Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
Rigorous and intensive, the three-year Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is a comprehensive professional degree program that combines a broad study of theology with supervised ministry and spiritual formation. It is the program most suited for students preparing for the ordained priesthood or for full-time lay ecclesial ministry in the Church. Women and men, lay and religious, work and study collaboratively in the M.Div. program, preparing for leadership roles in ministry today.
Program Features
Spiritual Formation
Deepening your faith through study, praxis, and prayer is an essential part of the STM experience. Students in the M.Div. follow our robust Spiritual and Human Formation program during their course of study. They can also participate in spiritual direction, retreats, workshops, and immersion experiences. The school provides financial assistance for many of these programs.
Cohort and Community Life
You will journey through the M.Div. program with a small cohort of both lay and ordination-track students. Cohorts gather on a semester basis for dinner, prayer, and faith sharing. There are also monthly gatherings of all lay students in the M.Div. program, similarly focused on spiritual and communal formation.
Supervised Ministry
The M.Div. program includes a practicum—field experience in which you observe and explore ministerial work in different contexts, deepen practical skills, and examine how your experience relates to theological study. Practicum placements can be done during the academic year in Boston, or over the summer throughout the country and world. Learn more.
100% of 2019 M.Div. graduates found placement within six months.
Elizabeth Turnwald
M.Div. '22
"The persistent movement I felt to study theology was countered by a gnawing imposter syndrome. What could I possibly offer to a classroom discussion, let alone to a person seeking spiritual accompaniment? Ironically, that internal and external questioning made the STM the obvious choice. The mission of this incredible school is not to complacently sit with knowledge but to ensure it is embodied, lived, and shared."
These outcomes reflect the 5 commitments of the STM (gracious leadership; discernment; catholicity; integration; and rigor across formation) and the 4 pillars of formation (intellectual; spiritual; human; and pastoral), as outlined in Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord and the Program of Priestly Formation.
Upon completion of the M.Div. Program, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the Catholic theological tradition.
This involves:
- Knowledge of the historical development of the tradition;
- Integration of various elements of doctrine and theology (e.g., scripture, ethics, and liturgy);
- Apreciation of the relationship between the development of the theological tradition and the cultural context from which it emerges.
2. Bring the insights of the Catholic theological tradition into dialogue with contemporary social and religious issues.
This involves:
- An awareness of the shape of contemporary culture, in global and local context;
- A respect for the spiritual, theological, pastoral, and human implications of the global and local context.
3. Integrate theological thinking and ministerial practice.
This involves:
- Effective application of theological thinking in ministerial practice and drawing on ministerial practice in the refinement of theological concepts;
- Articulation of how theological thinking and ministerial practice are mutually informative and enriching.
4. Demonstrate capacities conducive to effective ministry.
This involves:
- A mature and active faith life;
- Collaboration;
- Self-reflection;
- Willingness to be accountable;
- Selected competencies as articulated in the National Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministry and/or the Program of Priestly Formation.
INQUIRE
Connect with STM to learn more about the M.Div. application process.
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At a Glance
How long will it take?
This 82-credit program is typically completed in three years of full-time study.
Solid Foundation
A thorough grounding in Scripture, Church history, historical–systematic–practical
theology, moral theology, and pastoral studies.
Supervised Ministry
Supervised ministry in a setting you choose with the help of a faculty advisor. | Supervised Ministry
Financial Support
Scholarships and on-campus assistantships are available. | Financial Aid
Common Career Paths
Parish ministry
College or high school campus ministry
High school teaching
Doctoral work
Hospital chaplaincy
Prison ministry
Social justice agencies
Religious and other nonprofit organizations
100% of 2019 M.Div. graduates were employed within six months.
Application Requirements
PrintDeadlines
- Spring 2021:
- November 15, 2020
- Fall 2021 Priority Scholarship Deadline:
- January 15, 2021 We will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis after this date
- Summer 2021:
- Summer applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Application Form
Please note you can submit your application form once it is completed; you do not need to wait for all of your supplemental materials to arrive. We are able to schedule your interview once we have received your submitted application form, resume, and personal statement.
Admission Prerequisites for the M.Div.:
- One year of full-time, post-collegiate ecclesial ministry or equivalent preferred. Those who do not have a year of post-graduate ministry experience are still encouraged to apply if they are able to demonstarte significant ministerial leadership experience at the undergraduate level.
- At least two undergraduate courses in philosophy (you may also take these concurrently with your M.Div. program)
If interested, MDiv applicants will have the opportunity to be paired with an STM MDiv alum or current student to assist in learning more about the program and navigating the application and discernment processes.
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, veterans, 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
The GRE is optional but preferred for spring 2021, summer 2021, and fall 2021 applications. We review all applications holistically. Applicants who choose not to submit GRE scores will not be penalized in the admissions process.
Applicants who do send GRE scores should have them 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 or IELTS 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.
Read more about special instructions for international applicants here.
To request a TOEFL waiver, you must email stmadm@bc.edu.
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
Simboli Hall
140 Commonwealth Avenue
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
M.Div. 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 interviews all applicants to the MTS program. All interviews take place remotely. International applicants are asked to submit a video essay on their application instead of a live interview.
Résumé
The admissions office interviews all applicants to the MTS program. All interviews take place remotely. International applicants are asked to submit a video essay on their application instead of a live interview.
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