If you feel called to serve and lead in pastoral, chaplaincy, or community roles, a graduate degree in pastoral ministries can deepen your theological foundation and strengthen your capacity for ministry. The Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries (GPPM) at Santa Clara University offers rigorous theological education alongside spiritual formation within a supportive community of fellowship.
Recent GPPM graduate Mary Acosta, MA '25, works for the Diocese of San Diego and credits the program with "[helping] my understanding of the way the institutional Church works, what it teaches, and how our faith is proclaimed and lived out." For her classmate, Caroline Okello, MA '25, who serves in lay ecclesial ministry in Seattle, the program "has been a journey of advanced learning in service for others and full of blessings."
The GPPM combines academic rigor with practical preparation for ministry, serving students at various stages of their vocational journeys—from those discerning a call to ministry to experienced practitioners seeking to deepen their theological knowledge and expand their ministerial skills.
In this post, you'll discover how the GPPM's Jesuit approach, flexible format, and mission-driven curriculum can advance your spiritual and theological journey while preparing you for meaningful work in ministry.
A Jesuit Approach to Ministry Education
The Jesuit approach to education dates back to the mid-16th century, when the first Jesuit school opened in Messina, Sicily.1 Santa Clara University was founded in 1851 as a Jesuit institution, committed to a Catholic and Jesuit educational tradition that focuses on the whole person. This pedagogy seeks to foster your intellectual development alongside your moral and spiritual development.
In practice, this means Jesuit schools take an approach to ministry preparation that integrates faith and reason. The overall educational philosophy is rooted in justice, service, and reflective practice. In the words of Pedro Arrupe, Superior General of the Jesuits from 1965 to 1983, the purpose of a Jesuit education is to form "people who cannot even conceive of love of God which does not include love for the least of their neighbors."1
At Santa Clara, this approach is reflected in a focus on spiritual and academic formation in every course you'll take during the Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries.
Flexible Learning for Ministry Professionals
The Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries offers flexibility designed specifically for working adults like you. Through its flexible online format, you can build a schedule that works with your busy personal life and career, without compromise.
This flexibility is particularly valuable for those already serving in ministry roles who want to advance their education without stepping away from their current commitments. Regardless of your occupation, you can continue your work while pursuing your degree.
The program accommodates part-time study and remote participation, with a curriculum you can adjust to accommodate unexpected events in your work and family life. Even when studying online, you'll remain connected to your peers through learning cohorts and the university's commitment to building genuine community. You'll also receive personalized support from faculty with ministry backgrounds. Small class sizes ensure that your professors can provide the attention you need.
Your MA in Pastoral Ministries program includes a combination of required courses and electives, allowing you to select the appropriate range of courses to deepen your knowledge of spirituality, catechesis, and liturgy, and to support your intellectual and spiritual growth. You can choose from three possible emphases—Restorative Justice & Chaplaincy, Latina/o Ministry, and Youth & Young Adult Ministries—or pursue the degree without an emphasis, depending on your goals.
Career and Vocational Outcomes
The GPPM prepares you for two broad career paths: academic work and ministry leadership. In practice, your degree opens doors to a wide variety of roles, including positions in parish life, Catholic schools, diocesan offices, and nonprofit leadership. You might teach theology at a Catholic high school, pursue a PhD in theology or philosophy, or serve in your local diocese.
Recent graduates have followed varied paths. For example, the 2025 GPPM cohort included Alessandra Harris, an accomplished author who plans to volunteer as a jail chaplain, singer-songwriter Rebecca Lancaster, and Deacon Philip McCarty.
You may not yet know exactly how you'll apply your degree, but the Jesuit approach to education provides a holistic foundation that prepares you to find purpose in service to others, wherever that may be. In Rebecca Lancaster's words: "I have been unexpectedly called into all sorts of service and in so many different places, with the road taking many unforeseen twists and turns, that this phrase resonates with me: 'Bloom where you are planted.'"
Through the GPPM curriculum, you'll develop four core competencies:
- Theological foundation: A thorough grounding in the broad intellectual foundation for ministry
- Pastoral proficiency: Understanding and familiarity with ministerial practices across multiple aspects of church life
- Servant leadership: Commitment to working with those in need and in service of the poor, both inside and outside the Church
- Diversity fluency: Sensitivity to how your own culture influences ministry, and commitment to building communities of Christ that are inclusive of all cultures and traditions
Prepare to Lead with Purpose
The Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries at Santa Clara offers the academic depth and mission-driven formation you need to lead in today's diverse ministry contexts. This pastoral graduate education goes beyond a standard ministry leadership degree: It's a transformative experience rooted in the Catholic tradition and Santa Clara's Jesuit values.
You'll study theology, social justice, and service to others with diverse and experienced faculty who provide close mentorship through small class sizes. At the Rev. Francis L. Markey Center for Leadership & Ministry, you'll connect with lifelong learning opportunities and a supportive network of peers and alumni. The program's flexible format combines online convenience with connection, giving you the freedom to structure your studies around your existing commitments while building meaningful relationships with your cohort.
Begin the conversation today. Explore tuition and student life, or attend an online admissions event to learn more. Then contact us to discuss how earning your MA in Pastoral Ministries aligns with your personal and professional goals.
1. Retrieved on January 26, 2026, from jesuits.org/our-work/education/