Certificado en Ministerio Bilingüe

This optional certificate is for students who demonstrate at least an intermediate ability to converse, celebrate the liturgy, and preach in both Spanish- and English-speaking contexts. The program is intended for those who are already bilingual and those who are seeking to become so.

Interested students are encouraged to enroll at the beginning of their M.Div. studies, and no later than the beginning of their second year. Upon enrollment they participate in an initial oral assessment of their language ability. If they are lacking intermediate oral fluency in either idiom, they and/or their sponsoring organization arrange for the needed study through tutors, language institutes, or courses at OST if warranted by sufficient student interest. A qualifying evaluation of intermediate oral fluency is given at the end of the Fall semester of the third year of theology. OST coursework and supervised ministry provide opportunities to employ these languages in ministry studies and contexts. Integration is achieved through special requirements in certain specified ministry courses– especially in the liturgical and preaching areas – and in Field Ministry placements, and demonstrated in the final M.Div. qualifying project in the Integration of Theological Studies seminar (see Final Qualifying Project below).

Certificate of Advanced Studies for Presbyteral Ministry

This certification is earned by presbyteral candidates who have completed the 80-hour M.Div. curriculum and 26 additional credit hours required by the Program of Priestly Formation. Those additional requirements include:

• Historical and Cultural Studies (5 credit hours)

  ‣ CH 6310 Church History  I: The Patristic Era

  One of the following:

  ‣ CH 7220 U.S. Religious History
  ‣ CH 7235 U.S. Hispanic/Latina Christianity

• Scriptural Studies (3 credit hours)

  The remaining Scripture course in the M.Div. requirements

• Theological Studies (11/10 credit hours)

  ‣ TS 7296 Theology of Ministerial Priesthood
  ‣ TS 7252 Theology of Human Sexuality
  ‣ TS 7253 Bioethics / Healthcare Ethics
  ‣ TS 72__ Patristic elective

  The remaining Sacramental course (3 or 2 credits)

• Pastoral Studies (7 credit hours)

  ‣ PS 7235 Liturgical Preaching
  ‣ PS 9196/9296 Theological Field Education
  ‣ PS 8100/8101 Practicum in Presidential Leadership at Liturgy

• Electives (1 credit hour if 7 done for the M.Div./2 credit hours if 6 done for the M.Div.)

  * actually 27 credits, since 1 credit replaces the Pastoral Formation Seminar in the 80-credit M.Div. program

Supervised Ministry Program

The M.Div. program at OST offers a very strong supervised ministry program. An initial year of Orientation to Supervised Ministry provides instruction in the elements of supervised ministry in the first semester and a field placement in the second semester that includes on-site supervision and peer pastoral-reflection groups through OST.

Two years of Theological Field Education provide field education placements with on-site supervision and peer pastoral-reflection groups through OST.

Clinical Pastoral Education is highly recommended following the first year of Theological Field Education (that is, after the second year of studies), but it is not required nor given credit toward the degree.

Ministerial Internship (or Pastoral Year)

Academic preparation and limited concurrent field education experiences provide a basic introduction to the pastoral ministry of the Church. Internship provides full-time involvement as a recognized member of a pastoral team, usually in a parish situation. OST offers a non-obligatory but strongly recommended Internship program. The Internship Program normally follows the completion of three years of studies and is of nine-months duration, after which the intern returns to complete the academic requirements for the M.Div. degree. As non-obligatory, the twelve (12) credit hours earned are recorded on the academic transcript but are not applied toward the degree. Structural components of the program include a pastoral placement which ensures a wide range of ministerial experiences, a field instructor who is trained in pastoral supervision, and a lay committee representative of the parish community. Internship is an intentional educational process structured to achieve the human and faith maturation of the person, while seeking to develop competence in pastoral skills through theological reflection in the actual practice of ministry.

Certain dioceses opt to have their seminarians do a Pastoral Year after their second year of graduate theology, rather than the Internship. In such cases OST offers a Pastoral Year with modified ministerial experiences in view of the lesser preparation for ministry. Otherwise the basic structure of the program remains the same.

Hispanic Summer Program

Sponsored by over forty graduate theological schools, including OST, this ecumenical program held for two weeks in June every summer at rotating institutions provides elective courses with a Hispanic/Latina awareness in the various fields of theology. The courses are taught by Latine theologians for Latine students and a limited number of non-Latines preparing for Hispanic ministry. It is an excellent (and very inexpensive) opportunity for developing sensitivity in Latine ecumenical relations. Applications are made directly to the Hispanic Summer Program administrators in the early Fall preceding the program the following summer.

Dual Program for M.A. Theology and M.DIV Degrees

The M.A./M.Div. dual degrees are tailored to students who demonstrate exceptional capacity for research during their Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program. Candidates for the M.Div. who hold a bachelor’s degree may also apply for the M.A. (Theology) program. (Students enrolled in the C.P.S., Certificate of Pastoral Studies, may not apply for the dual degree.) They must fulfill all of the requirements for the M.A. (Theology) degree (see the section for that degree in this catalog). The total hours for the two degrees equal 96 graduate credit hours. Seminarians take additional credit hours to satisfy all the requirements of the Program for Priestly Formation.

Students may apply 20 credit hours from the Master of Divinity toward the Master of Arts (Theology) degree. Those 20 credit hours are all of the core courses for the M.A. (Theology) degree except for the 1 credit M.A. Pro Seminar. The other 16 credit hours are the M.A. Pro Seminar, the 2 credit Thesis Proposal, the 4 credit Research Thesis, and 9 elective graduate credits in courses taken at OST that are not for another degree. 6 of these elective credits can be used for a concentration in one of the following areas if the thesis is also written in the same area: Cultural and Historical Studies, Scriptural Studies, Systematic Theology, Moral Theology, Sacramental Theology, or Spirituality. Ministry skills-based courses such as Pastoral Care, Preaching, or Theological Field Education cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the M.A. (Theology). The 9 elective credits can be covered for seminarians by the additional credits beyond the M.Div. degree that are required by the Program of Priestly Formation.

A minimum overall grade point average of 3.25 is required in both degree programs to remain in the dual degree program. A student should matriculate for the dual track after having completed 24 credits in the M.Div. program (at least 12 of which must be in courses taken at OST other than in Pastoral Studies) and before having completed 50 credits in the M.Div. program. Candidates are strongly advised to complete their M.A. thesis during the second-last year of their M.Div. Program (i.e. during Year III Theology). The M.A. Theology dual program must normally be completed within six years after matriculation.

Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.)

Candidates who successfully complete all the requirements for the Master of Divinity degree and the Certificate in Advanced Studies for Priestly Ministry with a GPA of 3.0 are eligible for the S.T.B. degree, through an affiliation with St. Paul University in Ottawa. They may apply for the degree after their second year of graduate theology. They prepare for a comprehensive written and oral examination at the end of their M.Div./CASPM program by studying a list of themes made available to them when they apply for the degree.