University Certificate Program in Religion and Health

The certificate in religion and health provides an opportunity for the interdisciplinary study of health and health-promoting practices as they intersect with the various religious or spiritual traditions and practices. Through the integration of perspectives from a variety of disciplines in the health and social sciences—particularly those in nursing, public health, theology, and religion—students will develop theories and practices in which the personal, communal, and social dimensions of health intersect.

An interdisciplinary perspective will provide students with resources to analyze:

  • The way in which faith, understood as constituted by a set of religious and spiritual beliefs and practices, may contribute to the promotion or inhibition of the health of persons and communities from various religious and spiritual traditions
  • The way in which religion, health, and their respective structures impact persons, communities and larger systems and influence public policy and institutional practices.

Students will be strongly encouraged to use the wider resources of the university in the course of their studies. This program will be inclusive and respective of the religious and faith traditions of all students and the cultural contexts of their professional practices.

Eligibility

Students currently enrolled in a master’s degree program at the Rollins School of Public Health and Candler School of Theology may pursue a certificate in Religion and Health. In consultation with your school’s Certificate Advisor, students can enroll in the certificate program by completing the enrollment form for their school. The form for RSPH students can found at the bottom of this page; the form for Candler students can be obtained from the Candler registrar.

Once completed, the form must be signed by the Religion and Health Certificate Advisor at your school: for RSPH, contact Dr. John Blevins (jblevin@emory.edu) and for Candler, contact Dr. Emmanuel Lartey (elartey@emory.edu).

Certificate Requirements

Requirements for completion of the certificate include:

  • One of two core courses (3-credit-hours each) – Faith and Health Transforming Communities; and Religion and Public Health
  • Attendance and participation at the annual RPHC Community of Scholars reception at the beginning of the each academic year
  • An integrative paper/thesis
  • Elective courses – equivalent to 9 hours
  • Practice/field component in religion and health that fits the requirements in the discipline which the student is enrolled
  • Participation in University-wide special lectures and seminars in religion and health
1. REQUIREMENTS
  • One of two core courses (3-credit-hours each) – Faith and HealthTransforming Communities; and Religion and Public Health
  • Attendance and participation at the annual RPHC Community of Scholars reception at the beginning of the each academic year
  • An integrative paper/thesis
  • Elective courses – equivalent to 9 hours
  • Practice/field component in religion and health that fits the requirements in the discipline which the student is enrolled
  • Participation in University-wide special lectures and seminars in religion and health
  • Required Course: One of the two following core courses:
    • CC 650/SR 650/GH 519 Faith and Health: Transforming Communities. (3 hours Spring)
    • SR 698/EPI 590R/SOC 585 Religion and Public Health (Fall, every other year in odd years)
  • Elective Courses: Students will take three elective courses in consultation with either their academic advisor and/or the designated coordinator at the school of enrollment and are generally selected in light of the student’s area of emphasis.
    • Public Health students may satisfy two hours of elective credit by an approved thesis or capstone project.
    • Theology students may request that a course count as an elective for the certificate with the permission of the coordinator, provided that 30% of the course reading and one paper relate to issues of faith and health.
  • FH 500 Integrative Seminar (1 hour): Attend at least two integrative seminars/presentations during the FH 500 Integrative Seminar (1 hour): Attend at least two integrative seminars/presentations during the last two semesters of the program. Students are expected to seek opportunities to attend interdisciplinary seminars or lectures during their time at Emory. These are most often sponsored by the Religion and Public Health Collaborative.
  • Integrative Paper/Project: Write an integrative paper on a topic selected by the student and approved by the faculty coordinator. Explicit requirements may vary between the various schools participating in this program and students are advised to consult with the advisor for the Religion and Health program in the school in which they are enrolled regarding this requirement. An MDiv honors paper and an MTS thesis both fulfill this requirement. Rollins School of Public Health Students may submit their master’s thesis or capstone project to meet this requirement.
  • Practice Component: Completion of a practice component designed by the school in which the student is enrolled
    • MDiv: Completion of Con Ed I in a social service agency or clinical setting or Con Ed II in a congregational setting that allows the student to address issues of faith and health and actively engage these issues. CPE or travel seminars focusing on issues of faith and health may count as the practice component.
    • MTS: Students will develop a practicum project related to a particular site suited to the emphasis chosen in consultation with the certificate coordinator.
    • Public Health: Students will complete the school practicum, which is required of all students without credit, in a religion and health setting.
2. COURSE ELECTIVES
[List not comprehensive]1.  Courses on communities and congregations as context

  • CC 501 Church and Community Ministries
  • CC/RE 632 Community Ministries as Religious Education
  • LA 501 Introduction to Church Administration and Leadership
  • RE 501 Education as Change and Transformation
  • BSHE 572 Health Care Issues and Minority Populations

2.  Courses on care of the individual and family

  • PC 501 Introduction to Pastoral Care
  • GH 536/SR 536 Religion and Health in Context: HIV
  • GH 593/SR 698 Religion and Health in Context: Sexuality and Reproductive Health
  • BSHE 517 Adolescent Health
  • BSHE 589 Mental Illness, Public Health, and American Culture in Interdisciplinary Perspective
  • BSHE 567 LGBTQ Public Health
  • PC 610 Crisis Ministry
  • PC 607 Pastoral Dimensions of Biomedical Decisions
  • RE 517 Introduction to Youth Ministry

3. Courses in Theology

  • ES 620 Black Theology and Ethics
  • ST 660 Womanist Theology

4. Courses on ethical and social dimensions of congregational and community care

  • ES 609/M 619 Theology of Social Ministry
  • ES 621 Christian Sexual EthicsES 651 Biomedical Ethics
  • WR/PC 645 Spiritual Care in African Religious Traditions
  • BSHE 504 Social Behavior in Public Health
  • BSHE 578 Ethics in Public Health
  • GH 507 Health as Social Justice

5. Courses on the communal and public dimensions of faith and health

  • CC/RE 632 Community Ministries as Religious Education
  • CC502 The Church and Community Leadership
  • SR 601 Sociology of Religion
  • SR 605 Contemporary American Religion and Politics
  • SR 620 Nonviolent Strategies of Social Change
  • BSHE 572 Health Care Issues and Minority Populations
  • BSHE 565 Violence as a Public Health Problem

6. Courses on theological and ethical dimensions of faith and health of the public

  • ES 609 Theology of Social Ministry
  • ES 620 Black Theology and Ethics
  • GH 507 Health as Social Justice
  • GH 536/SR 536 Religion and Health in Context: HIV
  • GH 593/SR 698 Religion and Health in Context: Sexuality and Reproductive Health
  • BSHE 578 Ethics in Public Health

7. Courses on large scale and international dimensions of faith and health

  • PC 650 Global Perspectives on Pastoral Care
  • WS 385 Women, Health, and Development
  • M/EV 642 Religion, Culture (Society), and Mission in Latin America
  • WR/PC 645 Spiritual Care in African Religious Traditions
  • GH 563 (2) AIDS: Public Health Implications
  • GH 541 (2) Technology of Fertility Control
  • GH 559 (3) Gender and Global Health
  • GH 508 (2) Seminar in Health and Human Rights or 526 Interdisciplinary Perspective on Human Rights
3. HOW DO I ENROLL?

RSPH Enrollment and Completion

  • Enrollment decision should be made no later than spring registration the year before graduation, in consultation with your advisor
  • Enrollment and completion forms are available on the www.rphcemory.org website
  • Certificate completion forms should be completed by April 1st the year of graduation

Candler Enrollment and Completion

  • Enrollment decision should be made during an MDiv 2nd year
  • Enrollment forms are available on the CTS registrar web page
  • The registrar at CTS tracks achievement of certificate requirements. 

For Further Information:

Rollins School of Public Health – Dr. John Blevins, jblevin@emory.edu, 404-727-5199

Candler School of Theology – Dr. Emmanuel Lartey, elartey@emory.edu, 404-727-6594

Certificate Enrollment Form

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