Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

Preparing students for varied ministries, the Master of Divinity provides general theological education in the Roman Catholic tradition and professional skills that they will need to serve in ministry. Students in the M.Div. program learn to attend to the needs of the Church and promote social change in a manner that contributes to the common good.

What kind of skills will I acquire?
We expect graduates to:

understand and discuss the meaning of Scriptures and the theological tradition of the Roman Catholic community
communicate the Christian message by preaching and teaching
minister in collaborative and ecumenical environments
lead any planning for public worship and the celebration of the sacraments
aid people experiencing personal or religious crisis

Does the program train candidates for ordination to the priesthood?
Yes, it fulfills "The Program of Priestly Formation" guidelines set forth by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. The spiritual formation of candidates and the exact requirements for ordination remain the responsibility of each candidate's sponsoring religious body. These students usually obtain a Master of Divinity degree as part of their preparation for ordination.

Can a lay Catholic apply for the M.Div. degree?
Increasingly, laity are being called to serve in pastoral leadership roles. The M.Div. is the comprehensive professional preparation for a career in ministry. To apply, follow the instructions contained in the Application for Admission. If you have any questions about downloading the application, read About PDF. A personal interview may also be advised.

Program Content
The 90 hours of course work required for the M.Div. degree are distributed as follows:

M.Div. Course Requirements (non-ordination track)
Course Title	Credit Hours
Integrative Studies
Proseminar	3
Integrative Seminar	1
Philosophy
Uses of Philosophy in Theology	3
Biblical Studies
Bible Interpretation	3
Old Testament Electives	4
New Testament Elective	6
Systematic Theology
Introduction to Theology and Theological Method	3
Christology	3
Ecclesiology	3
Systematic Electives	6
Cross-Disciplinary Seminar
Sacramental and Theological Foundations of Ministry	3
Historical Studies
Church History I: Patristic and Medieval	3
Church History II: Reformation to Post-Modern Era	3
Moral Theology
Foundations of Catholic Morality	3
Morality Electives	6
Pastoral Theology
Foundations of Pastoral and Ethical Care	3
Foundations of Pastoral Counseling	3
Principles of Canon Law or Theology and Spirituality of Marriage	3
Preaching
Foundations of Preaching I	2
Foundations of Preaching II	2
Liturgical Theology
Theology of Worship	3
Christian Initiation or Eucharist	3
Liturgical Leadership I	2
Liturgical Elective	3
Professional Ministerial Formation
Supervised Practice of Ministry I	3
Supervised Practice of Ministry II	3
Supervised Practice of Ministry III	3
Clinical Pastoral Education	4
Spiritual Formation
Lay Formation I-VI (lay students only)	-