Degrees & Certificates

This three-year ecclesiastical degree provides ordained and full-time lay ministers with a theological and practical background.

Requirements:

• 30 credit hours of philosophy

• Curriculum available upon request: stmadm@dos5.net

• Proficiency in Latin, demonstrated either through recent successful coursework or by passing a translation exam

• S.T.B. comprehensive examination, given in your final semester

This six-course certificate includes spiritual enrichment opportunities for those looking to further their academic or personal development in Christian Spirituality. Teachers, pastors, ministers, and those drawn to spiritual formation work will benefit from this focused study of Christian Spirituality.

Ideal applicants include: Persons with an earned Master’s degree in an area other than theology who wish to study Christian Spirituality broadly, or those interested in the study of Spirituality for their own enrichment or ministerial enhancement who have a strong Bachelor’s degree. Business executives, educators, alums, pastors, ministers.

In addition to ongoing professional development, the program provides a nurturing environment for spiritual enrichment and renewal. Coursework is chosen in consultation with your academic advisor.

Program requirements:

• A current commitment to ministry

• 18 credit hours of academic work, including three courses designated as core requirements

• Sufficient knowledge of the Spanish language

A limited number of applicants who do not have a bachelor’s degree may be admitted to the program under certain conditions.

This six-course certificate includes spiritual enrichment opportunities for those looking to further their academic or personal development in Ignatian spirituality. 

Ideal applicants include: Persons with an earned Master’s degree in an area other than theology who wish to study Ignatian Spirituality in particular, or those interested in the study of Ignatian Spirituality for their own enrichment or ministerial enhancement who have a strong Bachelor’s degree.  Business executives, educators, alums, pastors, ministers

This program is ideal for veteran religious educators who want to gain specialized knowledge and for new teachers who are looking to gain an introduction to the area of religious education.

There are opportunities to combine coursework and take advantage of the resources at the Lynch School of Education—the top-ranked school of Catholic education in the country—and the Roche Center for Catholic Education.

During the summer, courses are specifically offered for you to hone your teaching skills and address contemporary issues like theology in the digital age and diversity in the classroom.

This six-course certificate includes spiritual enrichment opportunities for those looking to further their academic or personal development in the area of spiritual and pastoral care. 

Please note: The six-credit Introduction to Spiritual Direction Practicum is an option within the Christian Spirituality Certificate and the Certificate in Ignatian and Jesuit Studies. It is a required element in the Certificate in Spiritual and Pastoral Care. For those with spiritual direction training already who have complete the 19^th Annotated Exercises, the summer one-week intensive training program in the 19^th annotation is also an option.

Ideal applicants include: nurses, counselors, social workers, and parish pastoral care givers

This six-course certificate includes spiritual enrichment opportunities for those looking to further their academic or personal development. If you decide to continue into an M.A. degree program after you complete this program, you can use the courses toward the degree. You work with a faculty advisor to choose courses that fit your goal—either focusing on a specific theological area or gaining broad exposure to what CSTM offers. Certificate students are eligible for CSTM’s tuition scholarships.

Courage to Preach

A six-credit post-master's certificate program for individuals serving young adults. The program will train participants to read and interpret Scripture and use it as a foundational collection to preach on contemporary issues, such as racial, economic, and environmental justice. The program will teach methods for preaching and teaching diverse audiences. It is especially attuned to the various opportunities, contexts, and media that can be most effective for reaching young adults.

Certificate Features

• Hybrid certificate program that can be completed in one year with a small cohort
• Critical and creative engagement with Scripture
• Enhanced preaching and public speaking skillsHands-on experience practicing preaching and developing justice-focused activities in different contexts
  

During the program, students develop expertise in a specific area, mastering the issues and methodologies of their discipline. Our alumni contribute to Church administration and pastoral work, serving through dioceses, seminaries, religious communities, and institutions of higher learning around the world.

Degree requirements:

• A three-semester residency

• One modern language beyond S.T.L. requirements

• Four courses or seminars in an area of specialization

• Two semesters as a teaching assistant

• Comprehensive examinations

• Thesis proposal

• Completion and defense of a doctoral thesis

This program is designed for individuals who wish to combine theories and practice of psychology with studies in theology and the pastoral dimensions of caregiving.

You’ll benefit from faculty advisors in both schools, spending your first year and summers in CSTM and years two and three in the Lynch School. Graduates emerge with both an M.A. in theology and ministry and an M.A. in counseling and can seek licensing as professional mental health counselors. Students usually complete the program in three years. You must apply separately and be admitted to both CSTM and the Lynch School.

Combine an M.A. in theology and ministry with a renowned Boston College M.B.A. This program manifests the University’s mission to educate individuals who serve with excellence in their fields and work for social and economic justice. Students generally begin their studies in CSTM and maintain close contact with advisors both in CTM and the Carroll School. The program must be completed within six years. Students must apply separately and be admitted to both CSTM and the Carroll School.

Combine an M.A. in theology and ministry with an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction through Boston College's Urban Catholic Teacher Corps (UCTC). Through this program, students take coursework in both disciplines while serving as a full-time teacher in the Archdiocese of Boston. This dual degree prepares faith-filled teachers to make a strong impact on Catholic education. Students generally begin their studies in UCTC and maintain close contact with advisors both in CSTM and the Lynch School. Students must apply separately and be admitted to both CSTM and UCTC. 

This program integrates theological understanding with social work theories and practice. Students develop the skills to plan, administer, and provide social services within local churches and faith-based agencies. 

Graduates emerge with both an M.A. in theology and ministry and an M.S.W. and can seek licensing as a clinical social worker. Students usually complete the program in three years. You must apply separately and be admitted to both CSTM and the School of Social Work.

Our programs prepare pastoral leaders, academics, educators and other professionals to serve the needs of a fast-growing Hispanic Catholic population in the United States. These programs offer our entire academic community the opportunity to engage leading U.S. Hispanic and Latin American theological voices as part of their formation.

Through STM’s Department of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry, earn your:

• Master of Arts degree in Theology and Ministry with a Track in Hispanic Ministry 

• Graduate-level Certificate in Hispanic Ministry 

Students typically take on-campus courses during the summer, when on-campus housing is available, and leverage online courses during the fall and spring. Because our program features both in-person and online interaction, students maintain close connections with their classmates.

Program highlights:

• 36 or 48 credits

• Can be completed in three years  

• Take courses across different theological areas (on-campus or online)

• Spiritual formation component

• Supervised ministry

• Capstone grounded in pastoral praxis—a traditional essay-based thesis, an artistic/performance thesis, or a research-based thesis

The 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises allows for persons to complete the Spiritual Exercises with others over several months, engaging in Ignatian prayer practices, readings, and meditations, while meeting regularly with a spiritual director. 

The School of Theology and Ministry offers a week-long Summer Intensive for spiritual directors seeking a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises in order to better accompany others through the Spiritual Exercises, particularly in the 19^th Annotation format. It is essential that spiritual directors who accompany others through the 19th Annotation have completed the Spiritual Exercises themselves.

Students concentrate on a specialized topic area within theology—Biblical Studies, Systematic and Historical Theology, Moral Theology, Church History or Spirituality Studies.

Requirements:

• Two years of full-time study (limit of four years of part-time study)

• One year in residence

• 24 credit hours (in addition to nine-credit thesis), half of credits taken in concentration

• Proficiency in Latin (or Hebrew or Greek for Scripture concentration)

• Proficiency in one modern research language (German, French, or Spanish) in addition to English

• Successful defense of thesis

This two-year, 48-credit program is particularly well suited for lay students seeking intensive study of theology, pastoral development, active engagement in spiritual formation, and practical experience gained through a supervised ministry placement.

You can also pursue dual-degree programs, combining the M.A. with master’s degrees in social work (M.S.W.), business (M.B.A.), or counseling (M.A.).

Program highlights:

• Specialize the degree with a religious education or Hispanic ministry track

• Complete the Hybrid M.A. program through online and on-campus coursework

• Thesis project

This professional degree program combines broad mastery of theology with supervised ministry and spiritual formation. Prerequisites include one year of full-time, post-collegiate ecclesial ministry (exceptions will be made for applicants with significant undergraduate ministerial leadership experience) or its equivalent and two undergraduate courses in philosophy.

Program highlights:

• 82 credits, typically completed in three years of full-time study

• A grounding in Scripture, Church history, historical-systematic-practical theology, moral theology, and pastoral studies

• Supervised ministry in a setting you choose

• A supportive cohort experience, with dinners, nights of prayer and worship, and other bonding opportunities

• Synthesis exams in your third year

A broad curriculum covers various disciplines that make up theology. The program is also flexible: Half of the requirements are core credits—in fields such as Biblical Studies, Systematic and Historical Theology, Moral Theology, and Church History—and half are electives.  

Program highlights:

• 48 credits, usually completed in two years

• Apply up to nine credits in ancient or modern languages to the degree

• Pursue directed readings with faculty members during your second year

• Optional research thesis for credit

This 24-credit, civil degree can be completed full-time or part-time, in one year or two. Students choose either a theological or ministerial specialization. The theological specialization culminates in a thesis.

Lay students who have already completed a first-level master’s degree, are interested in doctoral work, and want additional coursework should also consider our Master of Theology program.

Admission prerequisites:

• A foundational master’s degree in theology or its equivalent in credit hours

• Ministerial experience

• Evidence of excellence in previous academic work

You must have an undergraduate degree to enroll.

Highlights:

• Regular tuition applies

• Take up to 12 credit hours total as a nondegree student

• If you later enroll in a degree program, apply the credits you earn toward your degree

• Cross-register at other Boston Theological Institute schools

• Take courses for full credit or as an auditor (at half of the credit cost)  

We also offer a special Minister-in-the-Vicinity rate for auditors working full-time in local ministry; the rate applies to one course per semester.

Prepare for a career as a leader in religious education, working with your STM advisor and enjoying access to courses at the Lynch School of Education and Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. You’ll design your own program of study and gain valuable skills as a research and teaching assistant.

Program requirements include:

• 48 credit hours beyond the master’s degree

• Reading knowledge of one modern, classic, or biblical language other than English,

• Comprehensive examinations

• A dissertation

 

This advanced certificate is offered only in the summers and is completed over three summers. The program includes discussions with faculty, who are established professionals, and hands-on, small-group work. Prerequisites include a master’s degree in theology and full-time experience in ministry.

Program highlights:

• An introduction to the fundamentals of spiritual direction practice

• Opportunities to fine-tune your retreat skills

• Convenient summer study—two weeks for three consecutive summers

• Vibrant daily liturgy

• Affordable on-campus housing

The summer at STM is an exciting time to enrich, enhance, and renew your ministerial education. There are multiple offerings—including three-week courses, one-week courses, six-week Biblical language intensives, online courses, on-campus lectures, and morning and evening options. Most courses require an undergraduate degree and work to be completed before arriving on campus.

Students can also stay active spiritually and socially, bonding through daily mass, liturgical ministry opportunities, the Boston Pops Fourth of July concert, Red Sox games, and trips to the North End and Sam Adams or Harpoon Brewery. On-campus housing is also available, making their time here more affordable.