Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy (DCCP)

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ed.D. in Faith-Based Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy

Total program length

105 semester credit hours

Maximum approved transfer credit

Up to 40 semester credit hours

Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer

80 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Three to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, academic progress, and completion of the doctoral project

Advanced faith-based clinical chaplaincy psychotherapy and specialization courses

30 credit hours

Leadership, administration, and professional practice

21 credit hours

Research methods and program evaluation

18 credit hours

Professional application and doctoral residency

15 credit hours

Advanced electives or concentration courses

12 credit hours

Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy

6 credit hours

Applied doctoral project and defense

18 credit hours

Total

105 semester credit hours

The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy (DCCP) is a rigorous four-year, 105-credit program comprising 35 courses designed to cultivate scholarly practitioners who integrate advanced clinical psychotherapy with a robust Christian worldview. Grounded in the principles of servant leadership and spiritual formation, the curriculum explores the convergence of psychological theory and biblical theology to address the complexities of the human condition. Students are challenged to synthesize evidence-based therapeutic techniques with the pastoral mandate of healing, ensuring that all interventions are guided by ethical reasoning and a commitment to the sanctity of life. By fostering a deep theological reflection alongside clinical expertise, the program equips graduates to serve as restorative agents within diverse healthcare and ministerial landscapes, championing holistic well-being through the lens of divine grace and empathetic engagement.

The Doctor of Education in Faith-Based Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy is an applied professional doctorate emphasizing advanced faith-based clinical chaplaincy psychotherapy knowledge, organizational leadership, ethical stewardship, program development, community-care systems, higher-education instruction, and evidence-informed professional practice.

Students may receive up to 40 semester credit hours of approved graduate or doctoral transfer credit. Accepted transfer credits are applied toward the 105-credit graduation requirement and may reduce the number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. A student receiving the maximum transfer-credit award must complete at least 80 semester credit hours through the University.

The applied doctoral project must address a documented faith-based clinical chaplaincy psychotherapy-support, educational, organizational, or community-care need. The project must include scholarly research, an implementation model, measurable outcomes, ethical safeguards, an evaluation plan, and a successful oral defense.

DOCTORAL TRANSFER-CREDIT POLICY: The Doctor of Education and Doctor of Philosophy programs each require 120 semester credit hours. Students may transfer up to 40 semester credit hours of eligible graduate or doctoral coursework toward either degree. Transfer credit is not automatically awarded. Each request is evaluated individually according to: The academic level of the previous coursework; The relevance of the coursework to the doctoral curriculum; Course content and learning outcomes; Credit-hour equivalency; Grades earned; The age of the coursework; Official institutional documentation; The University's residency and transfer-credit policies. Accepted transfer credit may reduce the number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. Students awarded the maximum 40 transfer credits will have 80 semester credit hours remaining in the 120-credit doctoral program. Comprehensive examinations, doctoral candidacy, doctoral residency, the applied doctoral project, dissertation research, and the final oral defense must ordinarily be completed through the University. These requirements may not be satisfied through transfer credit unless expressly permitted under a published University policy.

Program Details

• Total Credits: 105
• Duration: 3 years
• Degree Level: Doctorate

Dissertation Requirement

• The DCCP capstone is a culminating doctoral dissertation that requires students to demonstrate excellence in research, clinical application, and theological integration. Reflecting the core value of biblical stewardship, students must produce a scholarly project that addresses a significant challenge in clinical chaplaincy or psychotherapy, utilizing rigorous research methodology to contribute to the field. This requirement demands that candidates articulate how their clinical interventions align with ethical standards and spiritual formation, providing evidence of their capacity to function as reflective, biblically-grounded practitioners. The project must demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of how faith informs clinical practice, ensuring that the candidate is prepared to lead with wisdom and integrity in professional healthcare environments.

Career Opportunities

• Clinical Chaplain
• Psychotherapist
• Spiritual Care Counselor
• Healthcare Consultant
• Academic Educator in Theology or Psychology
• Community Mental Health Coordinator

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 | Ed.D. in Faith-Based Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy
• Total program length | 105 semester credit hours
• Maximum approved transfer credit | Up to 40 semester credit hours
• Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer | 80 semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Three to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, academic progress, and completion of the doctoral project
• Advanced faith-based clinical chaplaincy psychotherapy and specialization courses | 30 credit hours
• Leadership, administration, and professional practice | 21 credit hours
• Research methods and program evaluation | 18 credit hours
• Professional application and doctoral residency | 15 credit hours
• Advanced electives or concentration courses | 12 credit hours
• Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy | 6 credit hours
• Applied doctoral project and defense | 18 credit hours
• Total | 105 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DCCP 701 | Foundations of Clinical Chaplaincy & Psychotherapeutic Care | 3 | None
• DCCP 702 | Theories of Counseling & Psychotherapy for Chaplain-Psychotherapists | 3 | None
• DCCP 703 | Clinical Assessment, Interviewing, & Case Conceptualization | 3 | None
• DCCP 704 | Professional Ethics, Law, & Standards of Care (Clinical & Pastoral) | 3 | None
• DCCP 711 | Human Development, Attachment, & Spiritual Formation Across the Lifespan | 3 | None
• DCCP 712 | Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy & Crisis Stabilization | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DCCP 713 | Psychopathology & Diagnostic Formulation (DSM/ICD Overview) | 3 | None
• DCCP 714 | Evidence-Based Interventions I: CBT, ACT, DBT Skills for Chaplaincy Settings | 3 | None
• DCCP 721 | Multicultural Counseling, Diversity, & Spiritual Competence in Clinical Care | 3 | None
• DCCP 722 | Integrated Care: Behavioral Health in Medical, Hospice, and Community Systems | 3 | None
• DCCP 723 | Research Methods for Clinical Practice (Quantitative & Qualitative) | 3 | None
• DCCP 724 | Psychopharmacology for Helping Professionals (Collaboration & Referral) | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DCCP 731 | Family Systems Therapy & Couples Intervention (Clinical & Pastoral Applications) | 3 | None
• DCCP 732 | Group Psychotherapy & Psychoeducational Groups in Clinical Ministries | 3 | None
• DCCP 733 | Clinical Measurement, Outcomes Evaluation, & Program Assessment | 3 | None
• DCCP 734 | Evidence-Based Interventions II: Grief Therapy, MI, SFBT, Narrative Approaches | 3 | None
• DCCP 741 | Advanced Clinical Chaplaincy Practice & Treatment Planning | 3 | Master's degree in theology, counseling, or a related field, or permission from the instructor
• DCCP 742 | Clinical Supervision, Consultation, & Reflective Practice for Chaplain-Psychotherapists | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DCCP 743 | Leadership, Administration, & Clinical Program Development in Spiritual Care Services | 3 | None
• DCCP 744 | Practicum I: Supervised Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy (Direct Client Hours) | 3 | None
• DCCP 751 | Internship: Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy Residency (Advanced Clinical Hours) | 3 | Completion of foundational coursework in Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy or equivalent experience
• DCCP 752 | Ethics in Complex Cases: Risk, Safeguarding, Mandated Reporting, Documentation | 3 | None
• DCCP 753 | Doctoral Capstone/Dissertation Seminar: Proposal, IRB/ethics, and Writing | 3 | None
• DCCP 754 | Doctoral Capstone/Dissertation Defense & Professional Dissemination | 3 | Completion of all doctoral coursework in Clinical Chaplaincy Psychotherapy
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DCCP 760 | CPE Integration Seminar: Process, Verbatim, and Competency Portfolio | 3 | None
• DCCP 761 | Advanced Clinical Pastoral Education Unit I | 3 | None
• DCCP 762 | Advanced Clinical Pastoral Education Unit II | 3 | Completion of DCCP 761 or equivalent experience in Clinical Pastoral Education
• DCCP 763 | Spiritual Care Education: Teaching, Precepting, and Peer Review | 3 | None
• DCCP 770 | Substance Use Disorders & Recovery-Oriented Care | 3 | None
• DCCP 771 | Sexual Ethics, Intimacy, and Clinical Pastoral Counseling | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DCCP 772 | Spiritual Struggle, Moral Injury, and Meaning-Centered Therapy | 3 | None
• DCCP 773 | Child & Adolescent Counseling in Faith-Community and Clinical Settings | 3 | None
• DCCP 774 | Forensic Issues: Court-Involved Clients, Assessments, and Report Writing | 3 | None
• DCCP 775 | Community Trauma, Disaster Response, and Humanitarian Chaplaincy | 3 | None
• DCCP 776 | Advanced Psychodynamic & Relational Approaches for Chaplain-Psychotherapists | 3 | Completion of foundational courses in psychology and theology or equivalent experience.