wide-ranging needs of people in hospitals, hospices, military service, sports programs and university campuses. Georgia State is home to one of the most diverse student bodies in the country, and our location in Atlanta positions us to enroll people of diverse spiritual and religious backgrounds.”
Prior to 2022, APC required students to have a graduate degree in theology, philosophy or psychology. Now, APC will accept applications from students who complete a master’s degree in religious studies combined with the additional credit hours to become either an associate or board-certified chaplain.
There are a couple of ways to take advantage of the chaplaincy program at Georgia State. Students who enroll in the religious studies master’s program can stay for a third year to complete the chaplaincy graduate certificate program. Students who complete a religious studies master’s program at another institution can enroll at Georgia State for the one-year graduate certificate program.
Regarding the Pathway to Chaplaincy program, the Association of Professional Chaplains Board of Directors and a working taskforce dedicated to this project affirm, “APC continues to explore ways to build strong strategic alliances with groups and institutions that represent, train and employ professional chaplains. Georgia State was especially excited to partner with us to build chaplaincy pathways for their students. We were delighted to collaborate and look forward to seeing the candidates that matriculate through the program as chaplains and future board-certified colleagues.”
While the chaplaincy program is new for the university, some religious studies alumni have already headed in this direction.
Catherine Moore (B.A. '16, M.A. '20), who graduated from Georgia State with both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in religious studies, is currently working toward her Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Practical Theology (focusing on pastoral care) at Columbia Theological Seminary. She is also a resident chaplain at Northside Atlanta Hospital and launched her own spiritual care business.
Moore said she loved the education she received at Georgia State and is excited to see her alma mater starting a program for chaplaincy.
“The longer I’ve been doing chaplaincy work, the more it is clear to me that there is a need for highly educated and skilled people who are well informed about different social contexts and different religious contexts that come into it with a research-centered mind as well as a mind and heart of compassion,” Moore said.
Suzanne Degnats (M.A. '13) received her master’s degree in religious studies in 2013 after returning to college to study something she was passionate about. Degnats decided to pursue clinical pastoral education after graduating from Georgia State and became a chaplain. She now serves as a chaplain at Emory Decatur Hospital, Emory Long-Term Acute Care and Emory Hillandale Hospital.
Like Moore, Degnats is enthusiastic about Georgia State offering a chaplaincy program.
“The world needs more chaplains. And more people of a variety of faiths and belief systems. Bringing this training to a secular university will help expand the field and get a lot of people involved who previously could not become a chaplain because they are not ordained,” said Degnats.
The application window for the graduate certificate in chaplaincy studies is now open.
Students who are currently enrolled in either Georgia State’s religious studies master’s program or a similar master’s program at another institution can find more information here.
A full overview of the three-year graduate pathway to chaplaincy is available here.
The application deadline for the fall 2025 semester will remain open through Feb. 15, 2025. Rolling applications will be accepted for the 12 credit-hour certificate program.