DESCRIPTION: This course (offered pass/fail for 2 units) is designed to provide an experience of pastoral care in the general or psychiatric hospital setting under the direct supervision of a certified Hospital Chaplain. Students will: 1) explore attitudes about disease, pain, suffering, psychic dysfunction, separation from family, and death and dying; 2 ) develop skills in the visitation of patients and in relating to hospital staff; 3) sharpen abilities to reflect theologically in connection with personal encounters in the hospital setting; and 4) participate in leading of worship or devotional programs as scheduled.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) have a clearer sense of pastoral identity; (2) be better able to function in a pastoral role; (3) grow in their moral and spiritual integrity as followers of Jesus Christ; (4) be better able to engage in theological reflection in Christian ministry; (5) appreciate the importance of theological reflection in Christian ministry; (6) be more committed to the church.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: This course offers an introduction to the tasks and skills of ministry as a hospital chaplain in a general-medical and/or psychiatric institution.

COURSE FORMAT: The student will spend a minimum of 100 hours in the hospital setting in one 10-week period. During this time, the student will be given visitation assignments, meet regularly with the chaplain and other hospital staff for integrative and didactic sessions, and participate in worship or devotional services as assigned. The chaplain will provide training and lead discussions on topics relevant to hospital ministry. Students are required to attend all sessions.

ASSIGNMENTS: Regular and punctual attendance, completion of all visitation assignments, attendance at all scheduled seminars, participation in at least one chapel service, completion of at least four written (typed) verbatims, one book review, and one personal evaluation report to be submitted the tenth week of the quarter by the supervising Chaplain and the student to the Office of Field Education. NOTE: Substitute assignments may be given by the chaplain, but equivalent material must be submitted.

PREREGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS: Before the student may register for this course, several steps must be completed, a process that may take up to a month, since the student is responsible to make arrangements for an internship site. The first step in the process is to read the preregistration materials available on the internet at www.fuller.edu/sot/fielded or in the Office of Field Education. After the student has submitted internship and supervisor applications, he or she must schedule an enrollment interview with the Office of Field Education. If the internship is approved, the student will then receive a Course Approval Notification that must be submitted to the Academic Advisor prior to registration. The student must also complete an orientation with the assigned chaplain at the beginning of the internship.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets FE2 Field Education MDiv requirement (MIN 7). This practicum is offered pass/fail for two units.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.