Master of Divinity
Overview
The following course of studies represents what HACS resident seminarians take to fulfill the Program for Priestly Formation’s philosophy requirements for a pre-theologian. Taking these courses does not guarantee that they will meet the requirements of another seminary. This judgment is to be made by the sponsoring Ordinary and seminary.
The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is a professional degree designed for men preparing to be ordained to the Catholic priesthood. M.Div. studies coincide with the third Configuration stage of seminary formation. Successful completion of the Master of Divinity program attests to the recipient’s competency for exercising priestly ministry gained from a thorough grounding in Sacred Scripture, Dogmatic and Moral Theology, Spiritual and Pastoral Theology, Canon Law, Liturgy, Homiletics and Church History.
Some students who apply at a later age and do not have a Bachelor’s degree may, with the permission of their diocese or religious society, earn a Certificate of Preparation for Ordination for the Priesthood upon the satisfactory completion of four years of theology. All requirements for those in the certificate program are the same as those in the M.Div. program, including the philosophy pre-requisites.
Candidates for the M.Div. degree must achieve and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
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“The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. When you see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
– St. John Marie Vianney –
Life On Campus
House of Discernment students will:
- Live in Christian Community
- Participate in a full time on-campus academic program
- Receive Spiritual Direction
- Join in communal prayer, formation, and recreational activities
- Reside on campus with our seminarians
Admissions to the Program
Before being admitted to the M.Div. program, applicants must have completed the prior stages: the Propaedeutic Stage and the Discipleship Stage.
Applicants for the M.Div. program must have a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university and 24 credits in 8 pre-requisite philosophy courses as given in the Theology program requirements described elsewhere in this catalog.
In cases where an applicant has been a seminarian in another accredited theologate, 60 graduate credits with at least a “C” grade may be transferred toward the M.Div. degree.
More Information
LOCATION
Holy Apostles College and Seminary campus, 33 Prospect Hill Road, Cromwell, CT 06416
Degree requirements
The theological program consists of 96 credits. The program is consistent with the norms of the Program for Priestly Formation of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Electives include but are not limited to: Theology of the Body and the Recent Magisterium, Catechetics, Philosophy for Theologians, Documents of Vatican II, Catholic Bioethics.
Will I be assigned a Spiritual Director?
Yes, you will be provided with a spiritual director to assist you with the discernment process and answer any discernment questions you may have.
MDIV Degree plan
MDIV for seminarians
With the permission of the Faculty Senate, and his ecclesiastical or religious superior, an exceptional student may be allowed to earn a Master of Arts degree in theology, in conjunction with the M.Div. degree.
The Master of Arts degree in Theology requires 36 semester hours of graduate course work beyond the M.Div. requirements. A student who plans to pursue more advanced graduate work in the future may elect write a Master’s Thesis or develop a Special Project. The Master’s Thesis and Special Project may be done for program credit. All students must complete four core courses and complete a summative evaluation.
The degree concentration may be in one of the following areas: Apologetics, Bioethics, Church History, Dogmatic Theology, Moral Theology, or Sacred Scripture.
Students in the Seminary Program should consult the Academic Calendar for registration dates.
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