M.A. in Pastoral Theology Program

The Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology engages the student in critical theological reflection on ministerial practice as preparation for active ministry in a pluralistic society. The program provides theological foundations in pastoral theology, especially in the Roman Catholic tradition, and integrates the formation of persons preparing for pastoral ministry with their study of the Christian theological tradition (spirituality, liturgy, faith and culture, ethics, as well as biblical, historical, and systematic theology, and ecumenical and interreligious dialogue).

Throughout the program there is a stress on the holistic relationships between pastoral theology, faith seeking critical understanding, and faith that does justice.

M.A. Pastoral Theology March 2012

This M.A. provides a theological foundation in methods of biblical, historical, systematic, and moral theology with special emphasis on the Roman Catholic tradition.
The M.A. in Pastoral Theology includes courses in:
  • Faith Formation
  • Faith and Culture
  • Hispanic Ministry
  • Sacramental Theology and Liturgy
  • Spiritual Direction
  • Spirituality
  • Theology of Ministry

M.A. in Pastoral Theology Course Requirements 
Students who enrolled BEFORE Fall 2009 (36 semester hour track):
Course requirements can be found here. Please also see the Capstone Experience page.

Students who enrolled AFTER Fall 2009 (42 semester hour track):
A complete list of Course Requirements can be downloaded by clicking here or can be seen by simply scrolling down.

A Course Check List, which can be used to track your progress (especially during advisement sessions) can be found here.

Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology – 42 Unit Program
FOR STUDENTS WHO ENROLLED AUGUST 2009 AND AFTER

All students must complete 42 semester hours, maintaining a minimum grade point average of "B" (3.0). All courses are 3 semester hours, unless otherwise noted.

Core Courses (24)
The following eight courses (24 semester hours) are required:

 THST 600 Foundations of NT Theology or THST 603 Foundations of OT Theology
 THST 630  Introduction to Systematic Theology
 THST 660  Foundations of Christian Moral Life or One Course from the Historical Area (620’s)
THST 670 Foundations of Pastoral Theology
THST 675 Spiritual Formation for Pastoral Ministry
THST 692 Graduate Pro-Seminar (taken in the first semester)
THST 689 Supervised Pastoral Field Education
THST 691 Pastoral Synthesis Project (taken after completion of 36 hours)

Elective Courses (18)
Pastoral Theology students are required to take one three unit course in either Liturgy, Religious Education, or Spirituality and select other elective courses offered by the Department of Theological Studies after consultation with their advisor. The program is designed to allow students to pursue general interests or a particular concentration. Concentrations are offered in two areas: (1) Pastoral Leadership and (2) Spiritual Direction. Under special circumstances, students may take up to two courses (six semester hours) outside the department.

Concentration in Spiritual Direction
This concentration is designed for anyone in the Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology who would like to acquire the art of Spiritual Direction, a ministry of accompanying others in their spiritual journey. The purpose of the concentration is to provide a course of studies that integrates Theology, Scripture, Psychology, Spirituality, skills acquisition and supervision in the art of Spiritual Direction. Students who wish to concentrate their elective in a spiritual direction would take the following four courses in sequence:

THST 685 Theory and Practice of Spiritual Direction
THST 686 Ignatian Spirituality
THST 687 Psychological Foundations of Pastoral Ministry
THST 688 Practicum and Supervision in Spiritual Direction

Concentration in Pastoral Leadership
This concentration is designed to educate those who will serve (or who currently serve) as leaders in pastoral settings, either as leaders in specialized ministries or as leaders in general ministry positions. Examples of leaders in specialized ministry: Directors of Religious Education, Directors of Youth Ministry or Campus Ministry, Directors of Catechumenate/RCIA. The concentration is deliberately open to the students to design under the guidance of the academic advisor. In this way, students who find themselves actively engaged in, or aspiring to, leadership ministries within schools or parishes will choose courses for the concentration that fit their current or aspired ministry commitments. Students who choose to do this Concentration are required to take:

THST 674 Pastoral Leadership

In addition, students are required to take two (2) of the following (or other courses approved by the academic advisor):

THST 650 Liturgical Theology: History and Interpretation
THST 652 The Rites
THST 671 Pastoral Approaches to Religious Education
THST 673 Faith and Culture: Catechesis in Southern California
THST 677 Pastoral Liturgy
THST 678 The Theology of the Parish
THST 679 Special Topics in Pastoral Theology
THST 687 Psychological Foundations of Pastoral Ministry

Capstone Experience
Students who will began their program in or after the Fall 2009 semester (42 semester hour track):
Description and policies for the Capstone experience will be published in the Capstone Experience page at a later date.

M.A. in Pastoral Theology Admission Requirements

Go to Master of Arts in Theology