Master of Divinity
The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree provides the knowledge and skills needed to begin the practice of priestly ministry.

Degree Requirements

1. Completion of 118 semester credit hours with a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 2.25.
2. Successful completion of a comprehensive examinations with an average grade of 2.5 toward the end of the student’s course program.

Curriculum
The M.Div. program is designed to be completed over an eight (8) semester period. The number of semester credit hours per course is three unless otherwise noted.

Sacred Scripture
Pentateuch and Historical Literature
Synoptic Gospels
Prophetic Literature
Pauline Epistles
Johannine Literature
One elective

Historical Studies
History: Early to Medieval Church
History: Late Middle Ages to Present
American Church History

Moral-Spirituality Studies
Spirituality and Practice
Foundations of Moral Theology
Catholic Social Ethics
Human Sexuality, Marriage and Celibacy
Medical Ethics
Sacraments of Penance and Anointing
One elective

Systematic-Liturgical Studies
Liturgical Theology
Theological Anthropology
Fundamental Theology
Doctrine of God
Christology-Soteriology
Theology of the Church
Sacraments in General: Baptism and Confirmation
Theology of Ministry and the Ordained Priesthood
Theology of the Eucharist and Practicum (4 credits)
One elective

Pastoral Studies
Pastoral Catechetics
Survey of Canon Law
Canon Law of Marriage
Introduction to Pastoral Theology I and II
Pastoral Placement Experience III and IV
Preaching I and II
Ecumenism
Pastoral Administration
Pastoral Leadership

One elective in moral-spiritual or systematic theology or sacred scripture
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Total Credit Hours 118

B.A./M.A. Degree Program
In the event that a student who does not possess an earned undergraduate degree has been accepted by a diocese to study for the priesthood, St. Mary’s offers a combined BA/MA degree designed to provide the student with all necessary philosophy, religious studies and liberal arts courses in the first two years, and all theology requirements (as specified in The Program of Priestly Formation) in the following four years.

• Be 30 years old or older and have graduated from high school and attended college;
• Be accepted to study for the priesthood and be sponsored by a Roman Catholic diocese;
• Submit an official copy of all high school and college transcripts.

Requirements to graduate

For the B.A. degree:

• Completion of 120 semester credits (with the last 30 earned at St. Mary’s);
• Adequate command of written and spoken English;
• A cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.0.

For the M.A. degree:

• Completion of 52 semester credits in theology;
• A cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 in these 52 credits.

The sequence of the B.A./M.A. program is summarized as follows:

Years 1 and 2: Pre-Theology Years
Philosophy coursework which must include:
A minimum of 30 semester credits in philosophy including (as required by the Program of Priestly Formation):

• Introduction to Philosophical Argumentation
• Philosophical Anthropology
• Metaphysics
• Philosophical Ethics
• History of Philosophy/Ancient and Medieval
• History of Philosophy/Modern
• Epistemology
• Contemporary Issues in Philosophy or relevant seminar
• Philosophy of Nature
• Philosophy of God

Religious studies coursework which must include:
A minimum of 12 in semester credits in theology or religious studies including:

• Introduction to Scripture
• Introduction to Catholic Catechism I
• Introduction to Catholic Catechism II
• Spiritual Traditions of the Church
  

Liberal arts preparation in art, literature, history and language for work in graduate school of theology.

Years 3 and 4: First and Second Theology Years
With all philosophy and religious studies requirements completed, the first and second years of theology are taken with students studying for the S.T.B. and M.Div. degrees and earn junior and senior undergraduate college credit. The B.A. degree is awarded at the end of Second Theology.

Year 5 and 6: Third and Fourth Theology Years
In the final two years, students take all remaining theology courses as prescribed by the Program of Priestly Formation, and complete requirements for the S.T.B and ordination. At the end of the sixth year of study, the student is awarded the M.A. in Theology degree.

M.A. In Theology
The M.A. degree program is open only to School of Theology students who have earned the B.A. degree at St. Mary’s. However, students enrolled in the M.Div. program who find it necessary to withdraw, may be eligible for the M.A. degree with the Dean’s permission, and upon completion of the comprehensive examinations with at least B- average.

The M.A. program is designed for completion over a four semester period. Seminarians in the M.A. program must also complete all pastoral assignments which are not credited toward the degree. For seminarians earning their M.A. degree after completing the B.A. at St. Mary’s, the requirements are the same as the 3rd and 4th year M.Div. requirements.