The Master of Divinity program is the first professional degree
program
providing theological training for those preparing to undertake ministry
in the Roman Catholic Church primarily through ordination to the
priesthood. While the usual candidate admitted to the M.Div. program is
a seminarian preparing for the Roman Catholic priesthood, persons not
seeking ordination may be admitted to this program at the discretion of
the rector-dean, provided they meet all other requirements.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the University's general admission requirements for
graduate study and the special admission requirements for all ICCST
programs, M.Div. applicants:
- must undertake psychological testing, according to protocols issued by the Office of the Rector-Dean;
- must have a personal interview with the Rector-Dean and/or Admissions Committee. Scheduling for such interviews is initiated by ICSST; and
- should have earned at least 12 undergraduate hours in religious studies/theology and at least 24 undergraduate hours in philosophy as part of their undergraduate education. Deficiencies in these distributions may be remedied through the Pretheology program at ICSST.
NOTE: For those seminarians who are already affiliated with a diocese or
religious community, onsite testing at Seton Hall University for English
language abilities (with possible additional requirements in ESL
classes) may be substituted for the TOEFL.
Matriculation Requirements
M.Div. students must maintain at least a 3.000 GPA (on a 4.000) scale in
all pastoral theology courses and at least a 2.500 GPA in each of the
biblical, historical, moral and systematics areas. Degree programs
should be completed within six years unless extension of time is granted
upon petition to the ICSST Educational Policy Committee due to
extenuating circumstances.
Degree Requirements
The M.Div. curriculum consists of four components: course work; field
education and theological reflection; spiritual formation; and the M.Div.
Comprehensive Project and Seminar. These components are divided as
follows:
I. Course Work (72 credits):
Students must complete academic course work according to the following
distribution:
A. Biblical Studies (12 credits):
| BIBL 6501 | Synoptic Gospels (or specific study of a Gospel) |
3 |
| BIBL 6505 | Pauline Literature | 3 |
| Select any two of the following three Old Testament courses: | ||
| BIBL 6201, 6203, 6205 | 6 | |
B. Historical Studies (6 credits):
| HSTD 6301 | Mediterranean Christianity | 3 |
| Select any other HSTD course. | 3 | |
C. Moral Theology (6 credits):
| CETH 6101 | Christian Ethics I | 3 |
| CETH 6102 | Christian Ethics II | 3 |
D. Pastoral Theology (27 credits):
Candidates pursuing ordination to the priesthood must select the courses listed below. The non-ordination M.Div. candidate must complete 27 credits of PTHO courses selected in light of the student's present/prospective ministerial needs and in conjunction with his / her academic adviser. Areas of choice for the non-ordination M.Div candidate are identified below.
| PTHO 6201 | Pastoral Psychology | 3 |
| PTHO 6202 | Pastoral Counseling | 3 |
| PTHO 6109 | Introduction to Preaching | 2 |
| PTHO 6112 | Preaching Practicum I | 2 |
| PTHO 6113 | Preaching Practicum II | 2 |
| PTHO 6401 | General Canon Law | 3 |
| PTHO 6405 | Canon Law of Marriage | 3 |
| PTHO 6715 | Spiritual Direction | 3 |
| Select one of the following catechetical courses: | ||
| PTHO 6301 | Parish as Learning Community | 3 |
| PTHO 6323 | Adult Catechesis | 3 |
| Select one course in spirituality in consultation with adviser. | ||
E. Systematic Theology (21 credits):
| STHO 6202 | Revelation and Faith | 3 |
| STHO 6203 | Christology | 3 |
| STHO 6204 | Trinity | 3 |
| STHO 6205 | Christian Anthropology | 3 |
| STHO 6207 | Ecclesiology | 3 |
| STHO 6503 | Sacraments of Initiation | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| STHO 6501 | Worship | 3 |
| STHO 6505 | Eucharist | 3 |
II. Field Education and Theological Reflection
All students must complete the equivalent of 12 credits of field
education. ICSST conducts a field education program for seminarians
during their second and third years of studies. Other ways in which the
field education requirement can be met include: (1) four semesters of
supervised field education experience of six to eight hours weekly at an
approved site; (2) two such semesters and a six-week intemship of at
least five days per week for at least six weeks; and (3) clinical pastoral
education. ICSST must approve the proposed method of complying with the
field education requirement.
Concomitantly with field education, all students must participate in a
theological reflection group, meeting approximately 10 times during the
course of the academic year (two semesters). Registration for a group is
accomplished through the associate dean.
III. Spiritual Formation
ICSST provides an integrated spiritual formation program for residential
seminarians enrolled in the M.Div. Program, based on the vision of Pope
John Paul II's Apostolic Exhortation Pastores dabo vobis. The program
includes daily celebration of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the
Hours; a weekly formational program, which includes distinguished
speakers brought in for seminarians; a regular structure of personal
mentoring and spiritual direction; days of reflection and organized
retreats; and participation in a summer program of enhanced spiritual
formation after I and III Theology, in conjunction with the National
Institute for Clergy Formation. Residential students are regularly
reviewed and assessed by the formation faculty. Non-residential
seminarians usually participate in the formation programs of their own
communities, though they are welcome to avail themselves of formational
opportunities at ICSST as is beneficial to them. Lay students
participate in the same formation program outlined under the Spiritual
Formation component of the M.A.P.M. degree program.
IV. M.Div. Comprehensive Seminar and Project
All M.Div. students must enroll in and successfully complete the
combined three-credit PTHO 9102-9103 M.Div. Seminar I-II. The student
completes the seminar by submission of an acceptable M.Div.
comprehensive project demonstrating successful integration of
theological knowledge with application to a concrete pastoral issue.
Copies of the M.Div. project must be deposited in the ICSST Library.