GPPM Program Details

Curriculum Overview

The Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries offers a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministries. The degree consists of sixty quarter units, which are made up of fifteen four-unit classes. Eight of the fifteen courses are required foundational courses; the distribution of the remaining seven classes will depend upon whether the student is enrolled in one of our emphasis programs:

In addition, each student is required to complete a Capstone project, which may be either an integrative essay and portfolio of course papers (an option for all students) or a ministry practicum and integrative essay (an option for students enrolled in an emphasis). The Capstone Project allows the student to demonstrate the depth of learning and practical application of the program’s four student learning goals.

Student Learning Outcomes:

By completing the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries, students will demonstrate:

1. Theological Foundation

Knowledge of the broad intellectual foundation for ministry in the areas of scripture, systematic and contextual theology, spirituality, and incorporating theological reflection to enrich their ministerial practices across varying contexts.

2. Pastoral Proficiency

Familiarity with ministerial practices in various manifestations of church life, expressed in concrete pastoral applications which include discernment, compassion, ministries of accompaniment.

3. Servant Leadership

A commitment to identify injustices and developing skills to work individually and in collaboration with other ministers, in accompanying those in need and in service to the poor, the marginalized, and the alienated, both within and outside the Church.

4. Diversity Fluency

Awareness of and critical engagement with how one’s own culture influences ministry, and then to engage in ministries that build the community of Christ and are sensitive to and respectful of all cultures and traditions, and individuals who vary by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and dynamics of wealth, poverty, and power.

Course Delivery Site and Formats:

The Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries began on the Santa Clara University campus in 1983, serving students in the Diocese of San José and surrounding dioceses, across the United States and internationally.

We offer courses in three formats:

• On the Santa Clara University campus, we offer the traditional in-person format: 3-hour classes one night a week for ten weeks, plus a possible session during finals week.
• Mixed-Mode format in which students attend all of the classes synchronously, either online or in the classroom together.
• Fully online but in person, all students will attend the class online through Zoom at the same time (In-Person Online or Synchronous Online)

The Eight Required Courses Are as Follows:

• Theological Foundations PMIN 201
• Christology PMIN 203
• Ecclesiology PMIN 205
• Church History PMIN 206
• Hebrew Bible PMIN 207 or PMIN 208
• New Testament PMIN 209 or PMIN 210
• Theological Ethics PMIN 211 or PMIN 212
• Sacraments & Liturgy PMIN 213 or PMIN 214

Foundational Courses Descriptions:

PMIN 201 Theological Foundations for Ministry

This course critically examines fundamental concepts of Christian theology in dialogue with cultural practices for the sake of more faithful practice. This inquiry in turn allows us to interrogate how the Christian tradition understands itself. In other words, it brings theology to bear on cultural practices of significance to Christian life in the present, and in that encounter sees theology itself as a culturally and historically contingent and contested practice. A foundational Fundamental Theology course; formerly PMIN 210 and PMIN 288; 4 units.

PMIN 203 Christology

An introduction to contemporary Catholic Christology. This course will examine Jesus Christ as an historical figure and object of faith and, as such, the Christian answer to the human situation. Coursework will center on Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom of God and will treat his history through the Resurrection. A foundational Christology course; 4 units.

PMIN 205 Ecclesiology

This course examines the Christian Church, the “meeting place of all mysteries,” from scriptural, historical, doctrinal, and practical perspectives. A foundational Ecclesiology course; formerly PMIN 204; 4 units.

PMIN 206 Church History

A survey of the major theological developments in Christian history against the backdrop of the social and political currents of the periods in question. A foundational Ecclesiology course; formerly PMIN 225; 4 units.

PMIN 207 Studying the Hebrew Bible

A study of Hebrew historical, prophetic, wisdom and apocalyptic literature as the medium of God’s teaching word in Israel and in the Church. A foundational Hebrew Bible course; formerly PMIN 205; 4 units.

PMIN 208 The Hebrew Bible & Social Justice

This course offers an examination of the Hebrew Bible in light of comparative literature from the ancient Near East. The course considers how the biblical writers framed their theology as a response to the ideologies, mythologies, and ritual practices of their age. It will also consider how the encultured character of the Bible can stand in dialogue with contemporary issues of diversity, multiculturalism, and justice. A foundational Hebrew Bible course; formerly PMIN 283; 4 units.

PMIN 209 The Gospels

A study of the four canonical gospels with special attention given to methods of biblical exegesis and the pastoral contexts of the original authors. This will include study of literary genres, source analysis, problems of oral and written transmission, as well as the unique theological contributions of the evangelists as authors. A foundational New Testament course; formerly PMIN 206; 4 units.

PMIN 210 The New Testament

An introduction to the socio-historical contexts, literary characteristics, and theological messages of the New Testament texts, with special attention to the methodology of biblical exegesis. Exploration of the pastoral issues facing the original authors will serve as a resource for theological reflection on how the minister might translate the good news in Christian communities today, in service of justice and peace. A foundational New Testament course; formerly PMIN 214; 4 units.

PMIN 211 Issues in Moral Theology

This course offers an introduction to problems, theories, and pastoral insights of Christian ethics. Its purpose is to explore the meaning of an authentic Christian existence and its ethical and spiritual dimensions. Particular attention is paid to ethical problems for those in pastoral ministries. A foundational Theological Ethics course; formerly PMIN 287; 4 units.

PMIN 212 Catholic Social Teaching

This course examines the vibrant and living tradition of Catholic social thought. It explores key features of Christian social responsibility through analysis of the official encyclicals and pastorals that comprise Catholic social teaching. In addition to surveying the encyclical tradition as it has developed over the past 125 years, its theological foundations, and its function, it explores pastoral implications of its key themes and core commitments. A foundational Theological Ethics course; formerly PMIN 251; 4 units.

PMIN 213 Sacraments & Liturgy

This course will look first at how all people use symbols and ritual to define and create their world and themselves. It will then investigate and experience specific Christian rituals and symbols to learn how they create and recreate a specifically Christian world. A foundational Sacraments & Liturgy course; formerly PLIT 202 and PMIN 297; 4 units.

PMIN 214 Sacramental Theology

An exploration of the history and development of sacramental theology with emphasis on contemporary pastoral issues. A foundational Sacraments & Liturgy course; formerly PMIN 293; 4 units.

Emphasis Course Descriptions

In addition to the eight foundational courses required of all students, the program offers three curricular emphases:

• Latina/o Ministry (a four-course emphasis)
• Restorative Justice & Chaplaincy (a five-course emphasis)
• Youth & Young Adult Ministry (a five-course emphasis)

Students do not need to enroll in an emphasis to complete the degree; those students simply take 7 elective courses and complete the capstone requirement. Electives may be one of the foundational course alternates, an emphasis course, or any of the area electives.

Students in the emphasis take the required emphasis courses and elective courses from any area to round out the required 15-course, 60-unit total. Thus, LATM students take 3 electives, while RJUS and YMIN students take 2 electives. These students may select their electives from the alternate foundational courses, emphasis courses outside their emphasis, or any of the area electives.

Latina/o Ministry Emphasis

The Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministries with an emphasis in Latina/o Ministry prepares ministers to deepen their theological education as they prepare for ministry in intercultural and Latino contexts.

The fifteen-course (60-unit) program consists of:

• eight foundational courses: Theological Foundations; Christology; Ecclesiology; Church History; Hebrew Bible; New Testament; Theological Ethics; and Sacraments and Liturgy.
• four emphasis courses: U.S. Latina/o Theology; Enfrentamiento y Encuentro: History and Mission in Latina/o Perspective; Latino Popular Religiosity and Its Ethics of Solidarity; Latin@x Youth and Young Adult Ministry
• three electives
• a Capstone Portfolio or Practicum*
  

LATM 220 U.S. Latina/o Theology

This course acquaints students with the historical development of Latina/o theology in the United States. Attention will be given to the works of representative U.S. Latina/o theologians and to the themes and concerns that these works address. A required course in the Latina/o Ministry emphasis (an elective for other students). Formerly PMIN 296; 4 units.

LATM 221 Enfrentamiento y Encuentro: History & Mission in Latina/o Perspective

This course explores the colonial and postcolonial history of the Americas and the role of the Catholic Church in this history. It examines the dynamics of the colonial encounter and the ambivalence of identity in the borderlands (the nepantla) that the colonial encounter creates. The course probes pastoral issues related to the creation of cultural borders, from immigration to detention to family separation, and considers the Christian imperatives of reconciliation and justice in light of these cultural realities. A required course in the Latina/o Ministry emphasis (an elective for other students); 4 units.

LATM 222 Latina/o Popular Religiosity & Its Ethics of Solidarity

This course explores popular religious devotions, liturgies, and practices in the Latina/o community in terms of both their origins and their dynamic roles in the imagination and activism of Latina/o communities. It explores the church, as well as the home, the field, and the workplace, as sacred space. A required course in the Latina/o Ministry emphasis (an elective for other students); 4 units.

LATM 223 Latin@x Youth & Young Adult Ministry

This course explores the particular issues and challenges of youth and young adult ministry in the Latin@x church, including the tensions between the individualism of U.S. culture and the importance of la familia, the challenges of migration and citizenship status for youth and their families, the difficulties of forming a cultural identity from a place between cultures, and questions over sexual issues and identities. A required course in the Latina/o Ministry emphasis (an elective for other students); 4 units.

Restorative Justice and Chaplaincy Emphasis

The Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministries with an emphasis in Restorative Justice and Chaplaincy prepares ministers to deepen their theological education as they prepare for ministry as chaplains in hospitals, prisons, schools and communities.

The fifteen-course (60-unit) program consists of:

• eight foundational courses: Fundamental Theology; Christology; Ecclesiology; Church History; Hebrew Bible; New Testament; Theological Ethics; and Sacraments and Liturgy
• five emphasis courses: Introduction to Restorative Justice; Chaplaincy; Trauma and Healing in a Broken World; Introduction to the Criminal Justice System, or Integrative Chaplaincy; or Ministering at the Margins; and Intercultural and Interreligious Competencies
• two electives
• a Capstone Portfolio or Practicum*

The emphasis presumes a paradigm shift from retributive systems to restorative justice, which envisions the social fabric that is damaged in circumstances of illness, violence and crime and seeks to restore individuals, families and communities to health and wholeness. Enrollment is open to students in any diocese.

RJUS 220 Introduction to Restorative Justice

While retributive justice models focus on the criminal and the government, restorative justice widens the circle of stakeholders to victims, offenders and community members, whose needs may be met through the justice system and through pastoral ministry. This course introduces three pillars of restorative justice: harms and needs (to/of victims, communities and offenders), obligations resulting from and contributing to the harm (the offender’s obligations, but also the communities’), and engagement of those who have a legitimate interest or stake in the offense and its resolution. A required course in the Restorative Justice & Chaplaincy emphasis (an elective for other students). 4 units

RJUS 221 Chaplaincy

A foundational study of the chaplain ministry in hospital, hospice, and homebound settings, as well as settings of incarceration. This course includes pastoral education that develops spiritual care providers and educators skilled in delivering theologically informed, clinically competent and culturally sensitive spiritual care within hospitals, correctional settings, congregations, and the community. This course also introduces various models of chaplaincy: pastoral, spiritual, missional, educational, liturgical, and prophetic. A required course in the Restorative Justice & Chaplaincy emphasis (an elective for other students). 4 units.

RJUS 222 Trauma & Healing in a Broken World

This course focuses on the needs of victims of violence and the responsibility of society to help them heal. It examines the experience of trauma, particularly that experienced in early childhood, and its impact on criminal and violent behavior, in order to imagine meaningful and effective opportunities for change. It suggests cultural changes that recognize the rights and needs of all those impacted by crime and violence from within a restorative justice framework. A required course in the Restorative Justice & Chaplaincy emphasis (an elective for other students). 4 units.

RJUS 223 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System

This course introduces the history, philosophy, and practice of the discipline of corrections within the criminal justice system of the United States, with an emphasis on the institutions and practices found in contemporary California. It includes an overview of the genesis and dynamic evolution of the institutions and methods society uses to respond to crime, including the origins and nature of the prison-industrial complex and the disproportionate incarceration of people of color, particularly after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It offers a description of the organizations, structures, and stakeholders that will be encountered by pastoral ministers. Additionally, students will become acquainted with the practice and limitations of advocacy on behalf of the populations they serve. A required course in the Restorative Justice & Chaplaincy emphasis (an elective for other students). 4 units.

RJUS 224 Intercultural & Interreligious Competencies

This course introduces the basic beliefs of the world’s major religions, informed by the conciliar document Nostra Aetate and its invitation to recognize God’s presence and action in all faiths. There is a particular focus on those religions outside Christianity that are recognized and practiced in California Detention Centers, such as Islam, Native American spirituality, Hinduism, Buddhism, Wicca, Odinism, and Santa Muerte. Attention is given to history, spiritual leaders and historical figures, beliefs, practices, important texts, ethical values, places of worship, rituals, and rites. Students learn how to exercise pastoral sensitivity to faiths other than their own (rather than proselytize), and develop skills for ministering to practitioners, including conducting ecumenical and interfaith services. A required course in the Restorative Justice & Chaplaincy emphasis (an elective for other students). 4 units.

RJUS 226 - Ministering at the Margins

The servant leadership model of ministry is not only biblical, it represents the best of Christian tradition and history. It is also “marginal” by nature: lived along the edges of society. Informed by Jesus’ distinctive commitment to those who are ignored, overlooked or undervalued, as a prophetic vocation, ministering at the margins is a life-giving and precarious mode of faithful discipleship. The course explores theological sources that underlie the theoretical basis for pastoral care among marginalized populations, as well as case studies in street ministry. With an emphasis on practical applications, students engage in theological reflection while cultivating their pastoral skills for prophetic work among the people of God. 4 units.

RJUS 227 - Integrative Chaplaincy

Effective chaplains are pliable, intrepid caregivers. An integrative approach to chaplaincy equips ministers with the tools needed to navigate complex pastoral situations such as prisons, hospitals, and shelters. They must understand the differences between a dark night of the soul and a mental health crisis. Integrative chaplaincy focuses on helping individuals, families, and communities mine their faith traditions for resources that promote healing and wholeness. In addition to essential spiritual care interventions, students will learn about the practice of self-care, a vital skill for chaplains who work in challenging environments. Students will also practice creative approaches to problem-solving within their unique pastoral setting. 4 units.

Youth and Young Adult Ministries Emphasis

The Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministries with an emphasis in Youth and Young Adult Ministries is a comprehensive theological and practical training program to prepare leaders to engage, evangelize, and empower youth and young adults in discipleship and service, and accompany them through the various stages of their faith journey. It prepares people to begin or enhance careers as parish or diocesan youth or young adult ministers, religious educators, or campus ministers in the parish or school setting, directors of religious education, parish leaders, or social service workers.

The fifteen-course (60-unit) program consists of:

• eight foundational courses: Fundamental Theology, Christology; Ecclesiology; Church History; Hebrew Bible; New Testament; Theological Ethics; and Sacraments and Liturgy
• five emphasis courses: Evangelization & Discipleship; Reimagining Youth Ministry; Reimagining Young Adult Ministry; Community, Ritual, and Mission: Nourishing the Christian Life; and Family, Relationships and Ministry
• two electives
• a Capstone Portfolio or Practicum*

Emphasis courses will be scheduled on an alternating basis over a three-year period. Enrollment is open to students in any diocese.

YMIN 220 Evangelization & Discipleship

In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis locates the call addressed to all Christians to become “missionary disciples” in the encounter with God’s love in Christ Jesus and the mission to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt. 28:19). This course examines how that shared call is embodied by missionary disciples in ministry to youth and young adults. The first part of this course examines the scriptural and historical roots of evangelization and discipleship. It then explores the challenges of missionary discipleship in parishes, schools, and the world today as ministers discern the needs of those they serve and identify how those needs should shape ministry. Finally, it explores how disciples might be formed to be agents of interfaith cooperation in our religiously diverse world. A required course in the Youth & Young Adult Ministry emphasis (an elective for other students). Formerly CATE 213; 4 units.

YMIN 221 Reimagining Youth Ministry

This course explores the historical and contemporary dimensions and challenges of ministry to people in middle school and high school (6th-12th grade). The first part of the course examines the principles, foundations and history of youth ministry and Pastoral Juvenil Hispana with adolescents. The second part of the course addresses the developmental needs of young people and studies their diverse cultural realities in contemporary society. The last section of the course offers practical applications for developing effective ministry and outreach strategies and investigates models of accompaniment of young people —whether active, unchurched or disaffiliated—as they explore their faith and beliefs. A required course in the Youth & Young Adult Ministry emphasis (an elective for other students); 4 units.

YMIN 222 Reimagining Young Adult Ministry

This course explores the principles and foundations of Young Adult Ministry, examines the needs of young adults at different life stages, and reimagines practical ways for developing effective models of ministry to young adults that enliven their faith and accompany them into missionary discipleship and leadership. A required course in the Youth & Young Adult Ministry emphasis (an elective for other students). 4 units.

YMIN 223 Community, Ritual & Mission: Nourishing the Christian Life

This course equips students to provide leadership skills and strategies that empower the family and relationships. The minister will be trained to recognize and respond to the needs of persons at various stages of life in light of diverse expressions of family, gender, sexuality, relationships, and culture. Emphasis is placed on the minister’s role in accompanying families and sustaining life-giving relationships that animate the mission of discipleship of the parish and community. A required course in the Youth & Young Adult Ministry emphasis (an elective for other students). Formerly PMIN 286; 4 units.

YMIN 224 Family, Relationships and Ministry

This course equips students to provide leadership skills and strategies that empower the family and relationships. The minister will be trained to recognize and respond to the needs of persons at various stages of life in light of diverse expressions of family, gender, sexuality, relationships, and culture. Emphasis is placed on the minister’s role in accompanying families and sustaining life-giving relationships that animate the mission of discipleship of the parish and community. A required course in the Youth & Young Adult Ministries emphasis (an elective for other students). Formerly PMIN 286; 4 units.

Elective Course Descriptions

The Graduate Programs in Pastoral Ministries offers elective courses in the following nine areas:

Catechetics (CATE)
Latina/o Ministry (LATM)
Leadership in Ministry (LDPM)
Liturgical Music (LITM)
Pastoral Liturgy (PLIT)
Pastoral Ministry (PMIN)
Restorative Justice & Chaplaincy (RJUS)
Spirituality (SPIR)
Theology (THEO)
Youth & Young Adult Ministries (YMIN)

CATE 220 Foundations & Process of Catechesis

An exploration and reflection on the nature, goal, and process of catechesis. This course examines twentieth-century catechetical renewal and the catechetical model that emerged from this renewal. An elective course; formerly CATE 211; 4 units.

CATE 221 RCIA: The Catechumenate Process

This course will study the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and appropriate catechesis for this Rite. The course will include study of the lectionary, the symbolic actions, and the prayer texts which are fundamental to the Rite and catechesis for the Rite. An elective course; formerly PLIT 262; 4 units.

CATE 222 Catechesis & Culture

An examination of specific issues involving culture, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, socio-economic status, age, and language in catechesis. Students will define an “inculturated catechesis” and the principles that should inform such ministry. Fieldwork will be included. An elective course; formerly PMIN 212; 4 units.

CATE 223 Liturgical Catechesis

A study of the revised rituals of the sacraments and the catechesis that accompany these rites. Special emphasis will be given to the Lectionary, the prayer texts, and the symbolic action of each rite are considered ways of developing a catechesis that will open up the meaning of the rites. An elective course; formerly CATE 216; 4 units.

CATE 224 Transformative Catechesis

This course explores the prophetic dimension of catechesis and its ability to transform individuals, the parish community, and the larger society. By examining current catechetical methods within the context of transformative catechesis, students (catechists) will be helped to realign their approach to catechesis and thus revitalize their teaching and their communities. An elective course; formerly CATE 217; 4 units.

CATE 240 Adult Faith Formation

A study of the nature, goal, and process of adult faith formation. This course will consider adult experiences, motivation, and catechetical approaches. An elective course; formerly CATE 212; 4 units.

LATM 224 Pastoral Care in Latina/o Contexts

This course explores the psychological and cultural elements that contribute to Latina/o identity, as well as the social and psychological pressures faced by members of this community and the pastoral interventions they call forth. An elective course; 4 units.

LATM 225 Catechesis in the Parish & the Home

This course introduces the foundations and practice of catechesis and the particular shape these take in response to the religious practices and social dynamics of the Latina/o Catholic community. Emphasis is placed on the importance of involving the entire family in faith formation. An elective course; 4 units.

LATM 226 Developing Competency for Cooperative Leadership

This course explores the challenges and opportunities of an intercultural parish. It trains the lay minister in cultural differences, such as in spiritual practice, stewardship, and leadership styles. It offers strategies for developing pastoral de conjunto (communion in mission). An elective course; 4 units.

LATM 227 Guadalupe & Marian Spirituality

This course traces the place of Mary in the Christian tradition, beginning in the Gospels, with an emphasis on the development of Marian devotion in Medieval Spain and the evolution of Marian spirituality in the figure of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The continuing transformation and role of Guadalupe in evangelization, popular devotion, and social justice movements will be explored. An elective course; 4 units.

LATM 229 The Bible & Migration

This course examines the phenomenon of migration in the historical contexts of the biblical books and the ethical mandates in the covenant to care for the vulnerable. The course then analyzes the contemporary phenomenon of migration within the United States, focusing on the circumstances behind and policies toward migrants from Latin America. It examines the ways the Bible and biblical ethics inform the imagination and practices of migrants and the activism for justice on this issue. An elective course; 4 units.

LATM 228 - Migration & Ethics

This course will explore the human reality of global migration in light of secular and Judeo-Christian ethics for pastoral ministry. Students will become familiar with ethical norms and traditions grounded in scientific studies of migration in human evolution and history, contemporary human rights, Judeo-Christian biblical tradition, and Catholic Social teaching. Each week participants will also examine short migrant testimonies (part of a book project with Jesuit Refugee Service in Rome) and survey key documents from Catholic Social teaching. Special consideration will be given to the remarkable efforts of global refugees to survive and thrive in the face of global anti-migrant networks funded by governments managing national priorities in tension with the common good (with attention to the U.S.). Students will learn how to access the best contemporary data on global migration and be introduced to leading authors in the social sciences, law, evolutionary biology, history, interreligious dialogue, Christian spirituality, and theological ethics; 4 units.

LATM 229 - The Bible & Migration

This course examines the phenomenon of migration in the historical contexts of the biblical books and the ethical mandates in the covenant to care for the vulnerable. The course then analyzes the contemporary phenomenon of migration within the United States, focusing on the circumstances behind and policies toward migrants from Latin America. It examines the ways the Bible and biblical ethics inform the imagination and practices of migrants and the activism for justice on this issue. An elective course; formerly PMIN 217; 4 units.

LATM 230 La Biblia en el Barrio: La Interpretación Bíblica Hispana

This course explores the Bible from a Hispanic context. Using the challenges of the Hispanic community as a hermeneutical lens, the class will read the Bible through the community’s struggles against poverty, racial discrimination, unemployment, domestic violence, immigration, and deportation. An elective course; formerly PMIN 217; 4 units.

LATM 240 Feminist/Mujerista Theology

This course examines the lived experience and faith of Hispanic/Latina women, as well as the critical perspectives of feminist/mujerista theologians. An elective course; 4 units.

LATM 250 La Visión Esperanzadora del Papa Francisco

This course will explore Pope Francis’s vision for humanity, which he has expressed in writing and interviews. We will examine the roots of his vision, especially Latin American influences, and consider his views in relation to current debates about such issues as poverty, immigration, and the environment. An elective course; formerly PMIN 213; 4 units.

LDPM 220 - Leadership as Vocation

This course explores leadership in the Church as a vocation rooted in baptism and the servant model of Christ. Students examine the ecclesial foundations of authority and stewardship, developing a spirituality of leadership that reframes governance as a call to discern, accompany, and build up the People of God. By integrating theological vision with practical application, participants develop a framework for leading with humility and pastoral wisdom in service of the Church’s mission of transformation and hope. An elective course; 4 units

LDPM 221 Shared Leadership in a Synodal Church

This course prepares students to lead collaboratively in a Church shaped by communion, participation, and co-responsibility for mission. Rooted in the vision of Vatican II and the renewal of the lay apostolate, students examine how lay and ordained ministers share responsibility for the Church’s life and evangelizing work. Emphasis is placed on cultivating synodal practices of listening, dialogue, discernment, and shared decision-making that strengthen trust and accountability within parishes and ministry settings. Participants will develop the capacity to foster cultures of collaboration in which diverse gifts are recognized and the whole People of God actively participate in the Church’s mission; 4 units.

LITM 220 Introduction to Liturgical Music

This course will familiarize students with liturgical music in a Roman Catholic context. Students will explore foundational writings about the relationship of music to the liturgy, and understand the history of liturgical music, including liturgical reforms. It will ground students in the necessary pastoral, liturgical, and musical frameworks and cultural considerations required for all ministers planning and preparing public worship. This course is relevant for campus ministers, pastoral leaders, liturgy and music directors, youth ministers, and clergy alike. No prior musical experience is required. An elective course. An elective course; formerly LITM 250; 4 units.

LITM 221 Music for Liturgical Year

It focuses on the music for the Eucharist and the liturgical year, as well as musical forms in the liturgy and, in particular, rites, such as funerals, weddings, baptisms, and the RCIA. Includes a consideration of various church traditions. An elective course; formerly LITM 200 and LITM 251; 4 Units.

LITM 222 Musicianship for Liturgical Musicians

This course provides a review of harmony and theory for the liturgical musician. Designed to meet the individual needs of each student. An elective course; formerly LITM 252; 4 units.

LITM 223 Choral Conducting Techniques

Examines the techniques of choral conducting as well as the choral training necessary for developing a well-balanced choir. Focuses on solving vocal problems encountered in both small ensembles and large choirs. An elective course; formerly LITM 253; 4 units.

LITM 224 Sacred Music Literature

A comprehensive survey of sacred and liturgical choral/organ literature from 600 A.D. to the present. Includes Gregorian chant, music from various historical periods, and contemporary music. An elective course; formerly LITM 254; 4 units.

PLIT 220 Foundations of Pastoral Liturgy

In this course, students explore the theological foundations for the reform of the liturgy after the Second Vatican Council—history, biblical roots, liturgical development—with particular attention to the impact on contemporary parish life in the multicultural Church. Focus includes principles for preparation and evaluation of parish liturgies; music, architecture, the meaning of full, conscious, unresolved issues, and the challenges ahead will be discussed, especially the need for genuine inculturation and a more performative sacramental theology. An elective course; formerly PLIT 222; 4 units.

PLIT 221 The Eucharist

An introduction to the theology and celebration of the Eucharist. The course includes New Testament beginnings, a brief historical overview, and pastoral and catechetical questions concerning contemporary celebration of the Eucharist. An elective course; formerly PLIT 232; 4 units.

PLIT 222 Liturgy & Inculturation

This course explores the inter-relationship between liturgy, inculturation, and the many sociocultural identities and worship practices that mark our everyday lives. The first part sets the context by exploring foundational aspects of liturgy and culture. The second part examines liturgical inculturation and places it in conversation with official and non-official worship practices. The third part offers suggestions for pastoral settings, including the planning and preparing of liturgies in culturally diverse contexts and the development of intercultural competence skills. Finally, particular ethnic cultural worship practices (African, African American, Chinese, Filipino, Hispanic, and Vietnamese) will be highlighted at different times throughout the quarter. An elective course; formerly PLIT 265; 4 units.

PLIT 235 Sacraments of Healing

A consideration of liturgical prayer in relation to the contemporary experience of sickness and dying. The course will examine the theological, historical, and pastoral aspects of ministry to the sick and dying based on Pastoral Care of the Sick. An elective course; formerly CATE 233; 4 units.

PLIT 276 Preaching & Presiding at Prayer

A praxis-oriented course in which students will learn the theology and the history of lay liturgical ministry by creating various liturgical events. The course also explores the process and practice of preaching, workshopping the preparatory study, writing, revising, and delivering of the homily so that the student receives a practical experience of preaching. An elective course; formerly PLIT 217; 4 units.

PMIN 220 The Wounded Healer

With his classic image of the “wounded healer,” Henri Nouwen reminds us that imperfect people do effective ministry. Drawing on the insights of developmental psychology, The Spiritual Exercises, and contemporary theologies of ministry, this course examines the psychological and spiritual formation of the pastoral person.

Students discover within their human imperfection the deepest wellsprings of pastoral identity and ministerial effectiveness. They will also experience a model of theological reflection on ministry. An elective course; formerly PMIN 280; 4 units.

PMIN 221 Pastoral Leadership

This course explores best practices in ministerial and organizational leadership in parish communities. Informed by the USCCB document, Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord, the class examines techniques and obstacles to fruitful collaboration between ordained and lay ministers, the importance of transparency, and the gospel values that inform and shape pastoral leadership. An elective course; formerly PMIN 219; 4 units.

PMIN 222 Skills for Ministers

Ministry is a relational process that requires effective interpersonal communication. This course provides ministering persons an opportunity to explore, deepen, and expand their personal communication skills through experiential exercises, class feedback, and reflective self-examination. Topics explored include listening and attending skills, learning to ask questions, paraphrasing and encouraging, confronting and empathic listening. Basic principles and techniques of conflict resolution and use of small groups in ministry are also explored. An elective course; formerly PMIN 250; 4 units.

PMIN 223 Romero and the Martyrs of El Salvador

This course explores the lives of Archbishop Oscar Romero, the Central American Jesuits, and the other martyrs of El Salvador. It examines how and why their way of living came to share the quality of their mentor, Jesus of Nazareth. It studies the epoch-changing role of Vatican II and subsequent meetings in Latin America that awakened church leadership to the cry of the Continent’s crucified people for justice and mercy.  It also explores key elements of the Latin American contextual liberation theology developed by Sobrino and Ellacuría, reflecting on the Salvadoran church as a community of faith in solidarity with the poor; 4 units.

PMIN 224 Ministry for Peace & Justice

An introduction to the Catholic Church’s social teachings and a consideration of the relationship of those teachings to U.S. and global moral issues. An elective course; formerly PMIN 220; 4 units.

PMIN 225 Preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation

This course explores the theology and history of the Sacraments of Initiation while delving into the practical application of sacramental preparation in the 21st century Church within the context of youth ministry, children's ministry, and young adult ministry of parishes who observe and celebrate the Sacraments most typical of Catholic parishes in the United States (infant baptism, first Eucharist at the age of reason, adolescent confirmation). This course is framed within a solid understanding of the model for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and uses that as a guidepost to develop effective sacramental preparation strategies for children and adolescents, addressing the important need of accompaniment in the sacraments ; 4 units.

PMIN 230 Introduction to Canon Law

This course introduces the nature, history, and function of Church law. It surveys the norms of the 1983 Code of Canon Law in the areas of general norms, the rights and obligations of the Christian faithful, Church structures, the teaching and sanctifying offices of the Church, temporal goods, sanctions and procedural law. An elective course; formerly CATE 275; 4 units.

PMIN 231 Canon Law for Pastoral Ministers

The course is dynamic and it is designed to introduce ecclesiastical law as a pastoral tool for ministry (and will help students avoid mistakes when they support their parishes and dioceses).  It focuses on the rich theological, historical, and pastoral content found in Canon Law and provides practical guidelines needed to address complicated pastoral situations which are encountered by those called to ministry.

To better prepare students for ministry, the course explores the Church’s Hierarchical Structure, the Rights and Obligations of the Christian Faithful (all baptized. laity, clergy, and consecrated members), the law guiding the Sacraments of Initiation, and the Teaching Office of the Church. An elective course.; formerly CATE 220; 4 units.

PMIN 236 - Creation, Science, and EcoTheology

Pastoral ministers will be introduced to the nature, history, and function of Church law. The course surveys the norms of the 1983 Code of Canon Law in the areas of general norms, the rights and obligations of the Christian faithful, Church structures, the teaching and sanctifying offices of the Church, temporal goods, sanctions, and procedural law. An elective course; 4 units.

PMIN 240 Women in Ministry

It has been said that women perform 80% of the ministry work in the Catholic Church, even while they are excluded from ordained ministries. This course explores women’s ministry roles from Jesus’ movement to the present, examining the place that women have and might occupy in service of the people of God. An elective course; formerly CATE 226; 4 units.

PMIN 241 - Women in The Church

Examining the role of women in the Catholic Church through an intersectional feminist lens, this course recognizes that women have always been active participants in the development of Catholic theology, biblical scholarship, ethics, and ministry. Given the controversy surrounding terms like “feminist,” the course explicitly engages the question of whether one can be a “Catholic feminist.” Throughout the course, we will develop our own “hermeneutic of suspicion” by repeatedly asking these questions: Where are the women? Which women are portrayed? How are they portrayed? Who is controlling the narrative? Importantly, we will pay close attention to how intersections of sexuality, gender, race, class, ability, and so forth contribute to Catholic theological, biblical, and ethical reflections on “women.” An elective course; 4 units.

PMIN 250 Intergenerational Ministry

Taking the family as its inspiration and primary locus, this course explores the value of conducting pastoral ministry in ways that allow multiple generations to interact together. An elective course; formerly SPIR 249; 4 units.

PMIN 254 Ministry to the Religious Other

This course invites participants to understand more deeply and increase their skill in working with people who are “other” than themselves—whether in terms of religious tradition, spiritual experience, different styles of holding faith, or different generational cultures (with their attendant spiritualities). This class presents assumptions and perspectives necessary to engage in interfaith/intergenerational spiritual accompaniment and ministry, and asks participants to explore and expand their ability to practice analogous empathic connection in order to connect their own religious and spiritual experiences to the spiritual experiences of the “other.” Students will clarify populations with which they are able to work effectively and with integrity. An elective course; formerly PMIN 249; 4 units.

PMIN 260 Ministry & Social Media

Social media is any communication that is electronic and interactive. For example, this includes websites, blogs, and discussion forums, Facebook, YouTube, Second Life, Twitter, and simple announcement-type media such as a parish website. This course provides a brief overview of how media have historically been used for Christian ministry purposes. It explores the ways that social media is now being used for ministry, along with the theology and spirituality of social media and ministry. It trains the student to create a sample ministry using social media. An elective course; formerly SPIR 253;4 units.

PMIN 261 Pastoral Aesthetics

Aesthetics—the study of the beautiful—is a productive lens through which to examine many pastoral issues. It is revelatory of Divine Mystery when words fail; it can transform us, as it can penetrate and open a heart, it can inspire new horizons in the minister and those receiving ministry. This course explores, examines, and applies the beautiful in three main movements: (1) the minister’s own encounter with the beautiful, (2) a theoretical but concrete understanding of the meanings and functions of the beautiful, and (3) pastoral applications of the beautiful in a given ministry. An elective course; formerly PMIN 211; 4 units.

PMIN 270 Interreligious Dialogue

This course explores the major theological issues involved in interreligious dialogue, and the implications of these issues for world events in the 21st century. An elective course; formerly SPIR 276; 4 units.

PMIN 280 - Leadership in Ministry

Leadership in Ministry is a comprehensive course designed for Roman Catholic leaders navigating the complexities of leading parishes in the 21st century. This course equips pastors, parish administrators, and ministry leaders with the tools and strategies to foster vibrant, mission-driven communities while remaining deeply rooted in prayer and spiritual discernment.

Participants will explore key areas of parish leadership, including:  (1) Building and empowering effective leadership teams, (2) Best practices for managing pastoral and finance councils with transparency and collaboration, (3) Developing successful fundraising strategies to sustain and grow parish ministries, (4) Managing staff with compassion and professionalism to create a cohesive and motivated team, (5) Engaging in strategic and pastoral planning to align the parish’s mission with actionable goals.

At its core, this course emphasizes the importance of maintaining a deep and consistent prayer life as the foundation for all leadership endeavors, ensuring that ministry leadership flows from a place of spiritual integrity and faithfulness to Christ's mission.  An elective course; 4 units.

RJUS 225 Spiritual Accompaniment for Ministers

The art of spiritual accompaniment is a praxis-based form of theological reflection. Always contextual, the applied process of spiritual accompaniment focuses on helping others discern God’s movement in their lives, and to respond to the still, small voice. This course offers an opportunity for ministers to recognize and appreciate their own spiritual affinities and longings as well as their assumptions about caregiving. Integrating tools for greater self-awareness as well as essential pastoral skills, we will learn to attend more effectively to patients, inmates, clients, parishioners and others within our communities of accountability. An elective course; 4 units

RJUS 235 Ministry to the Sick & Dying

The course will consider liturgical prayer in relation to the contemporary experience of sickness and dying, with a particular focus on the ministry of chaplains. It will examine the theological, historical, and pastoral aspects of ministry to the sick and dying based on Pastoral Care of the Sick. An elective course; formerly PLIT 233; 4 units.

SPIR 220 Spirituality & Ministry

This course examines the nature and development of ministry in the Church with special attention given to forms of adult ministry. An elective course; formerly SPIR 244; 4 units.

SPIR 221 History of Christian Spirituality

This course is a study of major traditions and issues in Christian spirituality. It analyzes various spiritualities in terms of their historical context, suppositions, strengths, and weaknesses. An elective course; formerly SPIR 240; 4 units.

SPIR 222 Ignatian Spirituality & Discernment

This course offers an in-depth study of the elements and dynamics of Ignatian spirituality through the writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, including his spiritual exercises, autobiography, spiritual journal, and letters. Special emphasis is placed on his rules on discernment as a resource for communal and individual Christian decision-making. An elective course; formerly SPIR 242; 4 units.

SPIR 223 Psychological Issues in Spirituality

This course explores the relationship of psychology to spirituality, emphasizing how the insights of psychology may be used in spirituality. An elective course; formerly SPIR 243; 4 units.

SPIR 224 Prayer & Prayer Methods

This course offers an experiential and theological exploration of prayer and meditation methods within the Christian tradition, with an emphasis upon noticing and articulating one’s religious experience as a foundation for personal and communal theological reflection. An elective course; formerly SPIR 248; 4 units.

SPIR 230 Liturgical Spirituality
An introduction to the historical, theological, and cultural issues underlying the liturgical and spiritual traditions of the Christian churches. An elective course; 4 units.

SPIR 235 The Art of Spiritual Direction

A practical course for those who want to explore what spiritual direction is and how it is done. Students should be willing to learn more about themselves both spiritually and psychologically and to explore the leading of God in their lives. Topics addressed will include prayer, discernment, listening, God’s healing, transference and countertransference, and the differences between spiritual direction and psychotherapy. An elective course; formerly SPIR 260; 4 units.

SPIR 241 Karl Rahner: Spiritual Writings

Drawing upon some of Rahner’s popular works, retreat conferences, homilies, and more accessible theological essays, this course explores the relationship between Rahner’s approach to Ignatian spirituality and asks how this approach can inform daily Christian life and ministry. An elective course; formerly SPIR 232; 4 units.

SPIR 248 - Prayer and Prayer Methods

An experiential and theological exploration of prayer and meditation methods within the Christian tradition, with an emphasis upon noticing and articulating one's religious experience as a foundation for personal and communal theological reflection. An elective course; 4 Units.

SPIR 260 Spirituality in the Digital Age

This course focuses on expressions of Christian spirituality that utilize technologies or take place entirely within digital spaces. It probes the challenges to traditional structures and authorities that these technologies pose, while also exploring the new forms of spiritual expression, activism and commitment that are possible online. An elective course; formerly SPIR 252; 4 units.

SPIR 264 Mystics, Prophets & Social Justice

Holy people throughout history have lived their lives in both deep relationships with the Divine and radical commitment in the world. In this course, we will explore understandings of mysticism and prophecy and then consider the witness of women and men whose work for social justice grew out of their faith commitment. One or two different witnesses will be highlighted each week; figures include, among others: Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola, John Woolman, Sojourner Truth, Walter Rauschenbush, Abraham Heschel, Dorothy Day, Cesar Chavez, Thomas Merton, Howard Thurman, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Archbishop Oscar Romero. An elective course; formerly PMIN 209 and PMIN 274; 4 units.

SPIR 280 Spirituality & Health

The medical profession is paying more attention to the latest findings linking spiritual factors with health-related processes and outcomes. Through scripture, mystical tests, and ancient Christian practices, this course explores resources in Christianity that promote the cultivation of peace and well-being. A focus is placed on stories of healing in prophetic and wisdom literature and the New Testament, contemporary implications of Julian of Norwich’s image of God, Teresa of Avila’s four degrees of prayer, as well as devotions such as rosary beads, the hours, and chant. An elective course; formerly SPIR 285; 4 units.

SPIR 290 Contemporary Issues in Spirituality

This course explores the ways traditional spiritual concepts and language need to be translated if they are to speak to our contemporary human experience. An elective course; formerly SPIR 246; 4 units.

THEO 232 The Psalms

The Psalter is a central resource for the liturgical prayer of the Church. This course studies the literary forms, historical contexts, and affective power of these poems and explores the settings within which they are and might be used in the Church. An elective course; formerly PMIN 289; 4 units.

THEO 234 The Quest for the Historical Jesus

This course examines the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Working with the available literary and archaeological evidence and the criteria of historicity, we will explore the aspects of the gospel tradition that are most likely to be historically accurate. We will examine the factors that led the evangelists to reshape the received tradition for their own pastoral contexts. The archaeological record tells us little about Jesus directly, but reveals a great deal about the world in which he lived. This will allow us to build a picture of his society that will help us to place him in it and to understand what people believed about him, and why. An elective course; formerly PMIN 209; 4 units.

THEO 236 Johannine Writings

This course focuses on the Gospel and Letters of John, emphasizing their unique view of Christ and Christian spirituality in comparison with the Synoptic Gospels. Special attention is given to the figure of the Beloved Disciple as the ideal believer. An elective course; formerly PMIN 217; 4 units.

THEO 237 Pauline Writings

A study of the writings in the Pauline and deutero-Pauline collection, with special attention to the social context and pastoral issues that Paul and his followers faced in the early Christian church. An elective course; formerly PMIN 215; 4 units.

THEO 240 Feminist Theologies

An exploration of the contributions of feminist theology on three levels: pastoral, academic, and popular. North American and Third World theologians will be examined in order to see both the global impact of feminist theologies and their liberating visions in the contexts of race, culture, and ethnicity. Special emphasis will be placed on the utilization of feminist theology in contemporary pastoral settings. An elective course; formerly PMIN 285; 4 units.

THEO 244 Vatican II

No one doubts the significance of the Second Vatican Council for Catholic Christianity; knowledge of the history, theology, and consequences are essential for ministry. This course examines the central documents in detail in order to understand the theological positions adopted at the Council with special reference to current issues facing the Church. An elective course; formerly PMIN 208; 4 units.

THEO 245 Future Church

Vatican II marked the opening of the third phase in the Catholic Church’s self-understanding where the relationship between the Local Church and the Universal Church was re-configured. This course focuses on teachings that developed and changed as well as teachings that were retrieved from the first millennium in the life of the Church. There will be particular emphasis upon the four Constitutions since they provide the scaffold for Church life, especially at the parish and diocesan level. An elective course; formerly CATE 215; 4 units.

THEO 250 Theology of Suffering

In pastoral practice suffering in its manifold forms presents challenges to Christian faith and practice. This course explores theological dimensions of the problem (e.g., how deeply God can be said to be involved in suffering in light of revelation), how suffering can help inform an integral spirituality, and how ministers of the Gospel can best encounter people who are in the midst of physical, psychological or spiritual suffering. An elective course; formerly PMIN 268; 4 units.

THEO 252 Liberation Theology

Liberation and freedom are words that fill the contemporary theological, political, and social space. How do liberation theologies impact the quest for justice both as foundational Christian aspiration as well as a worldwide political quest? What does the search for justice have to do with pastoral ministries? An elective course; formerly PMIN 218; 4 units.

THEO 255 Creation, Science & Ecological Theology

The field of ecological theology, or ecotheology, reflects critically on the Christian faith in light of the reality of ecological degradation and contemporary scientific insights into the “nature of nature” and the universe we inhabit. Following Pope Francis’s observation that “an ecological approach always becomes a social approach,” the discipline also attends to the intersection of ecological and social concerns, including racism, sexism, poverty, and other “obstructions of justice.” Applied to the life of the church, ecotheology asks what Catholic Christians can do for the good of the world we share with what Charles Darwin described as “endless forms most beautiful”: palms and squirrels, rivers and mountains, which Psalm 148 describes as praising God by simply being what they are. In this way, ecological theology offers a unique perspective on the intersection of theoretical, theological, pastoral, and ministerial concerns, seeking new ways of understanding God’s will to life, flourishing, and the “splendid universal communion” of all God’s creatures (Laudato Si’). An elective course; formerly PMIN 236; 4 units.

THEO 270 Healthcare Ethics

Decisions about healthcare—either personal or professional—are shaped by ethics. This course explores the new genetics, cell, tissue and organ transplantation, death and dying, justice and access to healthcare. An elective course; formerly PMIN 226; 4 units.

YMIN 230 Theology, Sex & Relationships

This course is a study of the official method and anthropology employed in Catholic sexual ethics with review of magisterial documents regarding certain questions in sexual ethics, fostering a theological and pastoral approach to sexual ethics for the contemporary church. The course will facilitate self-insight about the place of sexuality in one’s own life. An elective course; formerly PMIN 286; 4 units.

Capstone Project

At the conclusion of coursework, you will complete a Capstone Project in the form of a portfolio or a ministry practicum (the practicum is only an option for students in a ministry emphasis who matriculated in Fall 2019 or later). Both projects involve theological reflection on the four student learning goals of the program, as demonstrated either by projects from six courses (portfolio) or by a self-designed ministry activity (practicum). Directions are available on the GPPM website.  Students work with their faculty mentor to complete the project, and upload it to the student folder the Program staff have shared with them, containing their advising checklist and a folder for the Capstone materials, including the evaluation rubric used for the assignment.

Central to the portfolio is an 8-10-page, double-spaced integrative essay in which the student reflects on what s/he has learned in coursework and how this prepares her/him for ministry.

The specific questions to focus the reflection are:

• How did I come to understand each of the four learning outcomes through the chosen projects and the program in general?
• How did mastering these learning outcomes strengthen my ability to minister?

*)International students interested in exploring the Practicum option should plan to meet with an international student advisor in the Global Engagement Office to discuss whether the project parameters require them to receive Curricular Practical Training (CPT) advising.

Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice and Chaplaincy

Students may apply to the Graduate Programs in Pastoral Ministries to earn a Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice & Chaplaincy. The requirements consist of twenty-four quarter units which are made up of six core courses and can be completed in one year or two.

The Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice and Chaplaincy from Santa Clara University prepares ministers to engage the community with justice initiatives that heal and emphasize the restoration of right relationships. This entails a paradigm shift from retributive systems to initiatives that seek to restore individuals, families, and communities to health and wholeness. Our program enhances the gifts and skills that students bring to the table through academic, theological, and spiritual education to focus their ministerial practices on restoring relationships. Some concrete disciplines where this work is being employed are education, detention/prison ministry, health care, hospice, trauma, mental health, re-entry programs, interfaith services, and community services. The Covid-19 pandemic crisis has certainly highlighted the need for people with compassion, pastoral accompaniment, and reflective listening skills to engage with those who are suffering on the front lines and in the margins.

Students in this emphasis will:

• Gain a broad theological foundation in restorative justice and chaplaincy that is foundational to pastoral ministries.
• Develop pastoral skills, enhance ministerial praxis, and explore intercultural and interreligious dialogue for restorative ministries;
• Recover the incarnational roots of kinship to restore balance to the beloved community in diverse global settings.
• Identify a critically informed approach to faith that promotes social justice for the benefit of those most in need.

Six courses comprise the Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice and Chaplaincy. They are Theological Foundations for Ministry; Introduction to Restorative Justice; Chaplaincy; Trauma and Healing in a Broken World; Introduction to the Criminal Justice System, or Integrative Chaplaincy or Ministering at the Margins; and Intercultural and Interreligious Competencies.

If one finishes the requirements for the Graduate Certificate and wishes to pursue the MA degree in Pastoral Ministries all of the credits earned will apply.