“The school of ministry is helping me draw on the 2,000 years of Catholic Church history and apply it to ministering to a 21st century community. Theology is faith seeking understanding. You already have faith; now you find the understanding.”
- Michelle Stone, MTS ‘15
The master's degree and graduate certificate in theological studies are designed to equip you for the practical application of theological knowledge and can be completed fully online or on campus.
To meet the diverse needs of our church and our students, the M.T.S. has offers a concentration in Biblical Theology which requires a specific set of electives. Students can also choose to complete the degree without a designated concentration, using their elective courses to study any theological or ministerial area of interest.
Master of Theological Studies students combine the ministry core curriculum (22 credit hours) with elective courses (15 credit hours) to complete 37 total credit hours of course work. Additionally, students complete an annotated bibliography to help solidify and demonstrate their understanding of the theological knowledge appropriate to professional pastoral leadership.
Students may choose the additional five electives to complete their MTS degree. Upon approval by a faculty advisor, students may complete courses offered by the College of Business or the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts in addition to all courses offered by the Neuhoff School of Ministry. Course selection can depend on the student's interests and goals for the program.
Some suggested elective courses include:
RPS 6315. Introduction to Pastoral Care.
RPS 6323. The Gospels.
RPS 6330. Ministry in the Church.
RPS 6331. Pastoral Administration.
RPS 6333. Pastoral Aspects of Canon Law.
RPS 6334. Liturgical Leadership.
RPS 6335. Ecclesiology.
RPS 6336. Catechetics and the Development of Faith.
RPS 6357. History of Spirituality.
RPS 6373. Homiletics and Pastoral Proclamation.
Students complete the capstone course in their final semester. It provides an opportunity for them to integrate previous coursework and reading with the knowledge and skills required to address particular pastoral tasks effectively. The student will work seasoned ministerial practitioners who will provide onsite supervision. Capstone projects require the completion of a detailed application and written approval by School of Ministry faculty supervisors several months prior to registration.
An annotated bibliography of texts related to the core curriculum of the Neuhoff School of Ministry is a degree requirement (required for graduation) for the Master of Theological Studies program. 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. The annotated bibliography consists of a formal bibliographic entry for 25 approved texts that are followed by a description of the thesis, argumentation, and significance of each text.
Students should begin working with their faculty advisor on the annotated bibliography and obtain approval of the required works list early in their program. The final annotated bibliography is due by the 4th week of the semester a student intends to graduate.
For details, contact your faculty advisor and view the Annotated Bibliography section of the Graduate Student Resources webpage.
This concentration combines foundational theology courses in the Neuhoff School of Ministry with an intellectually rigorous approach to scripture. The degree requires 37 credit hours of course work, broken down in the following way:
Required scripture courses include Old Testament and New Testament. While many other options are available, here are a few elective courses which qualify:
Students can use the M.T.S. - Biblical Studies Curriculum Planning Worksheet to plan their course of studies.
University of Dallas Neuhoff School of Ministry undergraduate and graduate programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and in accordance with the USCCB's standards for certification and accreditation.
The University of Dallas is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. degrees.
The graduate programs and undergraduate degree, in content and form, are designed to ensure that successful students will be prepared to enter the ministerial workforce having met the standards set by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation, and the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers.
The master's in pastoral ministry - youth ministry program is specifically designed to educate leaders based on the U.S. Catholic Bishops' pastoral plan, "Renewing the Vision - A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry." It also correlates with the national competency-based standards for certification as developed by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry in conjunction with the USCCB.
The Neuhoff School of Ministry is a member of the Association of Graduate Programs in Ministry and the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education.
When tragedy hit the family of Brent Simon, MTS ’20, he knew he needed to leave the corporate world and reassess his vocation. In preparation for whatever this new vocation would be, Simon decided to build up his theological foundation by pursuing a higher degree in theology.
+ Read MoreBeyond their own lifetimes, individuals can make a lasting impact on the lives of UD students through the simple act of naming the University of Dallas in their wills or trusts, or as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement plan assets.
+ Read More“People ask me, ‘Do you wish you had gotten a degree in human resources instead of psychology?’, and my answer is ‘No,’” said Trustee Julie Weber, BA ’91, who took her psychology degree from UD to become the VP and Chief of People at Southwest Airlines.
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