Admissions

Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology, the center for ecclesial formation sponsored by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, forms men and women to faithfully follow Christ and serve His mission by fulfilling their vocation in the Church.

This mission is achieved through the two divisions of the institution: the seminary and the school of theology.

Mount St. Mary’s Seminary

Men interested in applying for formation in the seminary for eventual ordination should first contact the respective offices for their local dioceses.

Priestly Formation:

• Archdiocese of Cincinnati Vocations Office
• Archdiocese of Louisville Vocation Office
• The Cincinnati Oratory
• Diocese of Charlotte Office of Vocations
• Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend Vocations Office
• Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph Office of Priestly Vocations
• Diocese of Toledo Office of Priestly Vocations
• Diocese of Tulsa Vocations
• The Fathers of Mercy

Diaconal Formation:

• Archdiocese of Cincinnati Office of the Permanent Diaconate
• Diocese of Covington Office of Deacons and Deacon Formation

School of Theology

Admission to the School of Theology is for any layperson desiring to earn a Certificate, Graduate Certificate, or Master of Arts degree in various disciplines of Roman Catholic theology or ministry. Our programs equip students to become missionary disciples, serving effectively among families, parishes and communities.

School of Theology graduates serve in a wide range of capacities throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and beyond: as permanent deacons, teachers, catechists, directors of religious education, youth ministers, bereavement coordinators, pastoral care ministers, advocates for the poor and as staff members and volunteers in a variety of ecclesial and non-profit settings.

Not ready for a full degree program or certificate? We offer courses for personal enrichment, too. Contact the Registrar to get started.

Review the links on the Admissions page for more information about the admission process and to begin your application. Laypersons interested in Lay Ecclesial Formation programs, including the Certificate in Pastoral Ministry, the Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Ministry, and the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry (MAPM), will have an additional interview and application materials as part of their application process. See the links at right for more information.

Academics
The academic programs respond to the fact that “all human beings desire to know” (Aristotle, Metaphysics I, 1), and that this object of desire is only satisfied in the Person of Jesus Christ (Fides et Ratio 33-34). The goal of the academic programs of the School of Theology is to enable its students to not only “seek the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:8), but to be able to “lead others to the ‘yes’ of faith in Jesus Christ” as well (Catechism of the Catholic Church 429).

Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology offers several certificate and master’s degree programs encompassing a range of fields, including theology, ministry, scripture, and more. Qualified students may also enroll in most School of Theology courses, on a credit or audit basis, without having been admitted to a degree program. In this way they can design their own course of studies.

Athenaeum Of Ohio Lay Pastoral Accreditation and Membership

About

Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology (MTSM) is the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s graduate-level Catholic Seminary and School of Theology with nearly 200 full and part-time students. Our 75-acre campus provides preparation for ordination to the priesthood and permanent diaconate as part of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. In addition, our School of Theology offers classes for graduate, non-degree and certification programs for laity, clergy and religious.

The Athenaeum of Ohio / Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, IL 60602–2504, 800–621–7440.

It is also accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, 10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275, USA, 412–788–6505, Fax 412–788–6510, www.ats.edu.

The following degree programs are accredited:

• Master of Divinity (MDiv)
• Master of Arts, Pastoral Ministry (MAPM)
• Master of Arts, Biblical Studies (MAB)
• Master of Arts, Catholic Studies (MACS)
• Master of Arts, Theology (MAT)

Additionally, the following non-accredited programs are offered:

• Certificate in Catholic Theology
• Certificate in Pastoral Ministry
• Graduate Certificate in Catholic Theology
• Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Ministry
• Pastoral Administration Program

The Athenaeum of Ohio is also authorized by the State of Ohio Board of Regents to grant these degrees.

The Athenaeum of Ohio is approved by the State Approving Agency for Veteran’s Training under U.S. Code Chapter 36, Title 38, and is a Department of Homeland Security SEVIS-approved school and authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students.