The goal of the Master of Arts (Pastoral Theology) degree is to
strengthen the theological basis of your life and work, whether you
are in a ministerial or secular career. This general academic
degree, especially useful for those in caring professions and
leadership roles, also provides a basic understanding of the
theological disciplines required for further graduate study.
Successful completion of the Master of Arts (Pastoral Theology)
degree requirements will enable you to:
- understand
the biblical, historical, systematic, and pastoral dimensions of
Catholic belief and practice;
- read and
interpret texts of the Catholic tradition faithfully and
critically;
- relate
issues of contemporary thought, life and pastoral practice to
larger Catholic theological context.
To earn a Master of Arts (Pastoral Theology) degree, you need a
total of 48 graduate credit hours in the following areas, with a
minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) on a 4.0 scale.
We can waive up to 12 credits if you have completed an
undergraduate degree in theology or philosophy. The concludng
exercise for the degree can be a series of capstone essays, a
longer research paper, or a pastoral research project.
Systematics
Four courses (12 credit hours)
- Creed in History and Theology
- Systematics elective course
- Sacramental core course (Catholic Sacraments, Sacraments
of Initiation, Eucharist, or Liturgical
Theology)
- Christian Ethics or Fundamental Moral
Theology
Scripture and Historical Studies
Four courses (12 credit hours)
- Old Testament core course (Pentateuch and Historical Books
or Biblical Narrative and Poetry)
- New Testament core course (Synoptics, Acts and General
Epistles or Paul in Early Christianity
or Pauline and Johannine Literature)
- Early Church History
- Medieval or Modern Church History
Pastoral Studies
Three elective courses (9 credit hours)
Electives
12 credit hours
Concluding Exercise
(3 credit hours)
Students may choose one of three concluding
exercises:
- Three 8- to 10-page Capstone
Essays;
- A 25- to 30-page Research Paper; or
- A Pastoral Research Project
1) You must possess a four-year undergraduate degree, in any
field, from an accredited institution of higher learning. In rare
instances, we can accept students who have not completed an entire
bachelor’s degree.
2) You must complete the application process to be accepted into
the degree program.
See Admissions
