Spirituality & Aging Certificate

Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Care for the Second Half of Life

Next Course begins the week of July 12, 2013

(for Graduate, Credit, and or Audit)

To Apply, Please Click Here

(Code for program on online application form can be found on the drop-down:

Graduate/Certificate/PastoralCareSecHalfL)

With its foundation in the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person, the Pastoral Care for the Second Half of Life Certificate Program is designed to provide students with foundational knowledge and skills rooted in a multidisciplinary model of care for the maturing adult.  It is designed to offer tools for the integration of the whole person- body, mind, and spirit.  Students will acquire effective strategies to support an enhanced quality of life and spiritual well-being.  Components of this integrated approach will include examining quality of life issues, the importance of personal meaning, sense of purpose, issues of reconciliation, forgiveness, healthy lifestyle and self-transcendence.  Students completing the program will have the knowledge and skills to create meaningful and integrated lives for themselves and others. 

Students completing the program will be able to:

• apply an understanding of the aging process that is integrative and multidisciplinary when working with adults in a variety of settings such as health care and pastoral care settings.
• evaluate the psychosocial and spiritual needs of older adults.
• assist older adults to develop effective means to meet their psychosocial and spiritual needs using tools such as a spiritual autobiography, meditation, art, music or prayer.
• assess how effective these interventions are in helping the older adult achieve personal meaning and quality of life.

Required Courses:  18 credits

Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Care for the Second Half of Life

 PC 600: the Mind-Body-Spirit Connection in Aging (3)

This course examines the journey of the maturing adult in the second half of life, along with its inherent gifts and challenges.  Greater self-awareness, self-actualization and wisdom are some of the benefits of advancing age that will be celebrated.  The common illnesses associated with later adulthood and the effects of biological aging will also be explored through the lens of a theological understanding of health and suffering, and interventions which help physically challenged adults to find solace and meaning in their situation will be introduced.

PC 610: Psychosocial and Spiritual Development in Later Adulthood (3)

This course provides a theoretical basis for understanding the aging process through the study of developmental models from a psychosocial and spiritual perspective.  Special attention will be given to the impact of life changes on identity, spirituality, and quality of life during adult development.

PC 620: Ethical and Theological Issues in Aging (3)

This course encourages students to critically reflect on the theological concepts that Christian, other religious traditions, and humanistic approaches bring to a consideration of aging.  Ethical issues associated with aging in contemporary life will be examined in light of spiritual and theological perspectives.

PC 630: Spiritual Care of Maturing Adults (3)

This course builds on the theoretical and conceptual content of PS 610.  Using that knowledge as a foundation, the course will explore ways that pastoral and spiritual care an help older adults enhance their quality of life and well-being across the health-illness continuum. Students will be prepared to work effectively in a variety of settings and within the multicultural/multifaith dimensions of aging.  Pre-requisite: PC 610.

PC 640: Techniques in Pastoral Care of the Maturing Adult (3)

This course introduces students to a variety of techniques and tools which health care professionals, pastoral care workers, and clergy have found to be effective in enhancing the quality of life and in healing the maturing adult.  Techniques may include meditation/prayer, spiritual journaling/autobiography, forgiveness reflections and rituals, music and art as therapeutic practices, healing touch, and the practice of gratitude and appreciation of the sacredness of life.  Pre-requisites: PC 600, PC 610, PC 620, and PC 630 or permission of Certificate Coordinator.

PC 650: Internship (3)

The internship experience is designed to enable students to gain experience working with older adults in health and pastoral care settings.  Students will work with a faculty supervisor to determine the site, the goals, and the scope of the internship.  The student will complete a structured reflection on this experience at the culmination of the internship.  One hundred hours of internship work is required for this course.  Pre-requisites: PC 600, PC 610, PC 620, PC 630, and PC 640.