doctor and patient

Loma Linda University School of Religion has launched two new certificate programs — one in Spiritual Care (13 units) and another in Bioethics (13 units). The school is accepting applications for the upcoming 2025 – 2026 academic school, and applications received before July 31 will be processed in time for the start of classes in the upcoming fall quarter.

The Spiritual Care Certificate consists of coursework designed to build competence in the delivery of spiritual care to an increasingly diverse patient population. The certificate is offered in two forms that focus on either theoretical or practical applications of spiritual care and can be tailored to offer instruction in spirituality, religious diversity, and end-of-life care. Both tracks will require a core set of courses, ensuring all participants have a common foundation of spiritual care principles provided by faculty of the School of Religion.

The Bioethics Certificate focuses on the critical decision-making skills needed in the field bioethics. The objective is to prepare qualified individuals to engage in the difficult conversations that arise at the intersection of healthcare, religion, policy, and law. The certicate program is ideal for professionals who wish to acquire specific knowledge and skills in a shorter and more narrowly focused certificate program to complement their existing careers as administrators, healthcare providers, policymakers, and chaplains. The certificate can also serve as a useful credential for those seeking to apply to professional graduate programs in healthcare and law.

The dynamic interdisciplinary health science setting of Loma Linda University brings together students from across the eight schools of LLU and San Manuel Gateway College with School of Religion faculty trained in the disciplines of ethical, theological, and relational studies. Faculty also have expertise in law, clinical medicine, public health, and social work. This environment creates a unique learning environment that fosters Christ-centered, mission-focused learning, through scholarship that expands knowledge and addresses the challenges healthcare professionals face in today’s complex world.  

“These two certificate programs are in response to many requests for shorter, career-enhancing programs,” says Leo Ranzolin, ThD, dean of Loma Linda University School of Religion. “Adding a spiritual care or bioethics credential will open new doors for successful participants to share Christ’s teaching and healing ministry in fresh new ways.”

The School of Religion continues to offer master’s degrees in Chaplaincy, MS, Bioethics, MA (on-line), and Religion & Society, MA. In addition to offering graduate degree and certificate programs, the primary mission of the School of Religion is to enrich programs in the other seven schools of the University with a faith-based, wholistic approach to the health sciences. To learn more about the certificates or graduate degrees at the School of Religion, call 909-558-7478 or email religion@llu.edu.

To learn more about programs, degrees, and certificates at Loma Linda University, visit llu.edu.