Master of Education in Religious Education (M.Ed.)

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The Master of Education in Religious Education (M.Ed.) focuses on developing an understanding of the theory and practice of religious education for teaching in primary and secondary schools, parish faith formation programs and adult religious education. Students can choose to do the M.Ed. without a concentration, which gives them the flexibility to become an overall generalist in the field, or they can choose to pursue the M.Ed. with a concentration in School Religion Teaching, Total Community Catechesis (TCC–Parish Religious Education), Catholic School Leadership or Interreligious Understanding.

A student’s program of studies is developed in consultation with an academic advisor with attention to the student’s background and aspirations. The curriculum is composed of six elements: courses in Theological and Scriptural Foundations, Pastoral Studies for Religious Education, Contextual Education, Electives, Holistic Formation and Synthesis Project (comprehensives).

While the M.Ed. program is housed in the School of Theology and Ministry, the Lynch School of Education (LSOE) grants the degree.

The degree requires 35 credits for summer-only students and 44 credits for academic-year students. View Handbook.

SUMMER INSTITUTE
The M.Ed. can be completed entirely through our Summer Institute over the course of five summers. The Summer M.Ed. takes a minimum of 35 credits to complete. This is an ideal choice to students who work full-time, but have flexibility during the summer, as well as students from afar that would like to spend a portion of their summer in Boston.

CURRICULUM WORKSHEETS:

• School Religion Teaching
• Total Community Catechesis (TCC)
• Catholic School Leadership
• Interreligious Understanding
• No Concentration

THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS:
While some concentrations have special theological and scriptural requirements, they usually include one course each in:

• Theological Foundations
• Sacraments
• Ethics
• Christology
• Ecclesiology
• Old Testament
• New Testament

PASTORAL STUDIES FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:
Courses in religious education deal with essential ideas and literature from the disciplines of education, theology, philosophy, history and social science (especially psychology and sociology). Study of these essential areas enables students to understand the purposes of religious education more fully and provides greater depth to pastoral practice.

CONTEXTUAL EDUCATION (FIELD EDUCATION):
Students in the M.Ed. program are required to enroll in Contextual Education, a supervised field education experience. The purpose of Contextual Education is to enable students to explore the work of religious education and to develop the skills for theological reflection on that experience. 

ELECTIVES:
Students may choose, in consultation with their advisors, courses in theology, scripture, education, or ministry in order to pursue particular interests or to round out their program of study.

HOLISTIC FORMATION:
First year M.Ed. students participate in the one-credit TM 730 Holistic Formation program. Small groups, directed by a facilitator, allow students to integrate their academic work with their spiritual growth in a supportive and prayerful atmosphere. During the academic year the groups meet six times per semester. During the summer, groups meet weekly. To complete the requirement, students also develop a personalized Spiritual Formation Plan during their course of study. More.

SYNTHESIS PROJECTS:
Upon completion of course work; M.Ed. students write a synthesis project that provides them the opportunity to (1) creatively synthesize their studies in theology, (2) address a question about religious education, and (3) outline a pastoral program appropriate to their own educational or ministerial context. A subsequent oral examination allows students to discuss their essays with two faculty members.

While housed in the STM, the M.Ed. is granted by the Lynch School of Education (LSOE).

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• English proficiency. TOEFL exam results with a minimum of 550 on paper based; 213 on the PC based or 79 on the new Internet based exam if an international applicant from a non- English speaking country

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DEADLINES:
Spring:
November 15

Fall and Summer:
February 15