The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is a first professional degree. It is designed to foster basic theological understanding and develop initial pastoral competence in students preparing for priestly ministry. At St. Patrick's Seminary & University, the MDiv Program corresponds to the Configuration Stage of priestly formation, in accordance with The Program of Priestly Formation, #291-292. The curriculum, in providing the intellectual foundation of an integral and initial formation program, involves an in-depth study of the Catholic theological tradition and a supervised practice of ministry.
St. Patrick's Seminary & University's Pre-Theolog Program corresponds to the Discipleship Stage, as stated in the 6th edition of The Program of Priestly Formation, #278-279. The Pre-Theology Program provides an integrated intorduction into the four dimensions of priestly formation for men with either no background in philosophy or no previous seminary formation experience.
The Master of Arts (MA) in Theology is an academic degree for seminarians of superior academic ability who show the capacity for research and writing that may lead in the future to teaching, administration, or further studies. The MA degree is generally taken concurrently with the Master of Divinity degee, which is a professional degree oriented to ministry.
Through an affiliation with the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., the STB is offered, providing first-level theological competence required for further studies in the ecclesiastical system. Seminarians at St. Patrick's may pursue the Master of Divinity and STB degrees concurrently. The STB degree is granted and conferred by the Dominican House of Studies.
This degree is designed primarily for those men who wish to study for the Priesthood but who do not have the required college background by allowing candidates to finish college studies, earn a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, and continue their formation in the Seminary.