HCI's Two-Course Configuration
Starting with the fall 2022 session, HCI offers two courses within a single Global Classroom. These courses are: the Hindu Chaplaincy Pathway (HCP) and Counselor of Hindu Tradition (CHT), respectively. With shared curriculum and group discussions, both of these courses meet the requirements of HCI's continuum of care model for the community. This model calls for complementary services offered by volunteers and chaplains at inter religious institutions and in homes. The HCP and CHT courses therefore prepare the scholars for chaplaincy education or volunteer work, respectively, depending on the scholar's preference.
The changes made to the teaching process have added immense value to the learning experience. The course is structured to embrace the two paths of study described above. The first twelve foundational sessions cover requirements for the HCP pathway. The HCP pathway ends in January and is then followed by chaplaincy training. The CHT course consists of the full 24 sessions and ends in June. The last twelve sessions cover material that prepares the CHT for compassionate counseling for both Hindu and inter-religious receivers of these services.
In all endeavors, HCI aspires for outstanding results against the objective, with the goal of training compassionate listeners who selflessly serve in their community.
The HCP course prepares graduates for the Interreligious Chaplaincy Program (ICP) offered by the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) the prestigious theological university at Berkeley, CA. The HCP curriculum focuses on the principles of the Bhagavad Gita relevant to the global Hindu diaspora. It also incorporates courses devoted to Psychology and Life Sciences that complement the ICP course at GTU. The current format serves scholars who are first or second-generation Hindus in North America and Australia as well as sixth or seventh-generation Hindus in South Africa. The class therefore brings together a diverse world view and that of a rich global Hindu heritage.
The new learning format has three parts: the self-study, where one absorbs the material presented, a "brain-storming" session as a group of 3-4 scholars to refine understanding and generate reflections, and a final global discussion session with faculty, where the scholars get the opportunity to present the summary of the group's impressions and enjoy an interactive live dialogue with Faculty.
The HCI class currently has scholars from US, Canada, Australia and South Africa. There are plans to extend the participation to the UK, middle east, east Asia, and even India.
Usha NarasimhanThe success of each country's program depends on the commitment of local leadership.
Usha Narasimhan, MBA
Usha Narasimhan is a 2020 graduate of the CHT course. She is among the first three scholars to enter the Hindu Chaplaincy course at GTU. She serves as Registrar at HCI.