

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.
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. The STM also offers funding for students in spiritual direction and who want to attend a retreat.
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.
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.
Learn more.
100% of 2021 M.Div. graduates found placement within six months.
"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:
2. Bring the insights of the Catholic theological tradition into dialogue with contemporary social and religious issues.
This involves:
3. Integrate theological thinking and ministerial practice.
This involves:
4. Demonstrate capacities conducive to effective ministry.
This involves:
Connect with STM to learn more about the M.Div. application process.
This 82-credit program is typically completed in three years of full-time study.
Students in the M.Div. follow our robust Spiritual and Human Formation program during their course of study. The STM also offers funding for students in spiritual direction and who want to attend a retreat.
A thorough grounding in Scripture, Church history, historical–systematic–practical
theology, moral theology, and pastoral studies.
Supervised ministry in a setting you choose with the help of a faculty advisor. | Supervised Ministry
Scholarships and on-campus assistantships are available. | Financial Aid
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.:
On the application form, MDiv applicants will have the opportunity to indicate interest in being paired with an STM MDiv alumni or current student to assist in learning more about the program and navigating the application and discernment processes.
Additional Requirements:
A non-refundable fee of $75 is required for every degree and non-degree application submitted.
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.
The GRE is optional, but preferred. We especially recommend applicants submit scores if 1) they feel their undergraduate transcript is not indicative of their capacity for success in graduate studies, OR 2) they do not have a strong background in the humanities. 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.
English Proficiency Exam
All applicants for whom English is not their native language must also provide TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo test score results. Read more about special instructions for international applicants here. This webpage will also indicate under with criteria a waiver may be granted. Waivers must be approved in writing by the admissions office.
We require transcripts 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).
Please note that your application may be reviewed with unofficial copies of your transcripts, though we prefer official copies at the time of application. If you send unofficial copies, please note that if admitted, you must sent official copies before you begin coursework. In addition, if you are currently finishing a degree, you must send a final, official version of the transcript upon graduating, and before beginning coursework at STM.
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
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.
The admissions office interviews all applicants to the MDiv program. All interviews take place remotely.
The resume must be uploaded as part of the application. It is helpful if you highlight relevant ministry, service, research, teaching, and leadership positions you have held.
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: