Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley: Master of Divinity

Introduction
The three-year Master of Divinity degree is the ordinary course of theological education and training for pastoral ministry for the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. As an academic and professional ministerial degree, it meets the needs for both academic training and pastoral experience of those preparing for ordination to presbyteral ministry. To accomplish this purpose the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley provides courses of instruction in theology and related disciplines, introduces students to the use of source materials and the practice of scholarly work and investigation, and provides opportunities for supervised experience in pastoral ministry of various kinds.

Objectives
The Jesuit School's Master of Divinity program is designed to enable graduates

to mediate and articulate Christian doctrine and life, e.g., in the ministry of the Word, whether in preaching or catechetical instruction; in the planning and leading of prayer and liturgical worship; in the healing ministries of counseling and spiritual direction,
to collaborate in equality and mutuality with ordained and non-ordained men and women in ministry,
to develop a commitment to life-long theological study and learning which would focus on interrelating pastoral situations, theological sources, and cultural pluralism, and
to integrate the faith they live with the demands of justice; to this purpose, they should be able to do socio-cultural analysis, and be able to reflect upon and deal with the ambiguities and polarities in Church and culture.

Admission Requirements
The Jesuit School welcomes the application of all qualified persons who wish to pursue the Master of Divinity program.

Applicants should follow the general admissions procedures and the program-specific degree requirements.

Prerequisites

The Bachelor of Arts degree or its academic equivalent.
Nine semester hours or 12 quarter hours of philosophy. Typically this prerequisite is satisfied by courses in the areas of history, ethics, and systematic philosophy. Students preparing for ordination are required to have completed 24 semester units or 36 quarter hours of philosophy.
The applicant should possess the personal maturity and faith commitment commensurate with preparation for full-time ministry. To this end, preference is given to applicants who have at least one year of post-college work experience, and at least part-time, directly ministerial experience.

Advanced Standing
A student who has taken graduate courses in theology no longer than six years prior to registration at the Jesuit School may petition the Academic Dean for advanced standing in the Master of Divinity program. This petition may be included with the Application for Admission or it may be submitted during the first semester of study. Ordinarily, the maximum amount of advanced standing that is granted is twenty-four semester hours (two semesters of full-time study). Petition forms are available from the Assistant Academic Dean or the Office of Admissions.

Modern Language Study
Academic credit for basic modern language study is not applicable to the Jesuit School degree programs. However, students are encouraged to take advanced, ministerial language courses while they are in the Master of Divinity program. Proficiency in Spanish is recommended for all Master of Divinity students.

Jesuit Applicants
The Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley is one of two theological centers in the United States for the theological education and ministerial formation of Jesuit candidates for ordination. Jesuit applicants must follow the general admissions procedures outlined above.