The four-year Master of Divinity degree (M.Div.), a fully accredited professional ministerial degree, is designed to be completed by seminarians while they are fulfilling the requirements of the ordination formation program. It is the primary degree in seminary education in the U.S. Successful candidates complete the required coursework, achieving a minimum of a 2.5 GPA each semester. All graduates received a passing grade on the assessment tools designed to measure the achievement of the degree program outcomes in intellectual, spiritual, pastoral, and human formation and were recommended to their sponsoring dioceses for ordination. Strong M.Div. candidates may also apply for acceptance into a dual M.A. or S.T.B. degree program.
The Master of Divinity Degree Goals are:
- Students will learn the doctrinal heritage of the Roman Catholic Church and acquire the capacity to communicate this heritage through academic courses in systematic theology, Sacred Scripture, Church history, pastoral and spiritual theology, and pastoral studies, as well as formation conferences and structured opportunities for faith sharing.
- Students will develop pastoral and leadership skills required by the diverse contexts and cultural dimensions of Roman Catholic parish ministry, by acquiring the academic and professional competency needed to begin ecclesial ministry.
- Students will develop a commitment to life-long learning, rooted in the Word of God and integrated with their spiritual lives.
- Students will acquire the competency requisite for preaching that is biblically grounded, doctrinally sound, pastorally focused, and rhetorically effective.
Achievement of these goals is measured by means of the course examinations, a comprehensive formation evaluation process which evaluates growth in human, spiritual, pastoral and intellectual formation (the Profile process). Other assessment measures include the annual Comprehensive Timed Assessment, and artifacts collected throughout the student’s years of study which contribute to the Portfolio Process, and an annual meeting of the entire formation faculty (Rector’s Council) with each bishop (sponsor) and/or vocation director to review in depth each one of their students. These, and the assessment tools highlighted below, provide the seminary, the student, and their sponsors a comprehensive evaluation of the progress being made by each student.
Saint Vincent Seminary offers two types of Master of Divinity Programs.
- The Non-Ordination “Master of Divinity” Degree Program (100 credits). This program is open to lay students but does not lead to ordination in the Catholic Church. It lacks the majority of the priestly formation requirements for orders in the Catholic Church. It does, however, prepare students to function in the Church in a variety of ministries (Catechists, DRE, Teacher, etc.), and may function as part of the educational formation for members of other religious persuasions.
- The Ordination “Master of Divinity” Degree Program (138/139 credits). This degree program is reserved for seminarians only and is specifically designed to fulfill all the requirements of the Priestly Formation Program for ordination into the Roman Catholic Priesthood.
Learning Outcomes for the Master of Divinity
- Students will learn the doctrinal heritage of the Roman Catholic Church and acquire the capacity to communicate this heritage through academic courses in systematic theology, Sacred Scripture, Church history, pastoral and spiritual theology, and pastoral studies, as well as through formation conferences and structured opportunities for faith sharing;
- Students will develop pastoral and leadership skills required by the diverse contexts and cultural dimensions of Roman Catholic parish ministry by acquiring the academic and professional competency needed to begin ecclesial ministry;
- Students will develop a commitment to life-long learning, rooted in the Word of God and integrated with their spiritual lives;
- Students will acquire the competency requisite for preaching that is biblically grounded, doctrinally sound, pastorally focused and rhetorically effective.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements are as follows:
- A bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S. or equivalent) from an accredited college or university;
- 18 credits in philosophy for non-ordination students;
- 30 credits in philosophy for ordination students, in accord with the PPF5;
- 12 credits in Judeo-Christian theology;
- 3 credits in New Testament Greek and a working knowledge of Latin (two semesters);
- Non-ordination students are required to have a personal interview with the Academic Dean and to submit three letters of recommendation, at least one of which must be from a person who knows their academic ability;
- In particular circumstances, the Admissions Committee will determine whether deficiencies may be corrected after admission;
- Students for whom English is a second language are required to submit scores from a recent TOEFL examination. The required score is 550 on the paper examination, 215 on the computer examination, or 79 on the internet examination. The SVSELA (Saint Vincent Seminary’s English Language Assessment) exam with a score of 109 is also acceptable.
In order to transfer credit from previous course work to the Pre-Theology/Philosophical Formation Programs, courses must have been taken within the last ten years.
The Degree Requirements for the Non-Ordination Master of Divinity Program
Those applying for the ordination program must submit all of the required documents and meet the requirements listed on the current admissions checklist before being admitted into the ordination program. - No fewer than 100 credits as specified:
– 14 credits in Sacred Scripture
– 24 credits in Systematic Theology
– 12 credits in Church History
– 24 credits in Pastoral Studies,
– 26 credits in electives (including one two-credit M.Div. seminar); - A grade point average of 2.5;
- A minimum of 50 credits must be accomplished at Saint Vincent Seminary. Note that not all transfer credits and courses can apply to this program.
The Degree Requirements for the Ordination Master of Divinity Program
Though the Ordination Program builds on the foundation of the Master of Divinity degree, its requirements go beyond it. A normal credit distribution and plan of studies is found below. A maximum of 60 credits may be transferred. Transfer credits must have been obtained within the previous ten-year period and not all courses may be transferable into the Seminary Ordination Program. Ordination students who earn the Master of Divinity degree will be granted the degree only after their fourth year of study. All ordination candidates are required to participate fully in the human, intellectual, pastoral, and spiritual formation programs of the Seminary.
The Distribution of Courses in the Ordination Master of Divinity Program
- Spanish 6
- Sacred Scripture (SC) 24
- Theology (TH) 45
- Church History (HS) 12
- Pastoral and Spiritual Theology (PST) 15
- Pastoral Studies (PA) 32
- M.Div./M.A. Seminar 2/3
- MU 700 and MU 710 2
Total: no fewer than 138/139 credits as specified
Electives: Students may take elective courses whenever their schedule allows for them to do so, as long as their total credit load per semester is 18 or lower. Any overload of course credit (above 18 credits) must have the permission of the Academic Dean.
The Normal Cycle of Classes for the M.Div. Degree
Theology I:
Fall
HS 870: Patrology 3
PA 712: Catechetics 2
PA 721: Introduction to Pastoral Communication 2
PST 720: Worship and Ministry 2
SC 701: Introduction to NT Greek (If not completed in Pre-Theology) 3
SC 810: The Primary History of Ancient Israel 3
TH 820: Fundamental Theology 3
Total Credits: 15/18
Spring
HM 701: Spanish I ∆ 3
MS 800: Monastic Spirituality 2
– or-
PST 710: Diocesan Spirituality 2
SC 806: NT Exegesis, Mark and Matthew 3
TH 821: Christian Anthropology and Grace 3
TH 840: Fundamental Liturgy 2
TH 850: Principles of Moral Theology 3
Total Credits: 16
Theology II:
Fall
HM 702: Spanish II – Pastoral Spanish ∆ 3
PA 760: Pastoral Visitation of the Sick (Practicum) 2
SC 807: Luke-Acts and the NT Epistles 3
SC 811: Wisdom Literature & the Psalms 3
TH 833: Trinity 3
TH 853: Catholic Social Ethics 3
Total Credits: 17
Spring
HS 871: Medieval to Counter-Reformation Church History 3
PA 760: Pastoral Visitation of the Sick (Practicum) 2
PST 734: Introduction to Canon Law 3
SC 812: Prophetic Literature 3
SC 816: Writings of St. Paul 3
TH 832: Christology 3
Total Credits: 17
Theology III:
Fall
HS 872: Modern Church History 3
PA 722: Homiletics I 3
PST 735: Canon Law and Sacraments 3
TH 834: Ecclesiology, Missiology, Ecumenism 3
TH 852: Catholic Sexual Ethics 3
TH 864: Mariology 2
Total Credits: 17
Spring
PA 723: Homiletics II 3
PA 740: Deacon Preparation Lab 2
PA 751: Pastoral Counseling I 3
SC 817: Johannine Literature (Gospel, Letters, Revelation) 3
TH 835: The Sacraments of Initiation 3
TH 861: MA/MDiv Seminar+ 3/2
Total Credits: 16/17
Theology IV:
Fall
MU 710: Liturgical Music 2
PA 759: Pastoral Leadership and Parish Administration 2
PA 764: Parish Practicum** 3
PA 785: Pastoral Counseling II 3
PA 800: Ministry Capstone Seminar 3
PST 740: Pastoral Care of Marriage and Families 2
TH 866: The Sacraments of Healing 2
Total Credits: 17
Spring
HS 873: Catholic Church in the U.S. 3
PA 764: Parish Practicum** 3
PA 767: Priesthood Preparation Lab 2
PST 750: Pastoral Theology 3
TH 00R: Readiness for Ministry Exam 0
TH 851 Biomedical and Medical Ethics for Priestly Ministry 3
TH 865: Theology of the Priesthood and Celibacy 3
Total Credits: 17
∆ As part of the Hispanic Ministries Program, each sponsor is also encouraged to provide a Summer Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion Program (of three to four weeks) for each of their students during their years in the seminary.
+This seminar must be chosen from among the offerings available each semester. It is the student’s choice as to which and when to take this seminar. One is required!
**The Parish Practicum includes a two week intensive period in a parish assignment. Students are given work in their other courses to be completed as part of the experience in the parish.
Candidates for the ordination Master of Divinity degree must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 while completing no fewer than 138 credits, following the distribution and the cycle of courses listed above.
A candidate must complete all degree requirements within ten years after acceptance into the Master of Divinity Program in order to receive a diploma.