Advanced Certificate in Theology

The Advanced Certificate in Theology Program aids students who have already completed a MA in Theology. Students choose this certificate to further deepen their knowledge of Theology either in preparation for a Doctoral Theology program or hone their Theological knowledge in a specific concentration in Catholic Theology: Scripture, Historical Theology, Philosophical Theology, Moral and Political Theology, or Christian Culture. The Certificate requires 18 credit hours to be completed. Students will choose a concentration and take at least 12 in that concentration, and then may take 6 credit hours in any other concentration.

Program Outcomes

The Advanced Certificate in Theology prepares candidates deepen their theological knowledge in furtherance of research and/or teaching. The Program emphasizes the development of the whole person and implements its philosophy into the University’s Mission through measurable objectives for teaching, research, and public service.

Teaching: To prepare students from diverse backgrounds to integrate their personal and professional commitments in Theology, the objectives for Teaching are

to recruit, maintain, and matriculate culturally diverse students who demonstrate the potential to contribute to their chosen profession;
to provide students with opportunities to apply their studies to real life experiences in a wide variety of educational and professional settings;
to monitor students individually throughout their academic careers in order to promote both personal and professional development; and
to foster students’ participation in the total life of the Church and to encourage life-long theological learning.

Research: To prepare students to be skillful researchers and to apply appropriate methodology in further pursuits, the objectives for Research are

to support students in their scholarly research through adequate resources and faculty mentoring;
to provide students with opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills;
to monitor students throughout their programs of study in order to ensure quality; and
to encourage the presentation and publication of research findings.

Service: To prepare students to become professionals capable of applying theology to various endeavors, the objectives for Service are

to meet local societal needs through talks and other church activities;
to ensure that students have opportunities for on-the-job training in facilities that address the concerns of persons who have limited economic resources; and
to sponsor or encourage students to attend seminars, workshops, and institutes in order to promote their continuing education in theology in New Orleans and beyond.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Advanced Certificate Program

IN THEOLOGY Upon successful completion of the Graduate Program in Theology, students will

Demonstrate knowledge of Sacred Scriptures and the tradition of Catholic doctrines;
Cultivate a well-formed conscience by engaging Catholic moral and social teaching;
Situate Theology in dialogue with other academic disciplines and/or religious traditions;
Be able to “Give an account of the hope within you” to family, colleagues, and community;
Plan and implement effective pedagogy in a parish, ministry, or classroom settings; and
Engage in successful reading, writing, and research to analyze and articulate Theology in argument and other literary forms.

The Nature of Graduate Work

Course work at the graduate level deepens and integrates what one has studied as an undergraduate and through work/life experience. Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge, skill, and attitudes appropriate to this discipline and strive to achieve mastery beyond the formal requirements of the program.

Certificate Offered Advanced Certificate in Theology

Graduate Admissions

In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Graduate Program accepts applications for admission from students without regard to ethnicity, race, color, sex, age, disability status, or national origin.

Admission Procedures and Criteria

Applications are accepted by the Graduate Program in Theology by the following deadlines:

July 1 for the Fall semester,
November 1 for the Spring semester,
February 15 for Scholarship consideration for the following academic year, and
May 1 for the Summer session.

Applicants are be admitted to the Graduate Program in Theology by the submitting the following:

To the Office of Admissions (http://uhcno.edu/admissions/)

a completed online application form;
official transcripts for all prior undergraduate and graduate course work. Transcripts are sent from the institutions attended directly to the Office of Admissions; and
a record of or waiver for immunizations.

To the Graduate Program Coordinator**

a personal written essay (see below);
a Curriculum Vitae;
at least three letters of recommendation written by people qualified to evaluate academic potential as well as personal and professional promise; and

*If students have already been accepted and completed the MACT at UHC, they do not need to complete steps 5-7.

**N.B. Applicants (especially those who intend to do doctoral work) may be asked for aptitude scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). If these are requested by the Graduate Theology Coordinator, the scores must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions. Individuals who have completed a Master’s degree or have sufficient graduate hours from an accredited institution are exempt from the GRE or MAT.

Admission Essay Requirements:

The applicant’s personal statement must be a part of the application. This statement should be between 1500-2000 words and address the following:

What has motivated the applicant to apply for the certificate? The applicant should include a brief narrative of his or her religious/spiritual background and interests, combined with educational history, experience in ministry and/or religious education, and any other relevant professional and volunteer experience;
How would a graduate degree in theology help the applicant serve the Church?
What are the applicant’s principal strengths for graduate studies and/or ministry, as well as areas of needed development?
What is the applicant’s plan to apply theological education to his or her life, career, or future?

Academic Requirements

Admission to the Advanced Certificate in Theology at the University of Holy Cross is based on the evaluation of the applicant’s personal, professional, and academic records by the Graduate Faculty. The University recruits qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds who display intelligence, character, commitment to learning, and professional promise. At a minimum, applicants are expected to have the following academic qualifications:

a MA degree from a university or college approved by a recognized regional accrediting agency in the United States or proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution of higher learning;*
a record of graduate study that is predictive of success;
satisfactory academic standing at the last university or college attended; and
if deemed necessary, a completion of the GRE or MAT with sufficient scores.

Foreign and ESL Students

A foreign or ESL (English as a Second Language) applicant must present evidence of satisfactory proficiency in the reading, writing, and speaking of English. The applicant may do so by presenting a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), normally 550. For information about TOEFL, the applicant should write to TOEFL, 1755 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036 or visit www.ets.org/toefl/index.html. A foreign applicant is also required to take the Graduate Record Examination.

Transfer Credits

Normally, three (3) credit hours may be transferred from an accredited institution for the Advanced Certificate in Theology. There may be exceptions for transfer credit in certain cases. Approval of all transfer credits must be obtained from the department Chair. These courses must be verified by an official transcript from the institution where the courses were taken.

Letter of Good Standing

Students enrolled in graduate programs at other institutions who wish to register for transfer credit must submit a letter of good standing from the dean of the student’s graduate school.

Admission to the Advanced Certificate Program

Conditional Admission to the University

Students conditionally admitted must hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university and may take a maximum of six hours (6) of graduate credit at the University of Holy Cross. Conditional admission does not guarantee admission to any of the graduate programs and is limited to one semester.

Conditional admission constitutes the following conditions:

a completed online application form has been sent directly to the Office of Admissions;
application deadlines are met (see above); and
a minimum 3.0 undergraduate Grade Point Average is recommended to take graduate course work.

No candidate may register for the next semester until his or her graduate admission criteria are completed.

Those who are not accepted beyond a conditional basis are not allowed to continue in the Graduate Program in Catholic Theology at the University of Holy Cross.

Admission to the Certificate Program

In order to be accepted into the Graduate Program, applicants must meet the following conditions:

All graduate admission criteria must be completed. (Refer to the criteria listed above).
Once the admission criteria are completed, the candidate will
- be interviewed by the Graduate Theology Faculty and
- submit a writing sample prior to the interview process
Applicants are notified in writing by the Graduate Coordinator regarding the results of their admission status. Those who are accepted for admission are allowed to register for the next semester.

Overview and Requirements of MACT Program

Course Load And Completion Times

To matriculate as a full-time graduate student, students must register for at least nine (9) credit hours per semester. Six (6) credit hours is considered three-quarter time. Students must register for at least three (3) credit hours per semester for part-time status. An overload of twelve (12) credit hours may be taken if approved by the Graduate Theology Coordinator. Thus, there are three possible categorizations and approximate completion times for students in this Program: full- time at nine to twelve (9-12) hours (one year to complete); three-quarter time at six (6) hours (one and a half to two years to complete); and part-time at three (3) hours (3 years to complete).

Program Format

The Advanced Certificate Program in Theology has a hybrid format. The UHC Theology Department believes that students who personally interact with professors and each other flourish. Our hybrid format means that students can either be together physically in class or virtually online at the same time (synchronously). Students must designate whether they will be present in class or virtually and at a distance for the majority of their coursework. Distance students take >50% of course work while not in the same place and/or at the same time as faculty. In-class students take >50% of course work in the same place and at the same time as faculty.

Time Limit

A maximum of seven (7) years from the first semester attended is allowed in order to complete the requirements for the Advanced Certificate in Theology Program. If the time-limit is exceeded, the graduate student must apply for re-admission and document in writing the reason(s) for a need of extension. Re-admission does not qualify the applicant to begin anew the seven-year requirement.

Grade Point Requirements

An overall Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required for the maintenance of good standing in the Graduate Program. Passing grades for graduate students are A and B. A graduate student who earns a C or lower in any course is automatically placed on probationary status and must repeat the course. A course may be repeated only once and must be repeated at the University of Holy Cross. The student’s status is then subject to review by the Theology Department Chair and the Graduate Coordinator. Students whose semester average in course work is below 3.0 are placed on probationary status and are not allowed to register for more than six semester hours during the following semester. To be removed from probationary status, the graduate student must complete 6 semester hours with an earned grade not less than B and a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 at the completion of those 6 hours. If the graduate student on probation for falling below a 3.0 overall Grade Point Average is unable to remedy the deficient overall Grade Point Average at the end of 6 semester hours of the probationary period, the student is dropped from the Graduate Program.

Subject to the review of the Graduate Council, students may be dropped from the program for factors other than Grade Point Average without having a probationary period. Status is then determined by the Graduate Council. The student may appeal decisions of the Graduate Council by submitting a written appeal to the Provost of the University.

Student Responsibility

Each student is responsible for developing and maintaining sufficient grades throughout the program and meeting all pertinent requirements for the successful completion of the Advanced Certificate in Theology. Students should become familiar with the University Catalog and the Graduate Student Handbook.

Requirements for Graduation

A minimum of 18 semester hours is required for the Advanced Certificate in Theology.

Major Advisor

Each student, upon admission to the Graduate Program, is assigned an advisor. The advisor aids the student in the development of the individual graduate program. If reassignment of a major advisor is necessary, the reassignment is made by the Chair in cooperation with the student.

Program of Study

The student works closely with the major advisor to develop a program of study that outlines the courses to be taken toward the Certificate. The program is designed to meet both the goals and objectives for graduate study of the student and of the institution. The planned program of study should be contemplated before the student has been admitted to candidacy, and it must be approved by the student’s major advisor and the Department Chair. Changes in the program of study may be made only with the approval of the major advisor and the Department Chair.

Application for Graduation

The requirements for receiving the certificate, as outlined by the University of Holy Cross, must be followed. Applications are available in the Office of the Registrar.

Commencement

Students may choose to attend commencement or not to attend.

Financial Aid

There will be no possibility for Federal Financial Aid available for this program.

However, Graduate Scholarships will be available through the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs. Information about other loan options may be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs.