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Associate of Science in Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy, Specialization in Chaplaincy and Mental Health Services

Academic unitHBIU College of ChaplaincyTotal credits60Estimated duration2 years

Program Overview

Official program overview

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

A.S. in Faith-Based Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy

Total program length

60 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Two academic years

General education

18 credit hours

Faith-Based Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy core

30 credit hours

Professional application courses

9 credit hours

Capstone requirement

3 credit hours

The Associate of Science in Faith-Based Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy provides a comprehensive foundation in behavioral sciences, ethics, and pastoral support strategies within a structured academic framework. Students engage in the rigorous study of human development, communication dynamics, and systemic social issues, while developing the competencies necessary for offering compassionate care in various organizational settings. The curriculum emphasizes the intersection of academic psychological principles and servant-leadership practices.

Throughout the program, students explore how ethical reasoning and evidence-based interpersonal techniques support the holistic well-being of individuals and communities. By integrating academic rigor with principles of stewardship and service, this degree prepares graduates to act as informed professionals who contribute meaningfully to the institutional environments they serve.

The Associate of Science in Faith-Based Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy provides a comprehensive foundational study in the discipline, integrating human development, interpersonal communication, and professional ethics. Students engage with the theoretical and practical dimensions of providing supportive services, exploring the intersection of spiritual care and mental health services. This program equips individuals with the essential knowledge of community resources and the diverse methodologies required to offer compassionate, faith-informed support within a variety of institutional and clinical settings.

Program Facts

Program facts

Degree abbreviation
A.S. in Faith-Based Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy
Total program length
60 semester credit hours
Normal completion time
Two academic years
General education
18 credit hours
Professional application courses
9 credit hours
Capstone requirement
3 credit hours
Academic unit
HBIU College of Chaplaincy
Total credits
60
Duration
2 years
Specialization / Minor
Chaplaincy and Mental Health Services

Program Description

Official program description

Learning Outcomes

Student learning outcomes

  • Analyze the principles of human psychological development and their application to social support systems.
  • Evaluate the impact of ethical reasoning and moral integrity on professional conduct in clinical and institutional settings.
  • Apply effective communication strategies to diverse populations seeking spiritual or behavioral support.
  • Design service-based interventions that reflect the values of servant leadership and stewardship.
  • Demonstrate competence in navigating the complexities of organizational culture within faith-based nonprofit frameworks.
  • Integrate a coherent worldview with clinical support practices to foster professional and spiritual maturity.
  • Course Outline
  • Semester 1 — Year 1
  • Code
  • Title
  • Credits
  • Prerequisites
  • ENG101
  • Academic Writing and Rhetoric
  • 4
  • None
  • PSY101
  • Foundations of Psychology
  • 4
  • None
  • THE101
  • Ethics and Stewardship
  • 3
  • None
  • SOC110
  • Introduction to Sociology
  • 3
  • None
  • ENG101 — Academic Writing and Rhetoric: This course focuses on the development of clear, analytical writing and research skills necessary for academic inquiry. Students analyze various rhetorical strategies to produce professional, evidence-based documents. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • PSY101 — Foundations of Psychology: Students examine the basic principles of human behavior, including cognitive, emotional, and social development. Emphasis is placed on understanding psychological frameworks in context with organizational service. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • THE101 — Ethics and Stewardship: This course explores the ethical foundations of leadership and the responsible management of organizational resources. Students engage with frameworks for making sound, character-driven decisions. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • SOC110 — Introduction to Sociology: This course investigates the structures, dynamics, and challenges of human societies and institutions. Students learn to analyze social phenomena that influence community well-being. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • Semester 2 — Year 1
  • Code
  • Title
  • Credits
  • Prerequisites
  • COM201
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • 4
  • ENG101
  • COU210
  • Foundations of Counseling
  • 4
  • PSY101
  • MIN205
  • Principles of Servant Leadership
  • 3
  • THE101
  • MAT120
  • Quantitative Reasoning for Social Sciences
  • 3
  • None
  • COM201 — Interpersonal Communication: This course addresses the mechanics and dynamics of effective communication in diverse social and professional environments. Students develop skills for active listening, conflict resolution, and empathetic engagement. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • COU210 — Foundations of Counseling: Students study introductory theories of counseling and their practical application within support-based contexts. The course highlights the importance of professional boundaries and ethical standards. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • MIN205 — Principles of Servant Leadership: This course defines the concept of servant leadership as an approach to management and service. It examines how leaders can foster growth and well-being within their organizations and communities. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • MAT120 — Quantitative Reasoning for Social Sciences: Students develop mathematical and analytical skills necessary for data interpretation and organizational assessment. The course focuses on practical applications within social service environments. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • Semester 3 — Year 2
  • Code
  • Title
  • Credits
  • Prerequisites
  • PSY220
  • Developmental Psychology
  • 4
  • PSY101
  • CHR230
  • Spiritual Formation and Character
  • 4
  • THE101
  • RES200
  • Research Methods in Social Services
  • 3
  • MAT120
  • MGT210
  • Nonprofit Management Basics
  • 3
  • None
  • PSY220 — Developmental Psychology: This course covers the lifespan of human growth from infancy through late adulthood. Students analyze how developmental stages influence individual needs within a supportive care context. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • CHR230 — Spiritual Formation and Character: This course explores the intersection of spiritual formation and personal character development. Students evaluate how internal personal maturity affects their capacity for providing compassionate care. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • RES200 — Research Methods in Social Services: Students examine the methodology of social scientific research and evidence-based practices in service environments. This course builds skills for project design and data evaluation. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • MGT210 — Nonprofit Management Basics: This course provides an overview of nonprofit organizational structures, fundraising, and mission-driven programming. Students learn to navigate the operational side of community-based organizations. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • Semester 4 — Year 2
  • Code
  • Title
  • Credits
  • Prerequisites
  • CAP299
  • Professional Capstone Project
  • 4
  • RES200, COU210
  • COU250
  • Crisis Intervention Strategies
  • 4
  • COU210
  • SOC240
  • Community Outreach and Engagement
  • 3
  • SOC110
  • HUM260
  • Worldview and Contemporary Culture
  • 3
  • CHR230
  • CAP299 — Professional Capstone Project: This culminating course requires the synthesis of all program learning through a significant applied project. Students demonstrate professional competence and ethical decision-making in a practical service context. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • COU250 — Crisis Intervention Strategies: Students learn evidence-based techniques for managing crisis situations and providing psychological first aid. The course focuses on maintaining composure and providing support in high-stress environments. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • SOC240 — Community Outreach and Engagement: This course examines strategies for effective community outreach and volunteer mobilization. Students analyze the role of social networks in enhancing communal support systems. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • HUM260 — Worldview and Contemporary Culture: Students evaluate the influence of various worldviews on contemporary societal issues and social service practices. The course encourages critical reflection on personal beliefs and their interaction with global cultural dynamics. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Admission Requirements

Admission and entry requirements

Applicants must hold a high school diploma or state-recognized equivalent (GED). Prospective students are required to submit official transcripts, a statement of purpose outlining their commitment to service-oriented work, and two academic or professional references. Admissions decisions are holistic, considering academic potential, character alignment with the institution’s mission of stewardship, and readiness for collegiate-level studies. Culminating Project The Capstone Project represents the culminating academic experience for the Associate of Science degree, requiring students to synthesize their learning through the completion of an applied professional project. The project focuses on addressing a specific community or organizational need through the lens of ethical leadership and faith-informed stewardship. Students work under faculty supervision to develop a project proposal, conduct research, and design a practical intervention or administrative analysis that demonstrates their integration of course concepts with real-world service requirements. This 4-credit requirement ensures students demonstrate academic competence, effective communication, and moral character. Deliverables include a comprehensive portfolio, a project-specific service report, and a reflective essay connecting their work to principles of spiritual formation and institutional excellence. The project verifies the student's readiness to engage in professional service while maintaining high standards of ethical integrity and servant-leadership, reflecting the core tenets of their faith-informed education.

Protected Curriculum

Complete program outline available after verification

Graduation Requirements

Graduation and completion requirements

  • Graduation requires the completion of 60 total credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. All core requirements, including the Capstone Project, must be completed with a grade of C or better. Students must also satisfy institutional requirements for spiritual formation, including consistent participation in community service opportunities and character development seminars that underscore the importance of ethical maturity in professional practice.
  • Beyond academic attainment, the institution expects graduates to demonstrate a commitment to lifelong stewardship and service. The conferral of the degree signifies that the student has not only mastered the necessary behavioral and chaplaincy-focused content but has also integrated these competencies with a sense of moral obligation to their community and professional peers.
  • Career Opportunities
  • Community Outreach Coordinator
  • Faith-Based Nonprofit Case Manager
  • Patient Support Specialist in Clinical Settings
  • Chaplaincy Program Administrator
  • Community Advocacy Representative
  • Human Services Associate
  • Mission-Focused Volunteer Manager
  • Important Notices
  • The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
  • HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
  • HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
  • Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
  • The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
  • Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
  • Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
  • This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
  • Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
  • Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
  • Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
  • Degree abbreviation | A.S. in Faith-Based Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy
  • Total program length | 60 semester credit hours
  • Normal completion time | Two academic years
  • General education | 18 credit hours
  • Faith-Based Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy core | 30 credit hours
  • Professional application courses | 9 credit hours
  • Capstone requirement | 3 credit hours
  • Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
  • ENG101 | Academic Writing and Rhetoric | 4 | None
  • PSY101 | Foundations of Psychology | 4 | None
  • THE101 | Ethics and Stewardship | 3 | None
  • SOC110 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | None
  • Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
  • COM201 | Interpersonal Communication | 4 | ENG101
  • COU210 | Foundations of Counseling | 4 | PSY101
  • MIN205 | Principles of Servant Leadership | 3 | THE101
  • MAT120 | Quantitative Reasoning for Social Sciences | 3 | None
  • Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
  • PSY220 | Developmental Psychology | 4 | PSY101
  • CHR230 | Spiritual Formation and Character | 4 | THE101
  • RES200 | Research Methods in Social Services | 3 | MAT120
  • MGT210 | Nonprofit Management Basics | 3 | None
  • Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
  • CAP299 | Professional Capstone Project | 4 | RES200, COU210
  • COU250 | Crisis Intervention Strategies | 4 | COU210
  • SOC240 | Community Outreach and Engagement | 3 | SOC110
  • HUM260 | Worldview and Contemporary Culture | 3 | CHR230

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities

Career Opportunities

  • Community Outreach Coordinator
  • Faith-Based Nonprofit Case Manager
  • Patient Support Specialist in Clinical Settings
  • Chaplaincy Program Administrator
  • Community Advocacy Representative
  • Human Services Associate
  • Mission-Focused Volunteer Manager

Additional Official Information

Additional source information

Important Notices

  • The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
  • HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
  • HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
  • Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
  • The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
  • Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
  • Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
  • This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
  • Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
  • Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
  • Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
  • Degree abbreviation | A.S. in Faith-Based Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy
  • Total program length | 60 semester credit hours
  • Normal completion time | Two academic years