The TMC Fellowship is designed for those who:

• Have vocations that include full time work in health care (e.g., trainees or practitioners of medicine, nursing, and other health care professions*) and seek theological formation that equips them to understand, address, and teach others about the moral and spiritual questions that attend the experiences of suffering, illness, and disability and the practices of health care.
• Want to learn to think critically and theologically about foundational dynamics that shape American health care.
• Believe that that Christian tradition should matter for how health care is practiced and how churches respond to health and illness.
• Want to invest in theological formation that will shape their imaginations and clinical practices for decades to come.
• Are able to spend one or two years in-residence at Duke Divinity School engaging in full time graduate studies.  

At Duke Divinity School, we believe Christian tradition and the practices of Christian communities are powerful repositories of wisdom about illness, suffering, healing, and dying. We believe Christians have an important role to play in naming and addressing the problems that plague contemporary health care, and that attending to those who are sick remains a sacred vocation. The TMC Fellowship offers theological formation to equip participants for that important work.

Year 1 integrates theological study, spiritual formation, and theological reflection on practice. Year 2, for those who complete the two-year track, promotes fellows’ further development as scholars and teachers at the intersection of theology, medicine, and culture.

The fellowship offers scholarship support toward completion of either the Certificate in Theology and Health Care (CTHC, for those pursuing the one-year track) or the Master’s of Theological Studies (MTS, for those pursuing the two-year track). A limited number of merit-based, full-tuition scholarships are available for TMC Fellows who will be enrolled in the Master of Theological Studies (MTS) program.

*What about chaplains? Since those pursuing chaplaincy undertake theological education in the normal course of their training, we consider applications from chaplains only if they are intending to pursue further theological education (such as a ThM degree).

Overview

The one-year fellowship track is available to candidates applying to complete the Certificate in Theology and Health Care during one academic year in residence at Duke Divinity School.  

Curriculum

The course curriculum involves three primary components: 1) Scripture, theology, and church history; Fellows can either take two core courses in these disciplines, or take Cultivating Christian Imagination, a two-semester course that combines all three in a sweeping tour of Christian tradition and the practices of Christian communities. 2) Health Care in Theological Context, a two-semester course on the intersection of theology and medicine, taught by core TMC faculty. And 3) Spiritual Formation and Community Engagement, a two-semester course that combines best practices of scripture reflection, Christian spiritual formation and disciplines, and mentoring, through which students discern what faithful practices look like in health care contexts. This course includes a 2-semester community engagement placement at one of several local health-related ministries, typically requiring 2-4 hours per week, or 30 hours per semester. Fellows are eligible to take up to two additional elective courses, one of which can be from another division of the university.

The one-year TMC Fellowship provides a tuition grant equal to 50% of tuition for two semesters of full-time study. Learn more about graduation requirements, program costs, and financial aid.

Other Program Requirements

• Participate faithfully in core TMC community activities, including: 1) the semi-monthly TMC Seminar, 2) a weekly TMC social hour, 3) fall and spring retreats, 4) the Catena Lectureship, and 5) a handful of other community events. The TMC Fellowship is a communal experience, and we ask prospective fellows to consider up front whether they are able to commit to the participation that is essential to the Fellowship experience.

* Part-time enrollment must be approved by the faculty directors.

Overview

The two-year fellowship track is available to candidates applying to complete the Master of Theological Studies program during two academic years in residence at Duke Divinity School. The two-year track is designed for those interested in becoming scholars and teachers at the intersection of theology, medicine, and culture.

Curriculum

TMC Fellows will complete the course requirements for the MTS degree. They may want to apply for one of the MTS focus tracks, which offer more flexibility with respect to elective courses taken.* As part of their coursework, fellows will complete Health Care in Theological Context, a two-semester course on the intersection of theology and medicine, as well as Spiritual Formation and Community Engagement, a two-semester course that combines best practices of scripture reflection, Christian spiritual formation and disciplines, and mentoring, through which students discern what faithful practices look like in health care contexts. This course includes a 2-semester community engagement experience at one of several local health-related ministries, typically requiring 2-4 hours per week, or 30 hours per semester. During the fall semester of second year, TMC Fellows have the option of continuing in advanced spiritual formation in order to dig deeper into sustaining practices of prayer. Before graduation, they will complete at least one elective course approved and listed by the registrar as satisfying the area  requirement for Theology, Medicine, and Culture.

*A condensed MTS is available for students already enrolled at Duke School of Medicine or other graduate programs at Duke, or at UNC School of Medicine.

Other Program Requirements

• During Year 2, share in leadership of one or more TMC community activities (see below) to develop skills and experience as a scholar, teacher, and mentor.
• During Year 2, present at least three times at research-in-progress workshops for TMC Fellows, held during the weekly TMC social hour.
• Throughout both years, participate faithfully in core TMC community activities, including: 1) the semi-monthly TMC Seminar, 2) a weekly TMC social hour, 3) fall and spring retreats, 4) the Catena Lectureship, and 5) a handful of other community events. The TMC Fellowship is a communal experience, and we ask prospective fellows to consider up front whether they are able to commit to the participation that is essential to the Fellowship experience.

The two-year TMC Fellowship provides a tuition grant equal to 50% of tuition for up to four semesters of full-time study. A limited number of 75% to 100% full-tuition scholarships are available to MTS students. Learn more about MTS degree graduation requirements, program costs, and financial aid.

The fellowship offers scholarship support toward completion of either the Certificate in Theology and Health Care (CTHC, for those pursuing the one-year track) or the Master’s of Theological Studies (MTS, for those pursuing the two-year track). A limited number of merit-based, full-tuition scholarships are available for TMC Fellows who will be enrolled in the Master of Theological Studies (MTS) program.

A limited number of full-tuition scholarships are also available for health care practitioners and leaders working in global or domestic missional organizations through the TMC Fellow in Missional Health Care program.

One-Year Track: Certificate in Theology and Healthcare

Admission to the TMC Fellowship program is by application and is not available to students currently enrolled in a degree program of the Divinity School. All applicants must apply for admission to Duke Divinity School through the online ChooseDuke portal. Once in the portal select the “Divinity non-degree” pathway and select the “Theology and Healthcare (Residential)” in the Academic Degree of Interest drop down menu. In the “Area of Interest” box, write “TMC Fellowship.” In your application statement of purpose, please indicate that you are applying to become a TMC Fellow.

Please visit the Duke Divinity admissions page for more information on application requirements and deadlines.

Two-Year Fellowship: Masters in Theological Studies

Admission to the TMC Fellowship program is by application and is not available to students currently enrolled in a degree program of the Divinity School. All applicants must apply for admission to Duke Divinity School through the online ChooseDuke portal. Once in the portal select the Master’s of Theological Studies in the Academic Degree of Interest drop down menu. In the “Area of Interest” box, write “TMC Fellowship.” In your application statement of purpose, please indicate that you are applying to become a TMC Fellow.

Please visit the Duke Divinity admissions page for more information on application requirements and deadlines.

If you are interested in applying to begin the TMC Fellowship, please email us at duketmc@div.duke.edu.