The Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) is an ecclesiastical degree program offered by affiliation with St. Mary's Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland. The purpose of this degree is to offer the student an organic exposition of Roman Catholic doctrine together with an introduction to the scientific, academic pursuit of Theology.
Applicants for admission to the S.T.B. program must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. The applicant must have a minimum of thirty (30) semester credit hours in philosophical studies and twelve (12) semester credit hours in theology or religious studies. This program is open to all, seminarians or not, who have completed the appropriate prerequisites.
The program requires completion of 92 credit hours of course work, maintenance of a cumulative GPA of 2.5 (C+) for Baccalaureate courses, and successful completion of oral and written comprehensive examinations in the final year of the program.
Course of Studies for the S.T.B.
First Year Theology
| SH-5105 | Patristic and Medieval Church History | 3 |
| SL-5128 | Foundations of Christian Liturgy | 3 |
| SS-5101 | The Pentateuch and Historical Books | 3 |
| SD-5101 | Fundamental Theology and Theological Method | 3 |
| MT-5103 | Prayer in Christian Tradition | 1 |
| PS-5111 | Catechetics | 1 |
| SH-5106 | Church in Reformation and Modern Times | 3 |
| MT-5102 | Fundamental Moral Theology | 3 |
| SS-5102 | Synoptic Gospels | 3 |
| SD-6238 | Christian Anthropology and Life of Grace | 3 |
Second Year Theology
| SD-6231 | Christology/Soteriology | 3 |
| SS-6241 | Pauline Corpus | 3 |
| MT-6253 | Spiritual Theology | 2 |
| SD-6232 | Theology of Sacraments | 3 |
| SD-6234 | Theology of the Church | 3 |
| MT-6251 | Meaning of Human Sexuality | 3 |
Third Year Theology
| SD-7235 | Theology of Eucharist | 3 |
| MT-7352 | Catholic Social Ethics | 3 |
| SD-7236 | Ordained Priesthood and Lay Ecclesial Ministry | 3 |
| SD-7233 | The Trinity | 3 |
| SS-7242 | Gospel of John | 3 |
| PS-7273 | Introduction to Canon Law | 3 |
| SS-7341 | Prophets (or SS-9343: The Psalms) | 3 |
Fourth Year Theology
| MT-8254 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| PS-8275 | Theology & Canon Law of Marriage | 3 |
| SL-8237 | The Liturgical Year | 3 |
| MT-8255 | Theology of Reconciliation and Anointing | 3 |
| SD-9442 | Apologetics in American Culture | 3 |
In addition to the above required courses, S.T.B. students are required to take four elective courses of two credits each.
The M.A. and the S.T.B. Degrees at a Glance
If a seminarian is enrolled concurrently in the M.A. and the M. Div. programs, and is in the M.A. Coursework Option Track, he can transfer 24 credits from the M.Div. to the M.A. degree (excluding Pastoral Studies courses). Of the remaining 24 credits required for the M.A., 12 are earned by taking the Faculty Designated M.A. Courses and 12 more by taking Electives.
If a seminarian is in the M.A. Thesis Track, he can transfer 24 credits from the M.Div. to the M.A. degree (excluding Pastoral Studies courses). Of the remaining 24 credits required for the M.A.: 6 are earned by writing/defending his M.A. thesis, 12 by taking the Faculty Designated M.A. Courses, and 6 more by taking Electives.
If a student is enrolled concurrently in the M.A. and the S.T.B. programs, and is in the M.A. Coursework Option Track, he can apply all 48 credits from the M.A. toward the S.T.B., including the 12 credits earned by taking Faculty Designated M.A. Courses; these can serve as Electives in the S.T.B. program.
If a seminarian is in the M.A. Thesis Track, he can apply 42 credits from the M.A. toward the S.T.B., including the 12 credits earned by taking Faculty Designated M.A. Courses; these can serve as Electives in the S.T.B. program. (The six credits earned by writing/defending the M.A. thesis cannot apply to the S.T.B.)
There is a fee for the diploma after successful defense of the thesis. The current fee for an M.A. diploma is $50.00.