MA in Pastoral Care: Existential and Humanist Practice

 

Course Description


NSPC is at the forefront of the exciting, emerging field of generic pastoral care. This is the first MA of its nature in the UK, is open to students with any belief system, worldview or religion  and provides a much-needed pathway towards professional work in pastoral care/chaplaincy from an existential and humanist perspective.  We work closely with Humanists UK to achieve this objective.

Drawing on existential philosophy and models of pastoral and spiritual care, we teach students to work in a holistic way, engaging with the unique world of each person regardless of their worldview or religion and seeking to serve diverse populations.

The programme covers:

  • theory [existential practical philosophy]
  • skills training to an advanced level,
  • placement experience aligned to professional competence frameworks with supporting supervision
  • research, with the opportunities to learn methods specifically aligned to an existential approach including phenomenological methods, and support to present and disseminate research findings.

In addition, the MA provides training in institutional celebrancy, and the route to probationary accreditation as a Humanist UK funeral, wedding and naming celebrant for those students wanting to pursue this opportunity. 

Graduates can expect to work across a range of sectors including within chaplaincy teams in education, healthcare, the prison service and the armed forces. Recent graduates have been successful in rapidly securing paid posts in chaplaincy teams and alumni have gone on to lead chaplaincy teams.

Prior learning can be granted for units studied at level 7 covering the same learning outcomes as the NSPC equivalent. This includes students who are already trained as Humanist celebrants in all 3 ceremonies– this can be discussed at interview stage.

 

 The programme aims to prepare students to:

1.     become competent, skilled professional chaplains/pastoral carers practicing with a theoretical understanding of existential and humanist care.

2.     have experienced and practiced pastoral care within diverse settings with a range of people with different needs.

3.     critically evaluate and reflect upon their own work within the context of society and its inherent injustices.

 

Year one assumes some basic knowledge and experience of spiritual or emotional care. You will start with core competencies such as active listening and build to practice advanced, explicitly existential skills in work placement settings. These skills will be used as part of the ceremonies training which equips you to practice, not only as an individual celebrant, but also in institutional settings. Theoretical learning includes a grounding in existential philosophy related to individuals' non-religious and religious worldviews and value systems, plus consideration of existential perspectives on human issues.

Year two provides an ongoing opportunity to build experience in work placements with the support of supervision. You will also complete a research project, with the help of an experienced research supervisor. This will be on a topic of your choice and can take the form of a literature review or a piece of primary research.  There will be units which explore social cultural and ethical issues with a focus on social justice and the theoretical underpinning of mentoring, reflective practice and supervision.

The course leader is Dr Elizabeth Young.

For further information on possible learning adaptions, we can offer neurodivergent students and students with a disability or chronic health condition, contact [email protected]

Useful Links

Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network

Humanist Ceremonies

Information on our open days can be found here: nspc.org.uk/course-directory/open-days/

Programme of Study


Year 1  [7 units]

  1. Skills in Pastoral Care: Basic Skills [face to face learning]
  2. Philosophical Worldviews, Religions and Belief Systems
  3. Existential Perspectives on Human Issues
  4. Skills in Pastoral Care: Advanced skills [face to face learning]
  5. Skills in Pastoral Care: Supervised Practice 
  6. Pastoral Care Settings, Celebrancy & Ceremonies: Introduction to ceremonies
  7. Pastoral Care Settings, Celebrancy & Ceremonies: Celebrant Practice [face to face learning]

Year 2  [10 units]

  1. Overview of Research Methods
  2. Research project [4 units]
    • Introduction to Research methods
    • Research supervision [minimum of 2 units]
    • Research dissemination & Symposium [face to face learning]
  3. Social, Cultural & Ethical Issues
  4. Pastoral Supervision of Practice (3 units)
  5. Mentoring, reflective practice and supervision practice and theory [face to face learning]


Accreditation and Careers

This programme is quality assured by Middlesex University and you will receive a Middlesex award on successful completion. You can view the Middlesex Research Degree Regulations here.

Successful completion of this 2-year programme leads to a registration with the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network (which in turn leads to UKBHC registration) and as a Humanist Celebrant for weddings, funerals and naming ceremonies.

Graduates can expect to work across a range of sectors including education, healthcare, the prison service and the armed forces. In addition, the MA provides probationary accreditation as a Humanist UK funeral, wedding and naming celebrant. Partial APEL is possible for students who are already qualified as a Humanist UK celebrant for all three ceremonies.



Fees 2024-25

 Fees are subject to annual inflationary increases

Year of course 

Units to be completed in year 

Fee payable per year  

(if no units have to be repeated) 

1 

7 units over 3 terms 

£7980 

1 (Qualified Celebrants) 

6 units over 3 terms 

3 days of Pastoral Care Settings, Celebrancy & Ceremonies: Celebrant Practice Unit 

£6840 

£684 

2 

9 units over 3 terms 

£10260 

 

Validated Courses Additional Charges  

Application Fee 

£50 non-refundable 

Acceptance Deposit 

£100 which will be deducted from the initial invoice when you start the course. It is non-refundable if you do not start. 

APEL  

Fee is only applicable if your claim for prior learning is approved and will replace the tuition fee for that unit. 

£200 per submission 

Instalment Plan 

£20 per Unit 

Late changes to Course Plan  

£50 

Professional registration 

At own expense  

Books 

At own expense 

 

Please note : Students on validated programmes are not eligible for Student Finance or DSA



Entry Requirements

  • A good Bachelors degree in any field, or a higher degree such as a PGDip (equivalent experience may be acceptable)
  • Fluent English: IELTS level 7 or above in all categories (or equivalent)
  • Personal suitability to be determined at interview
  • Reliable internet connection
  • A clear DBS check or equivalent

Students’ applications are assessed for a shortlist and interview, based on the degree to which the following criteria are met: 

  • The applicant has experience in pastoral care practice settings. 
  • The applicant has degree level qualifications in a social science or healthcare related programme and/or can demonstrate an ability to articulate an academic position on existential themes in written and verbal modes. 
  • The applicant has demonstrated an awareness of the NSPC Pastoral care programme and has a strong understanding of what will be required of them if they gain a place on the programme.
  • The applicant uses reflexivity in referring to lived and spiritual experiences, which suggests that they have developed resilience, compassion and empathy.
  • The applicant has demonstrated awareness of other cultures and the struggles of minority groups with whom they might work when qualified.
  • The applicant has explained how their lived experience motivates them in their training journey and how it will guide them in their choice of research project [if undertaking the MA programme], and in the kind of practice which they are likely to take up when qualified.


How You Study

The course is delivered via a blend of different learning opportunities. These include online theory units via Moodle, face-to-face units in NW London, online research supervision and online supervision of practice.

Theory units are asynchronous, except for a weekly chat to be decided between group members. Students work through weekly materials online, posting and discussing in the forum with the group and tutor.

Placement supervision is provided via online group support on a weekly basis from term 3 of year 1 and throughout  year 2 of the programme.

Research supervision is provided from year 2, and can be done in a number of ways depending on what best suits both student and supervisor, but usually takes the form of email and video chat.

There are five units of five consecutive days teaching which take place on site at The Existential Academy over the two years. With 30% of attendance carried out face-to-face, this course is easy to fit around a busy life and is accessible to those living far from London or with caring commitments.

Students may take up to 4 years to complete should they need additional time.

It is possible to exit the programme early with either a PGCert or PGDip award, however, this may affect professional registration.

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Open Days

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