Master of Divinity (M.DIV.)
The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is a four-year professional degree that testifies to proficiency in the sciences and skills necessary for ordination to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church. It must be noted, however, that completion of the M.Div. degree does not entitle the recipient to ordination. Admission to ordination is the decision of local diocesan ordinaries or superiors of religious orders who may have further requirements or expectations.
The following guidelines were used in establishing the Franciscan School of Theology’s M.Div. program:
- The Program for Priestly Formation, USCCB, Fifth Ed., 2006
- Priestly Formation, General Chapter of the Order of Friars Minor, Rome, 1971
- The Basic Plan for Priestly Formation, The Sacred Congregation for Priestly Formation, Rome, 1970
- De Formatione Candidatorum ad Sacerdotium Ministeriale et ad Vitam Religiosam, ed. G. Barauna, O.F.M., Rome, 1969
- Ratio Formationis Franciscanae, Rome, 1991
- Ratio Studiorum, Order of Friars Minor, Rome, 2001
- Ratio Studiorum Provincae, Oakland, California, 2005
Goals of the M.Div. Program
The goals of the M.Div. program are to prepare students to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic documents and heritage of the Roman Catholic Church through instruction in Scripture, church history, systematic theology, liturgy, and moral theology within diverse cultural contexts
- Develop skills for ministerial leadership through pastoral training, liturgical preparation, preaching, supervised field education, and experiences with diverse cultural groups
- Achieve personal and spiritual growth and integration through theological reflection, professional ethics training, and a personal ministry statement
Special Requirements for Admission
- For members of religious communities, a letter of approval from their ordinary or religious superior
- A certificate of completion issued by the applicant’s ordinary or religious superior stating that the applicant has taken a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of undergraduate philosophy as prescribed by the USCCB Program for Priestly Formation.
Requirements of the M.Div. Program
M.Div. students are required to:
- Complete 96 semester units as described in the curriculum below, nine (9) of which must be taken from a non-Catholic member school of the GTU
- Engage in all field education requirements
- Maintain an overall 3.0 grade point average in all required and elective courses
- Be enrolled in the school for at least 8 semesters for fulfill the 4-year full time tuition residency requirement
- Complete all work within 8 years of the first semester of enrollment
Curriculum of the M.Div. Program
| Course area | Units |
| First Semester These foundational courses must be taken in the first semester of study |
|
| Introduction to Old Testament | 3 |
| Basic Christian Liturgy | 3 |
| Basic Systematic Theology | 3 |
| Ancient Christianity | 3 |
| Second to Eighth Semesters | |
| Interpreting the Church Today | 3 |
| Fundamental Moral Theology | 3 |
| Second Course in Ethics (social, medical or sexual) | 3 |
| Introduction to New Testament | 3 |
| Advanced New Testament Courses | 6 |
| (Choose 2) | |
| Synoptic Gospels | |
| Gospel and Epistles of John | |
| Pauline Letters | |
| Advanced Old Testament Courses | 3 |
| (Choose 1) | |
| Psalms | |
| Wisdom Literature | |
| Prophets | |
| Christology | 3 |
| Theology of God and Trinity | 3 |
| Multicultural Theology | 3 |
| Medieval/Reformation Christianity | 3 |
| Modern/American Catholicism | 3 |
| Pastoral Counseling | 3 |
| Ecclesiology: Theology and Ministry in the Church | 3 |
| Sacramental Theology | 3 |
| Preaching Practicum I | 3 |
| Canon Law: Introduction and Marriage | 3 |
| Advanced Preaching, Celebrational Styles/Prayer Leadership | 3 |
| Professional Ethics | 1.5 |
| Parish Administration | 1.5 |
| Reconciliation Practicum | 1.5 |
| Third to Sixth Semesters | |
| Ministry Seminar I | 3 |
| Ministry Seminar II | 3 |
| Ministry Seminar III | 3 |
| Ministry Seminar IV | 3 |
| Electives | 13.5 |