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Ministry

The Theology department offers ministerial graduate degree programs in Theological Studies, Pastoral Ministry, and Catechetical Ministry.  These programs of formation prepare graduates to engage in the Church's life and mission in a manner which is full, conscious, active, and effective.  By conclusion of their studies in these various ministerial programs, graduates have received the necessary education and formation that will equip them to serve the Church more effectively in a variety of capacities—as catechists, teachers, pastoral leaders, lay ecclesial ministers and deacons.

All ministerial graduate programs in the Theology department seek to meet the standards of formation laid out by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for ministry formation. These include intellection formation, human formation, pastoral formation and spiritual formation. Such an approach seeks to educate the whole person in every facet of their life to provide a truly transformative educational experience.

The Theology department offers the following graduate degree programs:

  •  Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.)
  • Master of Pastoral Ministry (M.P.M.)
  • Master of Catechetical Ministry (M.C.M.)

Core Courses

All ministerial master's degrees build on a core of eight courses:

  • 5110 Graduate Proseminar
  • 5310 Foundations of Catholic Biblical Interpretation
  • 5330 Systematic Theology
  • 5340 Church History
  • 5350 Moral Theology
  • 5360- Liturgy and Sacraments
  • 5370 Theological Reflection
  • 63XX Scripture Elective (Old or New Testament)

Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography of texts related to the core curriculum is a graduation requirement for all master’s level programs. The goal of the annotated bibliography is to help students solidify and demonstrate their understanding of the basic theological knowledge appropriate to professional competency for pastoral leadership. An annotated bibliography consists of the formal bibliographic entry for a text followed by a description of the thesis, argumentation, and significance of the work.

Bibliographies consist of twenty-five works approved by a designated faculty adviser. Fifteen works have already been selected by the faculty to represent the core courses of the graduate degree programs.

Landregan Lectures

Initiated in 1999 to honor Steven T. Landregan (1928-2018), UD alumnus, prominent churchman and editor emeritus of the Texas Catholic, the Landregan Lectures feature nationally prominent pastoral theologians whose areas of expertise reflect the many interests which have animated Mr. Landregan throughout his long and distinguished career of service to the Church in North Texas.

Study in Rome

The Braniff Graduate School offers ministry program students the opportunity to earn graduate credit at the university on the beautiful Rome campus. The campus is located in the Alban hills twelve miles southeast of Rome in a locale called Due Santi, where tradition holds that Saints Peter and Paul stopped along the Appian Way. Courses are offered by Theology department faculty on an ad hoc basis and are open to new and current UD ministry graduate students, visiting graduate students, or persons wishing to audit a course. About 40% of class time is spent on "field trips" in and around the city of Rome. During the evenings and on weekends, the students may experience Rome and the surrounding area on their own.

Degrees in Ministry

Master of Theological Studies

Master of Pastoral Ministry

Master of Catechetical Ministry