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Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry
The Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry is designed to prepare men and women for pastoral service in parish and social ministries. The degree grounds the student in the essential aspects of the theological tradition and requires the student to develop those skills and capacities essential to an area of ministerial interest.
Many students, including those in the School of Theology·Seminary's Youth in Theology and Ministry program and deacon candidates from the Diocese of Saint Cloud, move through this degree program in cohorts with specifically assigned courses. Others, preparing for a variety of ministries, choose from the wider range of courses as described below.
For detailed program outcomes, see the Academic Catalog.
Degree Requirements
- A total of 48 graduate credits.
- No more than 12 credits earned in web-based courses may be applied to the degree.
- A grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.50 (C+ average) on a 4.0 scale.
- Required courses:
- Introduction to the Christian Tradition (3 credits)
- Christology (3 credits)
- Ecclesiology (3 credits)
- Fundamental Moral Theology (3 credits)
- Introduction to Pastoral Ministry (3 credits) OR Theology of Lay and Ordained Ministry (3 credits)
- Pastoral Liturgy I (3 credits)
- Pastoral Liturgy II (3 credits)
- Evangelization and Catechesis (3 credits)
- Integration Seminar (3 credits)
- Constrained scripture electives: (select 6 credits)
- Old Testament: choose ONE of the following courses
- Reading the Old Testament (3 credits)
- Pentateuch (3 credits)
- Prophetic Tradition (3 credits)
- New Testament: choose ONE of the following courses
- Reading the New Testament (3 credits)
- Gospel of Mark (3 credits)
- Gospel of Matthew (3 credits)
- Gospel of Luke (3 credits)
- The Johannine Tradition (3 credits)
- Synoptic Gospels (3 credits)
- Pauline Letters (3 credits)
- Constrained ministry electives: (select 6 credits)
- Youth Ministry (3 credits)
- Sacramental Catechesis (3 credits)
- Introduction to Pastoral Care (3 credits)
- Dynamics of Spiritual Direction (3 credits)
- Introduction to Ecclesial Law (3 credits)
- Homiletics (3 credits)
- Parish Administration (3 credits)
- Rural Social Issues (3 credits)
- Congregational Ministry (3 credits)
- Leadership in the Christian Community (3 credits)
- Practicum in Pastoral Ministry: (6 credits in any combination of the following areas)
- Catechetics
- Rural Ministry
- Liturgy
- General Parish Ministry
- Social Ministry
- Homiletics
- Pastoral Care
- General electives (3 credits)
- Participation in the formation program.
The Student Handbook outlines the requirements for the formation program and the practicum.
Last Updated: 4/25/08 RB
Saint John's School of Theology·Seminary
Collegeville, Minnesota 56321
Phone: 320-363-2102
Toll-Free: 800-361-8318
Fax: 320-363-3145