The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is a professional degree designed for men preparing to be ordained to the Catholic Priesthood or permanent Diaconate. Successful completion of the Master of Divinity program attests to the recipient’s competency for exercising priestly ministry gained from a thorough grounding in Sacred Scripture, Dogmatic and Moral Theology, Spiritual and Pastoral Theology, Canon Law, Liturgy, Homiletics and Church History.

Some students who apply at a later age and do not have a Bachelor’s degree may, with the permission of their diocese or religious society, earn a Certificate of Preparation for Ordination for the Priesthood upon the satisfactory completion of four years of theology. All requirements for those in the certificate program are the same as those in the M.Div. program, including the philosophy prerequisites.

Candidates for the M.Div. degree must achieve and maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0.

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants for the M.Div. program should follow the Seminary Division Admissions Procedures.

2. Applicants for the M.Div. program must have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university and 30 credits in 10 prerequisite philosophy courses as noted in the Theology Program: Academic Requirements.

In cases where an applicant has been a seminarian in another accredited theologate, 60 graduate credits with at least a “C” grade may be transferred toward the M.Div. degree.

Degree Requirements

Ninety (90) credits of graduate theology are required and must include:

STD 707 God: One and Triune
STD 901 Christology
STM 620 Fundamental Moral Theology
SS 704 Synoptic Gospels

A minimum of nine credits must be earned in the areas of Moral Theology, Sacred Scripture, Dogmatic Theology, Pastoral Theology and Church History.