/Institutions/Catholic-University-of-America/json/2023-2024/Graduate-Announcements-local.json

/Institutions/Catholic-University-of-America/json/2023-2024/Graduate-Announcements.json

Graduate Announcements > School of Theology and Religious Studies > Degree and Certificate Programs > Pastoral Degrees > Master of Catechesis (M.Cat.)

Master of Catechesis (M.Cat.)

The Master of Catechesis degree (M.Cat.) is a professional degree. The purpose of the M.Cat. is to prepare students to be practitioners in the field of catechesis, for "handing on" the Christian tradition. The M.Cat. has two tracks: on campus and blended online.

1. Admission Requirements:
   1. An appropriate B.A. degree. For more details, see the Catechetics Academic Area.
   2. A completed and signed application form (submitted through the Office of Graduate Admissions website).
   3. A Statement of Purpose: In an essay of 500-700 words, the applicant should write an essay on his/her call to pastoral ministry.
   4. Official Transcripts: Applicants should contact the registrar of every post-secondary school previously attended and request an official transcript be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Transcripts marked "Student Copy" or "Issued to the Student" cannot be accepted. Official transcripts must be sent in sealed envelopes with an official university stamp or signature across the seal to ensure confidentiality. Transcripts should show: (a) receipt of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; (b) the courses completed toward the degree; (c) the grade in each course; and (d) the basis for grading in effect at the institution.
   5. Admission to University graduate courses for applicants completing their final year of undergraduate or graduate degree study is contingent upon the receipt of the final transcript showing the conferral of the degree.

      Note: All transcripts issued from outside the United must be certified by a recognized evaluator of international education records (such as WES or AACRAO), even if in the English language. Education completed at institutions outside of the United States, as shown by official documents, may be accepted as equivalent to educational experience in the United States.

   6. Three Letters of Recommendation: Submit three confidential letters of recommendation. One recommendation must come from someone who knows the applicant's ability to be a pastoral minister and at least one recommendation must come from former instructors who can address the applicant's ability to complete graduate level coursework.
   7. Applicants to the degree programs of the School of Theology and Religious Studies (STRS) who are priests, deacons or members of religious communities are required to submit a letter of endorsement from their Bishop or Religious Superior (in addition to their three letters of recommendation) with their application. All applicants who will be funded for their studies by a diocese or religious community are required to submit a separate letter from their superior attesting to this financial support.
   8. Nonrefundable Application Fee.
   9. International Students: Applicants from non-English speaking nations and some from nations where English is one of the official languages whose previous education has not been at institutions of higher education in the United States are required to certify their proficiency in English by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum score on the TOEFL of 80 (Internet - based) is required. On the IELTS an overall band score of 6.5 or higher is required
2. Coursework Requirements:
   1. 30 graduate credit hours of coursework and 6 credit hours of a supervised internship/ministry project guidance.
   2. Students must maintain a 3.0 or above GPA. Students who incur a failing grade in formal online coursework which places their GPA below 3.0 are subject to academic dismissal. Students who incur two or more failing grades in campus program are subject to academic dismissal.
   3. Students will design a ministry project after 18 hours of coursework and write a 20-25 page report on the project to be placed in the student's file.
   4. Students will prepare a professional portfolio.
   5. Students must maintain continuous enrollment.
   6. Please refer to the Catechetics academic area "Coursework: Master of Catechesis (M.Cat.)" for more information on the On Campus and Online Tracks offered
3. Foreign Language Requirements: There are no foreign language requirements for this degree
4. Comprehensive Examinations: No comprehensive examinations are required for this degree.