Chaplaincy Program
Course Instructor
A short course for Chaplains on the Ethical and Religious Directives
Description
The NCBC Chaplaincy Program is a twelve (12) module course that introduces students to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs), published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The ERDs is an essential document for Catholic health care institutions (hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, physician’s offices, clinics, etc.) and systems in the United States. It describes how health care should be delivered in accord with the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, and it offers authoritative guidance on ethical challenges encountered in the practice of medicine.
The Program is designed primarily for chaplains and those providing spiritual care in Catholic health care institutions, but it is open to all. Its primary goal is to empower those engaged in health care ministry to effectively convey and apply the Church’s health care tradition as expressed through the ERDs within their institutions.
The National Association of Catholic Chaplains has accredited this program for six (6) continuing education credits. View certification letter.
Delivery and Assessment
Delivery
1. The Chaplaincy Program curriculum is taught by NCBC ethicists and is delivered fully online (Canvas) in an asynchronous format.
2. The Program consists of twelve (12) modules, each dedicated to particular themes or ethical challenges addressed in the Ethical and Religious Directives.
3. Each module includes required lectures (videos and/or podcasts) and readings. The readings draw from various sources including the Ethical and Religious Directives as well as from NCBC publications and authoritative Church documents. Generally, the lectures should be completed before the readings.
4. After completing each module’s required lectures and readings, students take the quiz for that module (for more information, see “Assessment” below).
5. Students are primarily responsible for their own learning. The NCBC Director of Education holds himself responsible for providing resources, information, and guidance for study, and for learning with and from students. Students should plan on 2-3 hours of work per module. The amount of time will depend on the number and length of assignments in a particular week, and how efficiently the student works through the course materials.
6. Consistent attendance (online), preparation, and completion of quizzes are required as they are crucial to meet the course outcomes. Once enrolled in the Chaplain Program, students have fifteen (15) weeks to complete it. Please note:
a. Following registration, students have one month to accept the course invitation (through email) and begin completing course assignments. If after one month students have not accepted the course invitation, they can be removed from the Program.
b. Students who do not complete the assignments within 15 weeks of accepting the course invitation may be removed from the Program (see c).
c. If a student knows that he/she will be unable to complete the Program in the allotted 15 week timeframe, it is the student’s responsibility to contact and work with the NCBC Director of Education to assure that the Program is completed in a timely manner. Requests to extend the Program past 15 weeks are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with successful progress in the Program being an important factor. All decisions concerning extensions are at the discretion of the Director of Education.
Assessment
1. Online quizzes—which consist of true/false and multiple choice questions—assess student learning. There are a total of twelve (12) quizzes in the Program, one per module, covering the assigned lectures and readings.
• Important: Quiz questions come from two places, the lecture notes and the reading review questions. Notes for video lectures and podcasts are posted on Canvas along with the lecture or podcast in question (see syllabus). Review questions for the required readings are available either at the end of the reading itself or on Canvas (the syllabus indicates where you can find them). None of the review questions need to be turned in as homework assignments, however you are strongly encouraged to complete them as they will (1) help to focus your reading and (2) act as the basis for quiz questions (just like the lecture notes).
2. The overall Program grade is determined by the scores earned on the twelve module quizzes. Quizzes are graded automatically upon submission, and scores are posted in the Canvas grade book. Cumulative grades are automatically (re)calculated at the completion of each quiz. Students can track their progress through the “Grades” function on Canvas.
3. Students need to earn a cumulative quiz average of 70% or above to pass the Chaplain Program.
CHAPLAINCY STUDENT BENEFIT
After completing the 12-module chaplaincy program, you will be eligible to register for our full Certification Program at the discounted membership rate if you register within one year of completion. Contact Julie Kelley for more information.