Degree Programs

Certificate programs are open to ordained clergy, seminarians, religious, and lay students. These are 1-2 year programs leading to a graduate certificate. They are designed to equip students with core theological, spiritual, pastoral formation for use in active ministry or to pursue more advanced graduate studies. The programs are flexible so as to accommodate those working in active ministry and/or the working professional. Courses are mainly online and can be taken in any sequence unless otherwise specified. Students may elect to complete their studies with a certificate, or they may elect to apply these credits as a specialization in the Master of Arts in Ministry degree program. Click here for information about how to register.

As the Association of Theological Schools states:

Schools are welcome to offer these credentials before or within graduate programs as they wish and may include such credentials as a stackable option, as long as the school attends to the Commission’s expectations regarding non-degree programs (Standard 3.15) as well as the expectations of the particular graduate degree program. (Guidelines for Reduced-Credit Master’s Degrees, 2020.)

Currently the Institute for Ministry Formation at Saint Vincent Seminary offers the following certificate programs:

Spiritual Direction Formation Program

The Spiritual Direction Formation Program is open to clergy, religious and lay students seeking to help others grow in faith through offering them the one-on-one ministry of spiritual direction. This is a two-year program. The curriculum consists of three major areas of study: spiritual direction dynamics, foundations in theology and psychology, and a mentored practicum. The primary purpose of the program “is to equip persons for competent leadership in some form of specialized ministry in congregations and other settings.”— (The Association of Theological Schools Bulletin 50, Part 1, 2012, G-45, B.1.1). To learn more about the Spiritual Direction Program, Click Here.

Catholic Theology Certificate

The Catholic Theology Certificate is offered for clergy, religious and lay students ready to receive a deeper understanding of the Catholic Faith. These concepts will also draw special attention to how theology and Church doctrine can be applied to practical ministry. Students pursuing the Catholic Theology Certificate will take courses in Scripture, Theology, Ecclesial and Pastoral Ministry, and will have options to take courses on Spiritual Direction and/or Missiology. To learn more about the Catholic Theology Certificate, Click Here.

Catechetics Certificate

The Institute for Ministry Formation Catechetics Certificate takes a scriptural, liturgical, contemplative approach to catechesis. The contemplative dimension is necessary for fostering the proper disposition in the heart of the catechist. The catechist must be a person who knows Jesus Christ personally. Throughout the curriculum, students receive “suitable biblical, theological, pastoral and pedagogical formation to be competent communicators of the truth of the faith” and as a program requirement they will have spent 10 hours of observation to gain “experience of catechesis.” Although the certificate program focuses specifically on the laity, the courses offered in the curriculum and indeed the entire curriculum is certainly enriching for bishops, priests and consecrated religious as well, who also have a responsibility for catechesis. To learn more about this certificate, Click Here.

Special Program in Collaboration with the Diocese of Greensburg:

The Diocese of Greensburg, in cooperation with the Institute for Ministry Formation (IMF), offers a robust formation program for adults

interested in growing in faith, in deepening their knowledge of the faith, and in developing skills for ministry in faith formation. The Institute for Ministry Formation offers the highest quality of graduate education through courses taught by professors that are highly experienced and acclaimed for their excellence. This formation program, in collaboration with the Diocese of Greensburg, builds on the IMF’s Certificate in Catechesis and provides some additional advantages. Learn more about this by clicking here.

Master of Arts in Ministry Degree with Specialization

The Master of Arts in Ministry Degree Program consists of the Certificate in Catholic Theology stacked or paired with another certificate in a specialized area of ministry. A minimum of 36 total credits is required for satisfactory completion of the Master of Arts degree in Ministry, combining two 18 credit certificate programs. Goals for the Master of Arts degree in Ministry include both the attainment of a general knowledge of Catholic Theology, a focused study in a specialized area of ministry, and the application of Theology to their specialized ministerial focus. This coursework, together with the comprehensive exam, demonstrates the student’s knowledge and ability to integrate principles of Theology into active ministry. To learn more about the Master of Arts in Ministry Degree, Click Here.

Delivery Method for Each Program

The primary means of delivery for coursework will be via online instruction, though, depending on the specific Certificate being sought or the combination of certificates being stacked, there might also be occasional in-person workshops or immersive experiences.