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Process for Adoption of New Curriculum

After a curriculum review process that began in 2011, a new curriculum for the MA and MDiv programs was instituted in 2014-2015. Minor modifications of the new curriculum were discussed in 2017-2018, and instituted in 2018-2019. 

The Seminary Catalog calls for review of a new curriculum after five years. The curriculum was last revised in 2006. A Curriculum Review Task Force was formed in Fall 2011. It developed questions for brief surveys to be sent out to alumni and sending Bishops and Vocation Directors during the summer of 2012.

In addition to these surveys, in the Fall of 2012, all faculty completed a Course Content Survey developed by the Academic Dean. This survey reviewed the content of courses to ensure that they covered all of the areas prescribed by the Program for Priestly Formation Norms for Intellectual Formation, the Association of Theological Schools Standards for the M.Div. Degree as well as the new Kenrick-Glennon Seminary mission statement. This study documented our coverage of these required topics in specific courses as well as our attention to those areas (such as Scripture, Magisterium, Social Teachings of the Church and others) which we are called to cover across courses and disciplines.

The results of the surveys sent to alumni and sending Bishops and vocation directors and the results of the Course Content Survey collected by faculty were discussed in a faculty workshop in the Fall of 2012. This provided the foundation for a closer look at the specific subject areas of the curriculum in Spring 2013.

During the 2013 Spring Semester, faculty met in small sub-committees by theological disciplines to review their subject area and come up with proposals for improvement. There were also cross-disciplinary meetings. These proposals were submitted to the Programs and Policies Committee who incorporated them into a comprehensive curriculum proposal. The proposal was discussed and modified in faculty wide meetings. The overall course sequence was approved by faculty in April 2013, the summative evaluations for the MA and MDiv were approved in May 2013. The specific courses that will apply to the MA degree were finalized and approved in Fall of 2013.

One of the questions in the curriculum review was whether to continue requiring all seminarians to complete both the M.A. and the M.Div. This was one of the specific questions directed to sending Bishops and vocation directors. Based on that feedback and faculty discussion, faculty proposed that the MA be optional. That proposal was approved by the Board of Trustees in Spring of 2013.

On October 10, 2013 the Board of Trustees approved the new Theology Curriculum for the Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees.

This is not an entirely new curriculum but several helpful modifications of the existing program to better serve the formation of future priests. Some of the most significant changes include the following:

  1. The M.A. is no longer required of all seminarians. Those who meet the academic qualifications can discern with their Bishop’s guidance whether to complete the M.A. or not. The foundational theological courses from the first two years may count toward the M.A. (All students must complete these courses as requirements of the ordination program whether they complete the M.A. or not.) Those who wish to count those courses toward an M.A. must also write a thesis.
  2. As part of the M.Div. degree, all students will complete an oral comprehensive exam, based on a list of topics covering the curriculum.
  3. The most significant change in the sequence of courses is to move the Trinity course to the first year. In general, foundational theological courses have shifted to earlier in the curriculum and applied courses later.
  4. Some foundational courses such as Fundamental Theology, Fundamental Moral Theology, Synoptic Gospels and Acts, and Christology/Soteriology were increased from 3 to 4 credits (either as a 4-credit course in one semester or as two 2-credit courses over two semesters)
  5. The elective in Marriage Preparation is now a required course for all seminarians. It will also include a component for certification in Natural Family Planning. The elective in Grief Counseling is now a required part of an expanded Pastoral Issues Course.
  6. A new course in Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue was added. (These topics were previously covered in other courses).
  7. A language requirement was added to the first year: One year of Latin for those without the language or one year of Greek for those who already completed Latin. (We continue to offer electives in Spanish every year for those needed that language as well).

The new curriculum will begin for Seminarians entering Theology I in fall 2014.

During the Spring of 2017 the Academic Dean gathered input from faculty about how the new curriculum was working, and insight into any modifications that might be needed. Input was synthesized and presented to the faculty at the start of the 2017-2018 academic year. Throughout the Fall the Programs and Policies Committee considered these ideas. As a result of committee deliberations and ongoing discussion with faculty and administration, some minor modifications were proposed to the Faculty for discussion throughout the Fall of 2017. A slightly modified curriculum was approved by the Faculty in January of 2018, to be put into effect for the Academic Year 2018-2019. Some highlights of the modified curriculum are:

  1. Greek was eliminated as a requirement.
  2. Pastoral Counseling was moved into the first semester of the first year of Theology.
  3. Patristics was expanded from 3 credits in one semester two 4 credits over two semesters.
  4. Introduction to the Divine Office and Theology of the Liturgy were combined into one course.
  5. Christology became a 3-credit course (instead of 4).
  6. Creation and Eschatology became a 3-credit course (instead of 2).
  7. Sacred Music practicum was divided into two courses – to respect the different formational needs of students at the very beginning and very end of their formation.