Santa Clara University

Our faculty is drawn from the excellent scholars in the Department of Religious Studies at Santa Clara University as well as experts drawn from institutions worldwide. To find out personal information regarding individual faculty members, see our faculty page.

Summer Faculty is listed separately.

Small class size and individual curricula allow each student to design a course of study that best prepares her or him for future ministerial work. All courses focus on providing students with intellectual capacity and practical knowledge to serve dynamically in their individual apostolate. The strong theological foundation required of all students, the Ignatian pedagogy, and the diverse student body all help to create a unique, vigorous, and challenging environment designed to help students better serve the people of God. Additionally, each incoming student has a mentor from the program who can provide advice, answer questions, and be there for support. Information regrading individual courses, including requirements, may be examined at: Catechetics, Liturgical Music, Pastoral Liturgy, or Spirituality.

If you study full-time during the regular school year, you can finish your degree in two years. Students attending only the summer sessions can complete their degree in five summers. Courses offered may be viewed in the two year rotation and five year summer rotation at current and upcoming quarter.

The capstone to each degree is the comprehensive examinations. Information regarding this may be viewed at the comprehensive examinations page.

Generous donors to the Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries have created an endowment that allows the Program to offer generous financial aid and scholarships. All students applying for financial aid must:

• Submit annually a "Certification of Ministry Form" that confirms their involvement in some form of ministry. This confirms a student's eligibility for a 25% tuition remission.

• Submit a one page "Financial Aid Application Form" annually. This may be accompanied by a letter addressed to Fr. Tom Powers, SJ, the director of the Program, explaining any special circumstances.

• Complete the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually.

All requests for financial aid or scholarship should be addressed to Fr. Tom Powers, SJ. Specific questions may be answered by vising our financial aid page or by contacting Martha Smith, the coordinator of financial aid for the Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries.

On-campus housing may be arranged through the Office of Residence Life: University Housing. The Office of Residence Life also has information on available rentals close to the university.

Graduates of the Program have moved on to a variety of ministerial positions including primary and secondary education, non-profits, catechetical, liturgical, musical, and spiritual works in parishes, retreat and hospital ministries, as well as doctoral work. The Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries has a wide network of graduates who provide assistance with job searches as well as many potential employers who contact the office regularly with job openings. Also, all recent graduates have an alumnus/a mentor who provides support suggestions.

All available positions are posted on Job Postings page as well as on our bulletin board.