School of Theology Catalog 2021

B.A./M.A. Degree Program
In the event that a student who does not possess
an earned undergraduate degree has
been accepted by a diocese to study for the
priesthood, St. Mary’s offers a combined
BA/MA degree designed to provide the student
with all necessary undergraduate philosophy,
religious studies, and liberal arts courses,
and graduate theology and pastoral
requirements (as specified in The Program of
Priestly Formation) in the course of six years.
Prerequisites:
The applicant must:
• Be 30 years old or older and have
graduated from high school and successfully
attended college;
• Be accepted to study for the priesthood
and be sponsored by a Roman Catholic
diocese;
• Submit an official copy of all high school
and college transcripts.
Requirements to graduate:
For the B.A. degree:
• Completion of 120 semester credits
(with the last 30 earned at St. Mary’s);
• Proficient command of written and
spoken English;
• A cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.0.
For the M.A. degree:
• Completion of 48 semester credits in
theology;
• A cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0
in these 48 credits;
• Successful completion of a comprehensive
examination.
The sequence of the B.A./M.A. program is
summarized as follows:
Years 1 and 2:
Pre-Theology Years
Students undertake all the requirements as
outlined in the Program of Priestly
Formation, specifically 30 credits in philosophy
and 12 credits in religious studies, plus
a general liberal arts preparation in art,
literature, history, and language for work in a
graduate school of theology.
Years 3 and 4:
First and Second Theology Years
With all philosophy and religious studies
requirements completed, the first and second
years of theology are taken with students
studying for the S.T.B. and M.Div. degrees in
which students earn junior and senior undergraduate
college credit. The B.A. degree is
awarded before the end of Second Theology.
Years 5 and 6:
Third and Fourth Theology Years
In the final two years, students take all
remaining theology courses as prescribed by
the Program of Priestly Formation, and complete
requirements for the S.T.B and ordination.
At the end of the sixth year of study, the
student is awarded the M.A. (Theology)
degree.
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