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The Master of Divinity (MDiv) is a first professional degree. It is designed to 

foster basic theological understanding and develop initial pastoral 

competence in students preparing for priestly ministry. 

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At STPSU, the MDiv Program corresponds to the Configuration Stage of priestly formation, in accordance with The Program of Priestly Formation (6th ed.), #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.

All seminarians who enter into theological studies at STPSU are enrolled in the MDiv Program. Together with MDiv Program Requirements and 12 units of Ordination Requirements, seminarians who successfully complete this course of study will have the intellectual formation necessary for priestly ministry. With STPSU’s comprehensive and integrative theological curriculum, seminarians come to embody the Church’s rich intellectual heritage so that they can communicate it faithfully and convincingly to others. Field experiences integrated with the curriculum equip the seminarians with the administrative and ministerial skills for parish leadership. Courses in Homiletics help form engaging preachers. Our courses on Liturgical Theology and Theological Aesthetics, community liturgies, and Practicum courses expose our seminarians to the beauty of the Liturgy so that they can celebrate the Sacraments reverently.

Prerequisites for Admission:

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree, have completed 30 semester credits of philosophy in the areas identified in the Program of Priestly Formation (6th ed.) and 12 semester credits of religious studies. All other admission requirements as outlined in Section IV of the amademic catalog apply.

Program Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the program, students will be able to:

  1. Explain the Catholic Faith as revealed in Sacred Scripture and Tradition and historically developed by the Magisterium.
  2. Apply prudently the principles of faith and morals to the lived experiences of the Christian faithful.
  3. Preach the Word of God faithfully and effectively. 
  4. Apply the relevant principles and norms in the reverent celebration of the liturgy and the sacraments.
  5. Demonstrate the qualities of spiritual fatherhood in pastoral ministry. 
  6. Practice responsible and collaborative leadership in parish administration.  

Program Requirements:

The first sequence of the MDiv curriculum equips seminarians with the necessary Scriptural and Theological foundations. The second sequence, “Pastoral Foundations”, provides students with courses in Pastoral Theology and offers a Pastoral Internship experience. The Pastoral Internship (PI) is a 5-7 month, full immersion, diocesan-based, internship program conducted in the seminarian's sponsoring diocese, under the direction and administration of STPSU. Normally, the Pastoral Internship takes place after Theology II. After the Pastoral Internship, students return to the Seminary for the completion of their final two years of theological and pastoral training.

The academic courses, which contribute to the achievement of Program Learning Outcomes, cover the following specific areas and number of credits:

Sacred Scripture16 credits
Moral and Spiritual Theology12 credits
Dogmatics (including Sacramental/Liturgical and Church History)43 credits
Pastoral Studies (including Canon Law)18 credits
Sacred Music2 credits
Total91 credits


Ordination Requirements:

In addition to the MDiv curriculum, all seminarians are required to complete the following 12 credits of Ordination Requirements: 

  • SD-4124: Patristics (2)
  • SS-5218: Matthew-Mark (2) 
  • SS-5217: Luke-Acts (2)
  • SD-5213: Christology/Soteriology (3) 
  • MT-7305: Bioethics (3) 

*Some dioceses may require additional language studies

To complete successfully the program, students are expected to maintain an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0. During the last semester, the MDiv student must pass an oral comprehensive exam with a score of 2.5 out of 4.0. 

MDiv Course of Study

Fall - Theology I
Spring - Theology I
MT-4101: Fundamental Moral Theology (2) 
MT-4111: Spiritual Theology (3)
SD-4101: Fundamental Theology (3)
MT-5202: Virtues and Vices (2) 
SD-4122: Church History I: Early to Medieval Church History (3) 
SD-4103: Theological Anthropology (3) 
SL-5211: Liturgical Theology (2)
SD-4124: Patristics (2)*
SS-4102: Pentateuch and Historical Books (3) 
SS-4104: Prophets (3) 
 PS-4121: Homiletics I: Proclaiming the Word (non-credit requirement)
Language Course (2) (Elective - not required)
Language Course (2) (Elective - not required)

Total: 13+

Total: 13+

Fall - Theology II
Spring - Theology II
SD-5213: Christology/Soteriology (3)*  
MT-5203: Sexual Ethics and the Person (3)
SD-5226: Church History II: Late Medieval to Modern Church History (3)  SD-5211: The Trinity (3) 
SL-5203: Introduction to the Sacraments: Baptism and Conformation (3)  
SM-4100: The History and Principles of Sacred Music (2)
PS-7311: Canon Law I: Introduction (2)
PS-5222: Homiletics II (3)
SS-5218: Matthew-Mark (2)*
SS-5217: Luke-Acts (2)*
Language Course (2) (Elective - not required)
Language Course (2) (Elective - not required)

Total: 13+ 

Total: 13+

Fall - Pastoral Internship
Spring - Theology III
PS- 6503: Pastoral Internship (0) MT-7304: Catholic Social Teaching (2)

PS-7323: Homiletics III (2) 

PS-8432: Canon Law II: The Sacraments (2) 
SD:8431: Ecclesiology (3)

SL-7302: Eucharist (3)

SS-4109: Gospel of John (3) 

Total: 0

Total: 15

Fall - Theology III
Spring - Theology IV
MT-7305: Bioethics (3)*
PS-8413: Pastoral Counseling (3)
PS-8433: Canon Law III: Marriage (2)
SD-7328: Sources of Renewal: A Theological & Historical Reading
of the Church in the 20th-21st Centuries (2)
 SL-8405: Holy Orders and Marriage (4) SL-8404: Penance & Anointing (3)
SS-5213: Pauline Corpus (3) 
SS-5215: Hebrews, Catholic Epistles, and Revelation (2)

Theology Elective - required (2)

Total: 12

Total: 12

Fall - Theology IV
PS-8414: Spiritual Direction (2)

PS-8438: Liturgical Practicum (2)
SD-8433: Mariology (2)

SD-8436: Apologetics and the New Evangelization (2)
SS-5213: Wisdom Literature (2) 

Theology Elective - required (2)

Total: 12

Total MDiv Units: 103+                                           Total Ordination Units: 12

* = Ordination Requirement