Our faculty is drawn from the excellent scholars in the Religious Studies Department at Santa Clara University as well as experts drawn from institutions worldwide.
Small class sizes and individual curricula allow each student to design a course of study that best prepares her or him for future ministerial work. All courses focus on providing students with intellectual capacity and practical knowledge to serve dynamically in their individual apostolate. The strong theological foundation required of all students, the Ignatian pedagogy, and the diverse student body all help to create a unique, vigorous, and challenging environment designed to help students better serve the people of God.
If you are not ready to commit to seeking a Master of Arts degree but are intrigued by one or more of the courses you see listed you may apply as a non-degree seeking student. You still apply to the program using the online application and you may take a few courses for credit or as an auditor. Fees do apply.
If you study full-time during the regular school year, you can finish your degree in two years. Because many of you will be working while studying you may find it easier to take one course per quarter. If you take one course per quarter it will take you five years (without summer quarter classes) to complete the 60 quarter units required for the degree.
The Graduate Certificate is offered in ten-week classes per academic quarter. Because many of you will be working while studying you may find it easier to take one course per quarter. If you take one course per quarter it will take you two years (without summer quarter classes) to complete the 24 quarter units required for the degree. If you take two classes per quarter it will take you one year to complete the graduate certificate.
Generous donors to the Graduate Programs in Pastoral Ministries have created an endowment that allows the Program to offer ample financial aid and scholarships. Specific questions may be answered by visiting our financial aid page or by contacting the Pastoral Ministries Office.
On-campus housing may be arranged through the Office of Residence Life: University Housing. The Office of Residence Life also has information on available rentals close to the university.
Graduates of the Program have moved on to a variety of ministerial positions including primary and secondary education, non-profits, catechetical, liturgical, musical, and spiritual works in parishes, retreat and hospital ministries, as well as doctoral work. The Graduate Programs in Pastoral Ministries has a wide network of graduates who provide assistance with job searches as well as many potential employers who contact the office regularly with job openings. In addition, we have begun using the SCU Career Center's Handshake portal to encourage employers to post there; all current students can login with their Santa Clara University sign-on. See our Student Resources section, which has further resources for career networking.
Santa Clara University offers a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theological Studies at the Berkeley campus of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. Check out the JST website.