DESCRIPTION: This course (offered pass/fail for 2 units) is designed to
provide experience in working in a correctional institutional setting. Students
will have the opportunity: (1) to observe an experienced chaplain in a
correctional institutional setting; (2) to develop their own skills in ministry
to inmates/wards and correctional staff; (3) to evaluate values and attitudes
toward incarcerated persons; and (4) to sharpen the ability to reflect
theologically in this setting.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) grow in their ability to engage in
theological reflection by having regular opportunities to think critically
about ministry in light of the Christian tradition; (2) deepen their
understanding of the cultural context of ministry by immersing themselves in a
specific context and regularly reflecting with their supervisor on the
connection between context and ministry; (3) develop toward becoming
spiritually mature and accountable practitioners by reflecting with their peers
in a theological reflection group and with their supervisor in their internship
on the connection between their faith and their ministry; (4) become better
Christian leaders by having many opportunities to practice the responsibilities
of ministry throughout their internship.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: This course offers training in the tasks and skills of
professional ministry as a chaplain in a correctional institution.
COURSE FORMAT: The student will spend a minimum of 100 hours in one ten-week
period in the institutional setting. During this time he/she will work under
the supervision of an experienced and certified correctional chaplain. He/she
will receive training in institutional regulations and security, and be taught
proper procedures in handling counseling interviews with inmates/wards. As the
situation allows, he/she will have the opportunity to conduct Bible studies and
sharing and prayer groups for inmates and participate in worship services.
ASSIGNMENTS: Punctual work schedule habits, completion of all chaplain
interview assignments, participation in at least two chapel services, strict
adherence to institutional security regulations, completion of at least four
written verbatims, attendance at a minimum of one staff chaplains' meeting (or
equivalent), one book review, and one personal evaluation report to be
submitted at the end of the quarter to the Office of Field Education, along
with the supervising chaplain's evaluation. 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. 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, and his/her Academic Advisor will receive a Course
Approval Notification . The student must then contact the Academic Advisor to
receive a Course Reference Number (CRN) in order to register for FE556 online.
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 internship is offered pass/fail for two units.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (11/08)