University of Dayton Graduate Programs

The Department of Religious Studies of the University of Dayton, a Catholic, Marianist University in Dayton, Ohio, offers three graduate programs: the Master of Arts in Theological Studies, the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Theology.

The Master of Arts Programs

Incoming students in both MA programs take three core courses together in the fall semester: Foundations in Biblical Studies, Foundations of Church History and Historical Theology, and Foundations of Systematic and Moral Theology.  These courses provide an introduction to the graduate study of theology at UD, foster a spirit of community among students, and develop a shared foundation for further theological coursework. 

The M.A. in Theological Studies program is designed to provide students an opportunity to broaden their knowledge and deepen their understanding of Christianity through the academic study of Scripture, historical theology, church history, and contemporary systematic and moral theologies. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing further graduate work in theology or a related discipline as well as for those with experience in ministry who find that they need further background in theology in order to minister effectively. 

The M.A. in Pastoral Ministry program is ideal for those interested in a career in ministry, whether in college campus, high school, agency, parish, or other contexts.  The program of study includes further theological electives (beyond the Foundations courses) in biblical, systematic, moral, and historical theology, as well as focused study in pastoral theology and skills, including a practicum experience. 

Graduate assistantships are available for full-time M.A. students. Students may enroll as full-time or part-time.  Part-time students may complete their degree over a series of summers or through a combination of summer and academic year courses.

 The Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. program at the University of Dayton centers on the practice/praxis of Catholicism as it is inculturated in the religiously plural and politically secular U. S. context. Graduates of the program have the ability to do theological research with the rigor demanded by the program's distinctive integration of methodologies, particularly those from the social sciences.  The program's focus on theology, developed from discovering, analyzing, understanding and proposing creative transformations in the practice/praxis of Catholicism in the U.S., trains graduates to do theology in a distinctive manner.

Four key components of the doctoral program in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Dayton make it unique. First, the program begins with an intensive, two-semester research and methods course, which, in conjunction with general and qualifying examinations, structures the course of studies. Second, graduate students receiving financial support will be mentored in teaching under the guidance of a master teacher. Third, resources are committed to supporting dissertation research. And fourth, the program is strongly collaborative, especially with regard to research methods. Faculty from other disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, as well as Visiting Distinguished Professors, participate in the program.

Students in all three degree programs join with their professors to form an ecumenical scholarly and collegial community that integrates the study of the classical disciplines of Christian theology with attentiveness to the multicultural and interdisciplinary dimensions critical to the contemporary study of religion. Intensive study of Roman Catholic traditions remains central to each graduate program. Both the master's and doctoral programs include basic requirements and allow students flexibility in the remainder of their course selection to ensure that their graduate studies serve their desired outcomes, whether in pursuing further academic work or securing placement in professional ministry.  

For more information, please follow these links:

The Religious Studies' page of the University's 2017–2018 Academic Catalog

Graduate Assistantships available for MA students 

The Graduate Admission process and requirements

Graduate Admission FAQs

The Department of Religious Studies Faculty and Staff