 Ordinarily, candidates who apply for admission to Mount St. Mary's Seminary must have a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an approved college or university and must normally have completed at least the equivalent of twenty four hours of undergraduate philosophy. Candidates without such academic background may apply as pre-theology seminarians while they satisfy the admissions requirements of Mount St. Mary's Seminary theology program. The Pre-Theology program will be discussed below.
Further qualifications and requirements of those who apply to either degree program are listed in the following sections which deal specifically with those programs.
Candidates shall possess the following:
Candidates for admission as seminarians in theology:
- sponsorship from their sending Bishop
- an undergraduate degree in Arts or Sciences from an accredited college
- 24 semester credit hours of undergraduate philosophy, or its equivalent
- the forms listed in the Application Procedure (below)
Candidates for admission as seminarians in pre-theology:
- sponsorship from their sending Bishop
- evidence of the completion of an undergraduate degree in Arts or Sciences from an accredited college
- official transcripts showing undergraduate course work toward such a degree such that degree completion may be anticipated within the seminary 2 year pre-theology program
- the forms listed in the Application Procedure (below)
Candidates for admission as lay students in a degree program:
- credentials to show eligibility for the Master of Arts in Theology program or the Master of Divinity program (below)
- the forms listed in the Application Procedure (below)
Candidates for admission as lay students not in any degree program:
- credentials which demonstrate the capacity to complete the desired course work (such as an undergraduate philosophy background)
Applications for admission to Mount St. Mary's Seminary may be obtained from the Seminary Admissions Office, or from the Vocation Director's office of the sponsoring diocese. All application paperwork should be returned to:
Mount St. Mary's Seminary
Admissions Office
Emmitsburg, MD 21727-7797
Applicants studying for the priesthood must have been previously accepted by a Bishop. In addition, those studying for ordination to the priesthood must submit the following documents:
- Official Seminary application
- Autobiography(3 pages at most)
- Essay - "Why I want to Become a Priest"
- Medical History and Physician's Examination and Report
- Recent Photograph
- Official copies of Baptism and Confirmation Certificates
- Official transcripts of all high school, college and seminary credits (sent directly by the institution to the Seminary Registrar)
- Recommendation of Rector(s) of previous seminary(ies) attended (if applicable)
- Recommendation of Pastor
- Psychological Evaluation; and Certificate(s) of any Ministry(ies) or Order(s) already received
Applicants, not studying for the priesthood, who wish to study for the degree of Master of Arts in Theology or Master of Divinity must submit the following documents:
- Official Mount St. Mary's Seminary application
- Two character references from clergy or religious persons who know the applicant well enough to testify to the applicant's character
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate credits (sent directly by the institution to the Seminary Registrar); and Recommendation of the Dean of the undergraduate institution attended
Non-Discrimination Statement
It is the policy of Mount St. Mary's not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex or handicapping condition in recruitment or admission of students, or in the administration of the College's educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and athletic programs, and other College administered activities and pro grams. It is the policy of Mount St. Mary's to comply with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in making its programs and facilities accessible.
Veterans
Mount St. Mary's Seminary is authorized by the Maryland State Board for Higher Education to accept veterans who have met the admissions standards of the Seminary.
Veterans are reminded that they are required to follow the regulations of the Veterans Administration as well as those of the Seminary. VAR #14236 requires institutions to determine academic need prior to veteran certification in tutorial programs.
Transfer Credits/Advanced Class Rank
Candidates may apply to the Academic Dean for advanced class rank in the Seminary program based upon the completion of course work at accredited institutions of graduate study and priestly formation. Approved graduate credits, with a grade of at least "C" (2.0), earned at other appropriately accredited graduate schools may be applied toward degree programs at the Mount. No more than forty-five (45) semester credits may be transferred into the Master of Divinity program. No more than six (6) semester credits may be transferred towards the Master of Arts in Theology degree. Transfer credits will not be given for thesis work. It is the student's responsibility to request from each institution previously attended that an official copy of any transcripts be sent directly to the Seminary Registrar.
Already completed "pastoral experience" must be described in writing, giving details of the types of tasks, the name of the supervisor, etc. and submitted to the Coordinator of Pastoral Formation for evaluation and the Academic Dean for approval. |
