Path to Chaplaincy

Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies

Welcome

The Path to Chaplaincy offers a unique interdisciplinary pathway for students seeking advanced training in Jewish Studies, spiritual care, and professional chaplaincy.

Program Goals

The Path to Chaplaincy prepares students to become compassionate, knowledgeable spiritual caregivers through a unique partnership between �鶹�� and Gratz College. Students begin at �鶹��’s Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, earning a master’s degree in Jewish Studies while completing additional coursework that fulfills key academic requirements for chaplaincy. Through study at Revel and select courses at YU’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, and the RIETS Graduate Program in Bioethics & Jewish Law, students gain a strong foundation in Jewish learning alongside interdisciplinary professional training.
Students then continue at Gratz College, where they complete Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and advanced coursework in Jewish spiritual care, preparing them to serve in healthcare, military, correctional, campus, and community settings. Open to both men and women, the program provides a pathway to becoming a Board Certified Chaplain without requiring rabbinic ordination. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply for Board Certification, the gold standard in professional chaplaincy.

Professional Certification

The program is designed to fulfill the requirements for board certification through , the professional certifying body for Jewish chaplaincy. Guidance is also provided for students pursuing certification through alternative chaplaincy organizations.

Program Structure

The Path to Chaplaincy is a 72-credit program anchored by �鶹��'s Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies and completed in partnership with Gratz College.

�鶹�� (39 credits)

Students complete 39 credits at �鶹��.
At least 30 credits must be completed at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, leading to the award of a Master of Arts in Jewish Studies.
The remaining �鶹�� credits may be completed at Revel, the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, or the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology.

The 39 �鶹�� credits break down into two parts: a 30-credit MA in Jewish Studies and 9 additional credits, detailed below.

Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies — MA in Jewish Studies (30 of the 39 credits)

9 credits of introductory (5000-level) coursework drawn from at least two of the following fields: Bible, Medieval Jewish History, Modern Jewish History, Jewish Philosophy, and Talmud & Ancient Judaism. Students without prior Hebrew knowledge must take BIB 5201 – Beginner's Biblical Hebrew I as three of these 9 introductory credits.
15 credits of advanced coursework (6000 level and above).
3 credits of electives, which may be taken at either the 5000 or 6000 level.
3 credits of medical ethics, fulfilled by HAL 6301 Bioethics & Jewish Law I (more information is available here.)

Additional Credits at Wurzweiler, Ferkauf, and Revel (9 of the 39 credits)

Human Development (3 credits)
- SWK 6100 – Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Group Dynamics / Organizational Behavior (3 credits) — choose one course from the menu below:
- Wurzweiler School of Social Work
  - SWK 5005 – Counseling Individuals and Families Facing Aging and Serious Illness
  - SWK 5132 – Psychosocial/Spiritual Approaches to Aging and Serious Illness
- Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology
  - PSM 6120 – Basic Principles of Counseling
  - PSM 6193 – Counseling Skills Development
Diversity (3 credits) — choose one course from the menu below:
- Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies
  - JHI 6654 – Topics in Modern Jewish History
  - JST 6001 – Seminar in Jewish Studies
  - JHI 6652 – The Jewish-Christian Debate in the Middle Ages
  - JHI 6221 – Hebraism & Hellenism: Greco-Roman Culture & the Rabbis
  - JHI 6237 – Topics in Jewish History
  - JHI 6240 – Topics in Jewish History
- Wurzweiler School of Social Work
  - SWK 5645 – Cultural Diversity and Social Work Practice
  - SWK 6135 – Interfaith Perspectives on Aging

Gratz College (33 credits)

Students earn an Advanced Certificate in Chaplaincy from Gratz College, comprising required coursework and Clinical Pastoral Education.

Required coursework (12 credits) — four courses, each 3 credits:
Spiritual Care A — "A Part Of and Apart From": Jewish Chaplaincy in a Multifaith and Interdisciplinary Context
Spiritual Care B — "The Wounded Healer": The Role of the Chaplain in Mental Health, Crisis, and Trauma-Informed Care
"How We Die": Jewish Pastoral Methods in Palliative, Hospice, and Bereavement Care
"Prophet, Priest, or Person?": The Unique Leadership and Clinical Interventions of Spiritual Care Providers
Clinical Pastoral Education (21 credits)
The remaining 21 credits are derived from four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), or one unit of CPE and a residency.

For additional details about coursework at Gratz, visit the

Prior Learning and Competency Review

Upon acceptance into the program, students will be evaluated by the Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains Certification Commission to determine whether prior academic study, professional experience, and other relevant personal or life experiences satisfy certain chaplaincy certification competencies. Such determinations may reduce the number of credits required for NAJC chaplaincy certification.

Full Program Breakdown

Program Goals

Professional Certification

Program Structure

The Path to Chaplaincy is a 72-credit program anchored by �鶹��'s Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies and completed in partnership with Gratz College.

�鶹�� (39 credits)

Students complete 39 credits at �鶹��.
At least 30 credits must be completed at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, leading to the award of a Master of Arts in Jewish Studies.
The remaining �鶹�� credits may be completed at Revel, the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, or the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology.

The 39 �鶹�� credits break down into two parts: a 30-credit MA in Jewish Studies and 9 additional credits, detailed below.

Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies — MA in Jewish Studies (30 of the 39 credits)

9 credits of introductory (5000-level) coursework drawn from at least two of the following fields: Bible, Medieval Jewish History, Modern Jewish History, Jewish Philosophy, and Talmud & Ancient Judaism. Students without prior Hebrew knowledge must take BIB 5201 – Beginner's Biblical Hebrew I as three of these 9 introductory credits.
15 credits of advanced coursework (6000 level and above).
3 credits of electives, which may be taken at either the 5000 or 6000 level.
3 credits of medical ethics, fulfilled by HAL 6301 Bioethics & Jewish Law I (more information is available here.)

Additional Credits at Wurzweiler, Ferkauf, and Revel (9 of the 39 credits)

Human Development (3 credits)
- SWK 6100 – Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Group Dynamics / Organizational Behavior (3 credits) — choose one course from the menu below:
- Wurzweiler School of Social Work
  - SWK 5005 – Counseling Individuals and Families Facing Aging and Serious Illness
  - SWK 5132 – Psychosocial/Spiritual Approaches to Aging and Serious Illness
- Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology
  - PSM 6120 – Basic Principles of Counseling
  - PSM 6193 – Counseling Skills Development
Diversity (3 credits) — choose one course from the menu below:
- Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies
  - JHI 6654 – Topics in Modern Jewish History
  - JST 6001 – Seminar in Jewish Studies
  - JHI 6652 – The Jewish-Christian Debate in the Middle Ages
  - JHI 6221 – Hebraism & Hellenism: Greco-Roman Culture & the Rabbis
  - JHI 6237 – Topics in Jewish History
  - JHI 6240 – Topics in Jewish History
- Wurzweiler School of Social Work
  - SWK 5645 – Cultural Diversity and Social Work Practice
  - SWK 6135 – Interfaith Perspectives on Aging

Gratz College (33 credits)

Students earn an Advanced Certificate in Chaplaincy from Gratz College, comprising required coursework and Clinical Pastoral Education.

Required coursework (12 credits) — four courses, each 3 credits:
Spiritual Care A — "A Part Of and Apart From": Jewish Chaplaincy in a Multifaith and Interdisciplinary Context
Spiritual Care B — "The Wounded Healer": The Role of the Chaplain in Mental Health, Crisis, and Trauma-Informed Care
"How We Die": Jewish Pastoral Methods in Palliative, Hospice, and Bereavement Care
"Prophet, Priest, or Person?": The Unique Leadership and Clinical Interventions of Spiritual Care Providers
Clinical Pastoral Education (21 credits)
The remaining 21 credits are derived from four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), or one unit of CPE and a residency.

For additional details about coursework at Gratz, visit the

Prior Learning and Competency Review

Program Highlights

World-Class Faculty
Study with leading scholars at �鶹��’s Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, alongside experienced practitioners in social work, psychology, and Jewish spiritual care.

Flexible Online Learning
All academic coursework at �鶹�� and Gratz College is offered fully online, allowing students to balance their studies with professional and personal commitments. (Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is completed in person at approved sites.)

Full-Time or Part-Time Study
The program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis, offering flexibility for working professionals and students at different stages of their careers.

Generous Scholarship Support
Qualified students are eligible for scholarships covering up to two-thirds of tuition for coursework taken through the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. Tuition for courses taken through Wurzweiler, Ferkauf, or Gratz is set separately by those schools and is not included in this scholarship program.

Prospective Students
Request More Information

For more information, contact:
Jonathan V. Dauber：dauber@yu.edu
Director of External Programming

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a recognized college or university and have a grade point average of at least B (3.0).

Application Process:

Applicants must submit applications to both the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies and Gratz College. The Gratz College application is available , and the Revel application is available . The Gratz College application fee will be waived for applicants to this program. Please contact Audrey Wu, Director of Programming, at audrey.wu@yu.edu for a waiver code. In the personal statement submitted with the Gratz application, applicants should indicate that they are applying to the joint Revel–Gratz program

The Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies is located at:
�鶹��
Wilf Campus, Furst Hall Third Floor
500 West 185th Street
New York, NY 10033.

We are easily accessible by car or public transportation.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions about admissions, administrative information, philanthropic opportunities or any other relevant concern.

Our mailing address:
Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies
Harry Fischel School for Higher Jewish Studies
500 West 185th Street, Furst Hall Third Floor
New York, NY 10033

Telephone: 646-592-4270
Fax: 212-960-0856

* = required field

Prospective Students

For more information, contact:
Jonathan V. Dauber：dauber@yu.edu
Director of External Programming

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a recognized college or university and have a grade point average of at least B (3.0).

Application Process:

Request More Information

* = required field