Frequently Asked Questions

1. What courses are available?

   You can find a listing of courses for the upcoming semester here. 

2. Is there a residency requirement?
   There is no residency requirement.  For the Spiritual Direction program there is an option to take the two central courses (IMSD 601 and IMSD 602) in an intense 5-day format on location at St. Vincent Seminary.  We encourage this because of the retreat atmosphere and the opportunity to meet with and discuss the topics with other students.  However, it is also possible to take these courses online in the fall and spring semesters.  We also offer some special in-person opportunities like a summer course in Rome but this is not required.  For the upcoming Catechetics certificate, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 1 Formation must always be completed in-person and not online.

3. Can I transfer credits?
   With approval from the Academic Dean, a maximum of 25% of the credits for the program may be transferred from other graduate schools. 

   For Level 1 participation in the Spiritual Direction program, credit transfer can be worked out on an individual basis with the Director of the program.

4. Is there financial aid available?
   Thanks to our generous benefactors we are able to offer financial aid on a case-by-case basis.  For more information, consult the Financial Aid page.

5. Can I just take one course?
   One tagline for the Institute for Ministry Formation is that we share the treasures of Saint Vincent Seminary with the rest of the Church.  We are very happy for anyone who wants to take a course for their ongoing formation.  We still ask that you complete the application and registration so that we can provide you with all the supports of our Institute, but you do not need to complete a full program if you apply.  We also offer various ongoing formation classes, conferences and retreats that are not for academic credit.  You can see past offerings here.
   

6. What can I do with a certificate?

   A certificate is a credential that indicates you have completed a program of studies.  A certificate (or letter of completion) in Spiritual Direction should be adequate for your parish or Diocese to begin offering spiritual direction in a formal way.  This depends on the parish and the Diocese and each circumstance will be different, but we designed our program under consultation with the Saint Vincent Seminary Board of Regents (our constituent bishops) and they indicated their acceptance  for spiritual directors who were trained in our program. It is worth exploring your own parish or diocesan situation in advance but contacting your pastor and/or the diocesan Director of Religious Education or equivalent. Other certificates can provide credibility for ministry in the Church.  A combination of the Catholic Theology certificate with any other certificate (when both are taken for academic credit or “Level 2”) can earn a Master’s degree.  See our program descriptions here for more details.

7. Can I audit a course?
   Absolutely! Just indicate “audit” or “Level 1” on your application and registration.  The cost is half-price.

8. What am I missing out on if I “just audit” a course?

   Both Level 1 (audit) and Level 2 (credit) expect full participation from the student, including live classes and discussion posts, but at Level 1 you will not have the obligation for exams and papers which is required at Level 2. 

9. How much do courses cost?
   It depends on the number of credits that the course is offered for. It depends on whether the course is taken at Level 1 or Level 2.  Also, we charge a single fee per semester, so it depends on how many courses you are taking in a given semester.  For example, taking simply the IMSD601 course (SD1) at Level 1 participation would cost $670 + $150 in fees = $820. See our tuition and fees page for more details.

10. How much time does a 2-credit course take?
    For a Level-2 student, each credit consists of 50 minutes of class time per week with teaching from the professor (interactively or recorded) and up to 100 minutes of private work (reading assignments, discussion posts, studying for exams, and/or writing papers) in addition to that. So, a 2-credit course consists of 100 minutes of class time per week and up to 200 minutes of private work per week. The work load for Level-1 students will be comparable, although there will not be an expectation of exams and papers. Part of that 100 minutes of class time is always conducted synchronously and interactively on Zoom or MS Teams and attendance is required, with camera on.

11. How do I pursue a Master of Arts in Ministry Degree?

    For Level 2 students who are working on one certificate, or have recently completed it, there is an option to pursue a second graduate certificate and pair them together for a Master of Arts in Ministry Degree. Click this link for the form which officially allows you to declare your intent to pursue this Degree. Students must earn the Catholic Theology Certificate along with a Certificate in Spiritual Direction OR Catechetics.

What is the directed retreat requirement? 

An approved, 8-day silent, directed retreat is a required component of the Spiritual Direction Formation Program. The full Ignatian 19th Annotation may be substituted for the retreat.

The retreat serves several purposes:

• It helps to consolidate the spiritual formation that is provided throughout the curriculum and helps it to take root in the spiritual life of the individual student.

• It serves to deepen the student’s prayer life in a significant way. A spiritual director must have a deep and rich, personal relationship with Jesus and a well-formed spiritual life.

• It provides an experience of a model that the student, as a future spiritual director, may be able to offer to others, namely the guidance of daily spiritual direction for an intensive retreat experience.

What are the criteria for the directed retreat?

• It must be a silent retreat, meaning that it takes place in a retreat environment marked by silence and reflection. The retreat need not be strictly silent the entire time, but silence and conduciveness to prayer and reflection must be a defining characteristic of the environment.

• The student must receive daily spiritual direction from an experienced spiritual director on at least the six middle days of the retreat.

• The retreat must be 8 days (at least 7 overnights).

• Optimally, the student will have the opportunity for daily Mass during the retreat.

What should I expect in the Practicum Courses?

The Practicum enables students to learn and practice the art of spiritual direction under the supervision of a mentor.  The mentor will meet regularly with students, one on one, to shape their practice of spiritual direction.  The practicum also helps students to grow in self-awareness, sensitivity, compassion, and understanding, while being challenged to reflect on their faith understanding, theology, and experiences in relation to those to whom they minister.

The student will be expected to meet with directees for four hours per month during the Practicum (2 directees biweekly or 4 directees monthly). The student is responsible for recruiting their own directees. (A limited number of referrals may be available to practicum students.) A mentor will be assigned to the  student by the Director of the Spiritual Direction Certificate Program. Students are expected to meet online with their mentor monthly during the Practicum.

Evaluation will consist of verbatims, oral examination, and written reflections at the discretion of the mentor.  A learning agreement which articulates the goals and scope of the practicum is developed among the student, the supervisor, and the Director of the Spiritual Direction program.

Students should take Practicum I in the Fall semester of their final year in the Spiritual Direction Formation Program. Registration requires an application.

IMSD-697 Practicum in Spiritual Direction I (1 credit)

Prerequisites:

• IMSD-601 SD1: The Art of Accompaniment

• IMSD-602 SD2: Directing Prayer

• IMSD-696 Directed Retreat

• At least 6 additional credits in the spiritual direction program

 
IMSD-698 Practicum in Spiritual Direction II (1 credit)

Prerequisite:

• IMSD-697 Practicum in Spiritual Direction I

What is the Readiness for Ministry Exam (IMSD 699)?

The IMF Spiritual Direction program requires a final Readiness for Ministry Exam.  This is the final requirement of the program and so this Exam can only be taken after all the other requirements of the program have been completed and the student should register for this exam in the final semester of their program.

The exam consists of three scenarios drawn at random which a student must answer before a panel including the Director of the Spiritual Direction program and one or more professors in the program.  They present some typical spiritual direction scenarios and the student is expected to describe his or her thought process for how to approach those scenarios.  Each question lasts approximately ten minutes and so the exam should require at most a half hour.

The exam is held over Zoom and the timing of the exam is scheduled individually at a time that is mutually agreeable to both the student and the Director of the Spiritual Direction Program.

Where can I log into Schoology?

You can log in right here. If you have an access code or need more information, click here to visit the IMF Schoology Info page.

What if I’m not able to log into my Schoology account?

If you need to change or reset your password, click the links below the login for Change Password and Forgot Password as shown in the image below. If you are still not able to log in after visiting the Schoology page and entering your username and password, you may submit a service request to servicedesk@stvincent.edu. Support requests can also be submitted in person at the IT Service Desk (found in the ground floor of Alfred Hall) or by phone at 724-805-2297.

How Do I Find a Spiritual Director?

Begin your search by praying for a spiritual director who will aid your discernment. Next, contact a priest whom you trust such as your parish priest. If he is unable to become your spiritual director, he may be able to point you in the right direction, perhaps even recommend a potential spiritual director to you.

Upon completion of our IMF Spiritual Direction program, we encourage our alumni to register with SeekDirection, a computer-based matching of spiritual directors and those seeking direction. If your parish priest is unable to provide you with spiritual direction himself or to suggest a potential director, you may visit https://seekdirection.app/ to be matched with a potential spiritual director.

How Do I Pay My Tuition Bill?

You can access Self Service through the SVC portal. From here, click the Student Finance button to view your latest statement and make a payment online. If you’re having trouble paying your bill online, you can visit the business office on the 1st floor of Alfred Hall. Additionally, you can call Susan Skoloda, the Director of Student Accounts, at 724-805-2577 or email her at susan.skoloda@stvincent.edu.