Divinity and Social Justice (MDiv/MA)
This dual-degree program provides the student with a comprehensive background in ministerial leadership and specialist competencies in the field of social justice.
In addition to its partnership with the MDiv degree, the MA in Social Justice can also be pursued in collaboration with the Master of Social Work degree program.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Requirement 1 | ||
| IPS 400 | Introduction to Graduate and Professional Writing | 0 |
| Reflective Critical Understanding | ||
| Context | ||
| IPS 555 | Human Person and Psychological Development | 3 |
| IPS 532 | Social Context of Ministry | 3 |
| Scripture | ||
| IPS 417 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| IPS 416 | Introduction to New Testament | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Pastoral Theology | ||
| IPS 570 | Introduction to Theology and Ministry | 3 |
| IPS 531 | Christian Doctrine | 3 |
| IPS 402 | Church and Mission | 3 |
| IPS 615 | Liberation Theology | 3 |
| Ethics | ||
| IPS 553 | Moral Theology and Christian Ethics | 3 |
| IPS 551 | Social Ethics in the Catholic Tradition | 3 |
| Spirituality & Liturgy | ||
| IPS 541 | Liturgy and Christian Sacraments | 3 |
| IPS 545 | The Foundations of Christian Spirituality | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Ministerial Practice | ||
| IPS 560 | Liturgical Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 660 | Leadership in Social Justice Organizations | 3 |
| IPS 564 | Foundations of Pastoral Care | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Social Justice Issues/Skills | ||
| IPS 620 | Diversity and Equity | 3 |
| IPS 635 | Community Organizing and Community Development | 3 |
| IPS 625 | Social Ethics: Politics and Global Economics | 3 |
| IPS 610 | Foundations of Social Justice | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Contextual Education | ||
| IPS 578 | Contextual Education Preparation | 0 |
| IPS 579 | Contextual Education Introduction | 0 |
| IPS 580 | Contextual Education I | 3 |
| IPS 581 | Contextual Education II | 3 |
| Spiritual Development | ||
| Formation – Complete on final page of chart | 0 | |
| Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) 2 | 0 | |
| Midpoint Review (after the completion of ½ course work) | 0 | |
| IPS 593 | Integration Project (the last course of the program) | 0 |
| Total Hours | 78 | |
- 1
If required at the time of admission
- 2
Dual Degree Programs
Students in dual degree programs are responsible for abiding by academic policies and graduation requirements of both academic units to which they are enrolled. It is strongly recommended that students schedule regular meetings with academic advisors from both units to ensure timely degree completion. Dual degree programs may have slightly different degree requirements from the standard for one or both of the degrees earned. Students should closely read through all degree requirements and ask for clarification as needed.
Learning Outcomes
By completing the Master of Divinity, students will be able to demonstrate:
- The ability to interpret pastoral circumstances in relation to scripture, tradition, and human sciences; (Theology/Religious Heritage).
- The ability to engage, transform, and/or critique social, economic, political, and ecclesial realities of our day in order to address the changing landscape of ministry. (Cultural Context)
- The ability to engage the relevant dimensions of Christian faith, discipleship and ministry with interpersonal, spiritual, and ecclesial maturity. (Maturity/Personal Formation)
- The ability to be present to the person and community’s condition and environments by developing skills to discern and describe the ministry required; (Skills/Ministerial Leadership)
- The ability to construct ministerial vision and formulate ministerial strategies to effect personal and community transformation.
By completing the Master of Arts in Social Justice, students will be able to demonstrate:
- An in-depth understanding of philosophical and theological approaches to justice with a special focus on the Catholic social tradition as these approaches address global, post-modern contexts.
- A greater awareness and understanding of competing forces at the heart of conflicts over justice in various contexts and one’s own location in relation to them. (poverty, culture, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, power, inequality, religion)
- A spiritual maturity that drives one to fully and productively engage in diverse contexts experiencing oppression, marginalization, deprivation and conflict.
- The primary skills of deep listening, dialogue, socio-cultural assessment and analysis, adaptive leadership, conflict transformation, relationship building, and have basic facility in the secondary skills of community organizing and development, advocacy for policy change, and practical knowledge for organizational management and social entrepreneurship.
- Substantive development of key business skills in their chosen areas of interest, including such areas as marketing, management, operation, and accounting.
- An understanding of how these business skills can be put to work critically and constructively to support the missions of social justice organizations.