The master’s program in Pastoral Ministry serves those students preparing for ministerial professions, especially for positions currently identified as “lay ecclesial ministry” within the Roman Catholic Church. The program’s basic requirements offer students a comprehensive introduction to the theological, ethical, historical, and biblical resources that ground a Christian minister’s work. The additional requirements introduce students to the basic principles of pastoral theology and selected pastoral skills that are applicable in most ministerial settings. After completing all requirements, students are encouraged to organize the remainder of their course of studies according to the competencies required in their chosen field of ministry. Graduates from the master’s program in Pastoral Ministry should be able to demonstrate an ability to draw upon basic theological, ethical, historical, and biblical sources to do theological reflection that guides and sustains effective ministerial practices.

 

Requirements are as follows:

 

Research Methods

Students must take 500A, Seminar in Research Methods, worth one credit.

 

Biblical Studies

Students must take500B, Foundations of Biblical Studies, worth two credits.

Students must take one more two or three credit course in biblical theology, such as Pentateuch or Synoptic Gospels.

 

Historical Theology

Students must take 500C, Foundations of Church History and Church Theology, worth two credits.

Students must take one more two or three credit course in historical theology, such as U.S. Catholicism or an alternative.

 

Systematic Theology

Students must take 500D, Foundations of Systematic and Moral Theology, worth two credits.

Students must take one more two or three credit course in systematic theology, such as Ecclesiology, Christology, Liturgy, Sacramental Theology, or Trinity.

Moral Theology

Students must take one two or three credit course in moral theology, such as Contemporary Moral Problems or Approaches to Morality.

 

Core Ministry

Students must take 580, Theology of Ministry, worth two or three credits.

Students must take 585, Pastoral Counseling, worth two or three credits.

Students must take 586, Leadership in Parish Ministry, worth two or three credits.

Students must take Canon Law, worth one or two credits.

Pastoral Ministry Seminar

Students are required to enroll in this seminar for at least four semesters. Students should attend at least ten different workshops evenly distributed among the various skills needed for effective ministry.

Practicum

Students must complete 589, a practicum. For more information on the practicum, click here.