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Dual-Degree Candidacy

Qualified students at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary may enroll in one of the two dual-degree programs. They are each offered with its own focus, entrance requirements, curriculum, and concluding exercise. Students may choose between an M.Div./M.A. (theology) combination or an M.Div./S.T.B. combination.

Degree Distinctions

M.Div. Degree
M.A. (Theology)
S.T.B.

M.Div. Degree

The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is a fully accredited basic graduate-level professional degree oriented towards ministerial leadership. Designed to develop the student's basic theological understanding and  pastoral competence, it is the normative degree to prepare seminarians for ordained ministry. It includes a thorough study of the Catholic theological heritage and its faithful contemporary expression and a supervised practice of ministry. The degree conforms to the standards of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). All seminarians entering first theology are enrolled in the M.Div. program.

M.A. (Theology)

The Master of Arts (Theology) is a fully accredited graduate-level academic degree. It provides students with competence in the study of theology as a scientific discipline. It includes both the attainment of survey knowledge of theology and a concentration for study and research writing in sacred scripture, systematic theology, church history, or moral theology. Conforming to the standards of the ATS, this degree is valuable for those interested in teaching or pursuing doctoral programs.

S.T.B.

The Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) provides the student with a solid, Thomistic, organic, and complete instruction in theology at the basic level. As a first-cycle ecclesiastical academic degree in the European educational model, it enables graduates to pursue further studies in the sacred sciences. This graduate-level degree is a prerequisite for further pursuit of an ecclesiastical licentiate degree, and is also accepted for further study in universities of the European Union where the M.Div. is not recognized.