General Catalog 2025-2026

Institutional Chaplaincy (AA)

The Associate of Arts Degree in Institutional Chaplaincy aspires to develop religious professionals committed with Institutional Chaplaincy, and who have the competencies, knowledge, skills and ministerial ethical attitudes that enable them to carry out effective interventions in the clinical, prison, educational, labor and ecclesiastical environment, among others.

The Fajardo and Metropolitan campuses are authorized to offer this Program. In addition, the Metropolitan Campus is authorized to offer the associate degree at the University Center in Caguas.

Competencies Profile of Graduates

This Program is designed to develop the competencies that will enable students to:

Knowledge

  1. Know history and the fundamental principles Clinical Chaplaincy in the United States, Puerto Rico and Ibero-America.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of the techniques of “fatigue by compassion”.
  3. Know the techniques of intervention and handling of crises.
  4. Know the theories of pastoral care in different institutional clinical scenarios.

Skills

  1. Develop strategic plans of spiritual/pastoral care.
  2. Design care plans with clinical-religious contents according to the modern techniques approved by the School of Pastoral Supervisors and Therapists.
  3. Contextually apply the basic theories of institutional the clinical chaplaincy.
  4. Implement the theories of pastoral care in different institutional scenarios.
  5. Use techniques of intervention and administration of crises in group processes.

Attitudes

  1. Show sensitivity and empathy within the religious plurality.
  2. Appreciate tolerance for integration and work in interdisciplinary groups.

Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree in Institutional Chaplaincy

General Education Requirements 24 credits
Major Requirements 36 credits
Total 60 credits

General Education Requirements - 24 credits

GESP Spanish - Select 6 credits from the GESP category

6

GEEN English - Select 6 credits from the GEEN category

6

GEP-GEMA 1000Quantitative Reasoning

3

GEP-GEHS 2010Historical Process of Contemporary Puerto Rico

3

GEP-GECF 1010Introduction to the Christian Faith

3

GEP-GEIC 1010Information and Computing Technologies

3

Major Requirements - 36 credits

CHAP 1101History of Chaplaincy

3

CHAP 1102Theory of Institutional Chaplaincy

3

CHAP 2101Spirituality, Religion and Mental Health

3

CHAP 2102Clinic-Theological Reflection Methods of Pastoral Care

3

CHAP 2103Theories of Pastoral Clinical Education

3

CHAP 2104Didactic Theories and their Clinical Application to Chaplaincy

3

CHAP 2105Intervention and Management of Crisis

3

CHAP 2106Intervention in Pastoral Care

3

CHAP 2107Pastoral Care and Social Crisis

3

CHAP 2108Professional Practice

3

CHAP 2109Integration Seminar

3

PSYC 1051General Psychology I

3