The Graduate Certificate in Interfaith Literacy for Health Professionals provides students in healthcare and related fields with the knowledge and resources to support the unique needs of their patients and clients. We emphasize personal attention to the values, practices and needs that arise from diverse religious traditions, spiritualities and worldviews. The certificate educates students to become knowledgeable about several world religions and the differences within them, while also recognizing that no healthcare provider can ever know all the varieties of religious traditions or spiritual approaches that exist.
Our expert faculty will provide resources and connections to facilitate the pursuit of knowledge related to religious and spiritual commitment. In addition to developing expertise in specific religions, our students will build the confidence to ask questions and the means to seek answers to those questions.
This certificate is offered in a fully online asynchronous format. Complete your work when it's most convenient for you — from any location!
This graduate certificate is designed for health professionals at any level who anticipate a need to provide compassionate, comprehensive and culturally-competent care to patients from a broad spectrum of religious and faith traditions.
Our program will be of greatest interest to those who work directly with patients in healthcare settings, and who see firsthand the impact of personal religious, spiritual and worldview perspectives on patient well-being, end of life decisions and healthcare decisions.
In your Nursing career, you serve people from a variety of different backgrounds. This certificate urges you to go beyond treatment of illness or injury and to treat the whole person, including recognition of and respect for patients’ religious traditions and needs. It will also provide you with resources for your future work.
You want to offer compassionate and knowledgeable care and to build on the skills and understanding you already have. Through this certificate, you will learn about the various ways in which religion can affect client values and decisions, allowing you to offer more targeted care.
You can apply to begin your Certificate in Interfaith Literacy for Health Professionals six times a year.
Summer Semester A:
Submit your application by May 13, 2026 and start class on May 27, 2026.
Summer Semester B:
Submit your application by June 29, 2026 and start class on July 13, 2026.
Fall Semester A:
Submit your application by August 15, 2026 and start class on September 9, 2026.
Fall Semester B:
Submit your application by October 15, 2026 and start class on October 29, 2026.
Spring Semester A:
Details for Spring semester 2027 will be announced in the near future.
Your first step is to start the application online. In the application, you will answer some questions and upload the documents described below. Once you've completed all components you will submit the application and can log back into the portal at any time to check the status of your application materials.
Your first step is to start the application online. In the application, you will answer some questions and upload the documents described below. Once you've completed all components you will submit the application and can log back into the portal at any time to check the status of your application materials.
The Certificate in Interfaith Literacy for Health Professionals offers a total of six courses, taught over a twelve-month period for 12.5 credits. Four courses teach about major religions in the world, their values and practices, and their approaches to health concerns. In addition, there are two courses that offer resources regarding various religious traditions and that encourage students to recognize their own needs and the necessity to ask questions of patients and clients. Each course includes an opportunity to engage in a focused final project matching the students’ interests.
Students will take just one course at a time, completing two courses each term. None of the courses have prerequisites, so students may begin the program by enrolling in a course in any of the six sessions detailed above.
The faculty in this program represent a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds and interests. Their guidance will enable health professionals to integrate new expertise in their fields while honoring the dignity of every person in their care.
Dr. Fuad Naeem's areas of expertise include: Islamic philosophy, theology and mysticism; Islam in South Asia; Muslim encounters with other religions; Islam, colonialism and modernity; and The Qur'an and its exegesis.
Dr. Naeem is the instructor for ILHP 620: Islamic Traditions and Health Professions.
Dr. Wojda's primary area of academic interest and specialization is Catholic health care ethics. He previously served as chair of the St. Paul/Minneapolis Archdiocesan Biomedical Ethics Committee.
Dr. Wojda is the instructor for ILHP 650: Christian Traditions and Health Professions.
The Graduate Certificate in Interfaith Literacy for Health Professionals requires the completion of 12.5 credits (5 courses of 2 credits apiece and a single 2.5 credit course). "Total Tuition" is calculated based on current tuition rates.
| Tuition per credit | $700 |
|---|---|
| Total Tuition | $8,750 |
|---|---|