Through our carefully designed certificate, master’s degree, and post-graduate certificate programs, you can gain the theological wisdom and pastoral skills necessary to serve the Church in a variety of capacities: as catechetical leader, Catholic school teacher, Catholic school administrator, pastoral minister, lay ecclesial leader, and many other roles of leadership and service.
All classes in the programs are taught by faculty of the School of Ministry and other professional theologians and pastoral practitioners from around the nation. Non-credit participation, or audits, are also welcome.
Core Requirements
All of our graduate programs, which range from 36 to 48 hours of course requirements, are centered around a core of theological studies. These core classes include courses on the Old Testament, New Testament, Moral Theology, Church History, Theological Reflection, Systematic Theology, Catechisis, etc., depending on the program. Please see each program's curriculum worksheet below for each program's core requirements.
Online Education
While some of our classes are only offered on-site, many of our classes and some of our programs are available through online education. For more information please click here.
Admission Requirements
While all applicants must complete an admission process, the requirements depend on the program and the degree, whether certificate, master's, or post-graduate certificate. For more information on the admission process and the tuition and fees for the graduate programs of the School of Ministry, please click the link below.
OUR PROGRAMS
Theological Studies
Designed to give students the tools for the practical application of theological knowledge, the Master of Theological Studies offers a course of study for those students interested in reflecting on seminal theological questions. In the M.T.S. program, students take seven core courses - Moral Theology, Liturgy and the Sacraments, Church History, Systematic Theology, Theological Reflection, Old Testament, and New Testament. In addition, students choose five elective courses in order to allow them to pursue their own theological interests. Click here to view the curriculum worksheet for the general Theological Studies program, and click on the title of the concentration to see its curriculum worksheet.
CONCENTRATIONS AVAILABLE:
- Biblical Theology
- The concentration combines foundational bible and theology courses in School of Ministry with an intellectually rigorous approach to scripture.
- The degree requires 36 credit hours of course work, at least 18 hours of which will be scripture.
- Required scripture courses include Old Testament and New Testament.
- Students may choose from the following electives: Pentateuch, Prophets, Wisdom and Psalms, Synoptic Gospels, Fourth Gospel, Paul and Acts, Biblical Archaeology, and others.
Pastoral Ministry
The Master of Pastoral Ministry Program equips those who wish to serve in the parishes of the dioceses of Dallas, Fort Worth, Tyler and Shreveport with appropriate theological knowledge, pastoral skill, and spiritual depth. To meet the diverse pastoral needs of the surrounding diocese, the M.P.M. program has several focus areas. Click on the titles of the Focus Areas to see a curriculum worksheet for each.
FOCUS AREAS AVAILABLE:
- Campus Ministry
- Campus Ministers provide proactive ministerial services on college campuses, reaching out to young adults. This program prepares those interested in working with a population faced with the challenges of college life, and the often accompanying questions about faith, values, and using one's gifts.
- Church Management
- The concentration in Church Management provides ministers with theological, pastoral, and financial managerial skills crucial for the efficient operation of churches and schools. It requires 36 credit hours of course work, a successful capstone with the combination of 18 credit hours from the School of Ministry, 12 credit hours from the College of Business and six electives in approved business or ministry courses. Click here to view the brochure on the Church Management concentration.
- Family Ministry
- This recognized program for Family Ministry Certification is offered in cooperation with the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers, and the regional Family Life Network. This concentration enables participants to minister effectively to the particular needs of families in the 21st century.
- Healthcare Ministries
- Recognized by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, this focus area features on site Clinical Pastoral education(CPE) at Harris Medical Center in Fort Worth or Children's Medical Center of Dallas, combined with academic knowledge and a capstone project.
- Hispanic Ministry
- With emphasis on ministerial outreach to the Hispanic community, the program in Hispanic Ministry trains professionals to meet the needs of one of the fastest growing communities in the Church.
- Pastoral Life and Administration
- Intended to prepare Pastoral Associates and Parish Life Administrators, this focus area emphasizes the comprehensive needs of those assisting with parish leadership, administration, and faith formation.
- Youth Ministry
- This focus area provides the preparation needed to address the spiritual growth of youth in a parish or school setting. The program is offered in conjunction with the Center for Ministry Development and meets its requirements for the National Certificate in Youth Ministry.
Catholic School Teaching
The Master of Catholic School Teaching is a collaborative degree project involving the School of Ministry, and the Dallas Area Network for Teaching and Education (DANTE), a special project within the Department of Education committed to forming a Catholic "community of practice" both on campus and online where preservice and inservice teachers can construct what it means to teach...for the first time or all over again. Designed to lead, encourage, and support prospective and practicing Catholic school teachers in their efforts to become fully-informed, reflective, faith-filled educators for Catholic schools, the Masters in Catholic School Teaching (MCST) includes the religious education/theology and professional education courses necessary to satisfy teaching requirements as determined by the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department for a) teaching religion/theology in grades 3K - 12 in Texas Catholic schools, b) teaching subjects other than religion/theology in grades 3K - 12 in Texas Catholic schools, and c) teaching religion/theology in Texas parish programs of religious education. Click on the titles of the Focus Areas to see a curriculum worksheet for each.
FOCUS AREAS AVAILABLE:
Religious Education
Our Master of Religious Education program prepares those students who wish to be Directors of Religious Education in their parishes. Every student in the Religious Education program takes a set of core courses as well as courses focused specifically on the principles of religious education. In addition, students in the program participate in a mentoring program, one that joins them to a professional minister in the local area to give them support, encouragement, and practical knowledge beyond their classroom experience. Click here to view the curriculum worksheet for the Religious Education program.
Catholic School Leadership
The Catholic School Leadership Program teaches those skills necessary to be an effective administrator or teacher in area Catholic schools. The Program consists of a series of courses that bring the light of experience an critically accepted principles to bear on the tasks of being a leader in a Catholic school as well as a series of courses that are theological an pastoral in their orientation, bringing the light of faith to the role of school leadership. Students in the M.C.S.L. program are required to take four core courses in addition to eight courses designed specifically for training in successful Catholic school leadership. Click here to view the curriculum worksheet for the Catholic School Leadership program. Also, more information on the program's requirements can be found here.
For more information about all of our graduate programs and the classes offered, please consult the student handbook.
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