DESCRIPTION: This course (offered pass/fail for 2 units) is designed to provide an experience of pastoral care for senior adults, under the direct supervision of an experienced chaplain or pastor to senior adults. Students will (1) explore issues seniors face after retirement, including how to continue leading an active life, and concerns about spirituality and religion, illness, death and dying; (2) develop skills in visitation and spiritual assessment within home and health care facility contexts; (3) sharpen abilities to reflect theologically in connection with issues related to aging; (4) participate in grief support and memorial services if needed.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: This course provides an introduction to the world of senior care ministry--its tasks, skills, challenges, and opportunities.

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 or in their faith community 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.

COURSE FORMAT: The student will spend a minimum of 100 hours in course-related settings, e.g., homes, skilled nursing facilities, etc., in one 10-week period. During this time, the student will fulfill visit assignments to seniors, meet at least one hour per week with the chaplain or pastor for supervision and integrative and didactic sessions, and participate in memorial services or support group settings as assigned.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Regular and punctual attendance; completion of all visitation assignments; attendance at agreed upon meetings, inservices, and support groups; completion of at least four written (typed) verbatims, one book review, and one personal evaluation report to be submitted at the end of the quarter to the Field Education and Ministry Formation Office. NOTE: Substitute assignments may be given by the chaplain or pastor, 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. The first step in the process is to read the preregistration materials available at http://www.fuller.edu/current-students/resources/field-ed/field-ed.aspx. Apply to a recognized senior care site. A list of recognized sites is available at http://www.fuller.edu/current-students/resources/field-ed/chaplaincies.aspx. After acceptance, submit an internship application and schedule an enrollment interview with the Field Education and Ministry Formation Office. If the internship is approved, the student 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 FE567 online. The student must also complete an orientation with the assigned chaplain at the beginning of the internship, as well as possibly undergo a drug screen and background check. The student may be charged for some or all of those costs.

PREREQUISITES: You are required to complete 24 units before you can register for this course.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets FE2 Field Education MDiv requirement (MIN 7). It is an elective for the Masters in Theology (MAT). This internship is offered pass/fail for two units.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (Posted May 6, 2010)