Bachelor in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.)
Bachelor in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.)
The Bachelor in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) is a first level, three-year ecclesiastical degree granted in the name of the Holy See through the Ecclesiastical Faculty of the School of Theology and Ministry (STM), by virtue of its status as an ecclesiastical faculty accredited by the Vatican Congregation of Catholic Education. It is offered only in conjunction with the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), a three-year civil degree. Building on the solid theological and practical foundation for ordained and full-time lay ecclesial ministry established by the requirements of the M.Div. degree, the S.T.B. prepares one to pursue the Licentiate of Sacred Theology (S.T.L.), a second level, research-oriented ecclesiastical degree also offered by the STM.
The S.T.B. program has additional requirements beyond those of the M.Div. program. The S.T.B. can be useful for those who intend to apply for admission to S.T.L. programs abroad, where the S.T.B. and not an equivalent course of studies, is often required for application and admission.
Degree Requirements
Upon successful completion of the following requirements, the S.T.B. degree is awarded together with the M.Div. degree:
- 24 credit hours of philosophy
- All requirements of the M.Div. program with a G.P.A. of at least 3.0
- Proficiency in Latin, demonstrated either through recent successful coursework or by passing a translation examination
- S.T.B. comprehensive examination, given in the final semester of the program
Prerequisites for Admission
- Application for the S.T.B. is made in conjunction with the application to the M.Div. program. Application procedures and requirements for admission to the S.T.B. program are the same as described on this website for the M.Div. program, with the exception that applicants normally must have already completed at least 24 credit hours of philosophy. In exceptional cases, this requirement may be completed after admission to the program.
- Students will not be accepted for the S.T.B. program alone; neither is the S.T.B. degree given apart from the M.Div. degree.
Common Career Paths
Ecclesial ministry in a parish, high school, university, or diocese
Social justice agencies
Religious and other nonprofit organizations
Doctoral work
Hospital chaplaincy
High school teaching
Prison Ministry
Application Information
PrintPREREQUISITES
Application for the S.T.B. is made in conjunction with the application to the M.Div. program. Application procedures and requirements for admission to the S.T.B. program are the same as described on this website for the M.Div. program, with the exception that applicants normally must have already completed at least 24 credit hours of philosophy. In exceptional cases, this requirement may be completed after admission to the program.
Students will not be accepted for the S.T.B. program alone; neither is the S.T.B. degree given apart from the M.Div. degree.
Please note:
We are still accepting applications for Fall 2018.
Deadlines
- Fall 2018
- February 1, 2018
- Spring 2019
- December 1, 2018
Application Form
The application to the STM must be completed online.
Make sure you click the "Submit" button on the last page of the application. You will receive an email confirming that your application has been submitted. Within 48 hours of submitting your application, you should receive an email with your Boston College credentials (your Eagle ID and BC username) so that you can login to the BC applicant system and check the status of your full application. If you have been a BC student before, your credentials will be the same and you may not receive a credentials email. If you have not been a BC student before, and do not receive your credentials email, please contact the admissions office for help: stmadm@bc.edu or 617-552-6506.
Additional requirements for international applicants
Additional requirements for religious applicants
Application Fee
A non-refundable fee of $75 is required for every degree and non-degree application submitted.
Payment Options
- Pay by credit or debit card via the web; You can pay the application fee at the same time your submit your application form. However, if you do not pay the fee at the same time you submit your application, you can pay online at a later date through the Agora Portal. You must use your BC Username and password to log in.
- Pay by check or money order made payable to Boston College, via regular mail. Please include your check with a copy of your application form submission confirmation page and include your name and intended degree program.
Please note: The application fee cannot be refunded for any reason. If you qualify for a fee waiver, you should not pay the fee when you submit the application form. Fee waivers are automatically granted to the following applicants: Jesuits, applicants currently completing a year of service, and current STM students. We do not waive the application fee for other reasons.
Standardized Tests
GRE scores
GRE scores are required for S.T.B. applicants. They should be sent directly from ETS. Our GRE code is 2508.
The GRE is waived for applicants who have completed a previous graduate degree.
TOEFL scores
All applicants for whom English is not their native language must also provide TOEFL test score results. An acceptable TOEFL score is 85 or above on the internet-based test. When taking the exam, include STM’s institutional code – 3971 – so that your scores may be sent directly to the school. Learn more about the TOEFL and about qualifications for a TOEFL waiver.
Transcripts
One copy of each transcript is required from all colleges, universities, seminaries, or theological schools that you have attended. Each transcript should contain a list of all coursework taken, grades/marks received, and, if applicable, degree granted and date of degree confirmation. If your college or university will send official transcripts electronically, they can be emailed to stmadm@bc.edu. Otherwise, transcripts must be mailed and be contained in a sealed, signed envelope. If the official transcript is not English, a translation should be provided with the official document. Please alert us if your transcript will be arriving with a different name than the one you are using on your application (e.g. your maiden name).
Mailing Addresses
For applicants using the U.S. Postal Service:
Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
Processing Center
P.O. Box 67406
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
For applicants using FedEx or UPS, please use this address:
Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
Simboli Hall
9 Lake Street
Brighton, MA 02135-3841
Recommendations
S.T.B. applicants are required to submit three recommendations using the online application system.
Each recommender should be familiar with the applicant’s academic competence. For applicants who have been out of school for a significant amount of time, recommenders should be familiar with the applicant's professional competence. One recommender should be familiar with the applicant's ministerial potential and experience. Please be sure that your recommenders are aware of the application deadlines and online process, and choose them carefully to ensure that they can write on your behalf in a timely manner.
Interview
The admissions office may contact applicants to set up an interview by Skype.
Résumé
The resume must be uploaded as part of the application. It is helpful if you highlight relevant ministry, service, and leadership positions you have held.
Personal Statement
The personal statement must be uploaded as part of the application. The personal statement should be three pages in length, double-spaced.
Your statement should address the following:
- The academic, professional, and personal development that has motivated you to apply to STM. Include a sketch of your educational background and interests, any experience you have in ministry and/or religious education, and any other relevant professional and volunteer experience
- Your understanding of theological education and/or ministry in the context of the Church’s mission
- How you plan to apply your theological education
- Given your experience, how you assess your principal strengths for theological education and/or ministry as well as your areas of needed development