Emphases

The Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries at SCU seeks to transform hearts and lives through the engagement of theology and ministry for competence, conscience, and compassion in accompanying others. There are currently three emphases available along with the general MA degree with no emphasis. In the fall of 2021, we were delighted to begin an emphasis in Youth and Young Adult Ministries. In the fall of 2022 we began an online graduate certificate in restorative justice and chaplaincy.

The Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministries is comprised of 60 quarter units from 15 four unit courses. Eight of these are required Foundational Courses for every degree-seeking student in the program. There are seven additional courses required for the degree and they may be chosen from a variety of courses in Lifelong Faith Formation, Latina/o Ministry, Pastoral Liturgy, Pastoral Ministry, Restorative Justice and Chaplaincy, Spirituality, Theology or Youth and Young Adult Ministry. 

There are four possible emphases in the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries degree at Santa Clara University. The coursework consists of the eight foundational courses that are required by the general degree program along with four or five core courses in the emphasis area along with three or four remaining electives that can be taken from any of the remaining courses that are offered in the degree program. They are listed below.