Credit Waivers

Saint Meinrad allows students to complete a degree in fewer than the normally required 48 credits. Here are the most common reasons for credit waivers:

• Undergraduate philosophy or theology credits, no more than 10 years old, from an accredited institution. Specific credit waivers up to 12 graduate credits are permitted, at the discretion of the Director of Lay Degree Programs and the Academic Dean.
• Clinical Pastoral Education. Students may waive 3 credits per unit of CPE, up to a maximum of 12 credits.
• Transferred graduate credits from another institution, in appropriate fields and subject areas.
• Permanent Deacon Formation. Any student who has completed a Saint Meinrad-sponsored permanent deacon formation program may receive 24 waived credits toward a Master of Theological Studies degree. Credit waivers for permanent deacon formation programs not sponsored by Saint Meinrad will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
• Some spirituality and ministry formation certificate programs. Students may receive up to 12 waived credits for successful completion of certificate programs. The programs must entail graded writing and reading assignments and be taught at least on the undergraduate level. Other non-credit workshops and programs will not merit waived credits.
• Center for Ministry Development’s Youth Ministry Certification Program. Students may waive 8 graduate credits for successfully completing the graduate assignments for all 8 CMD courses in diocesan-sponsored certificate programs.