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SnakeMauler
Guest
What sort of things can Catholics go to grad school and get a degree in that are Catholic, and what sort of jobs can people do that isn’t priesthood?
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Sullibe
Guest
Well the most obvious would be pursuing PH.D. work and teaching Theology at a Catholic university. However, depending upon where your interests lie, pursuing post-graduate degrees in Theology as well as social work, or an emphasis on healthcare ethics can land you a job in Administration within Catholic health care. As well as concentrating areas of post-graduate study into things such as youth/campus ministry, liturgy, marriage and family life, social justice and education can lead to jobs within dioceses with those similar departments. 
My husband has a B.A. in Theology and Pastoral ministry, and a M.A. in Theology with a concentration in moral theology. He started out doing a fellowship with Trinity Health doing Health Care Mission and Ethics for a couple of different hospitals. Now he’s the Director of Catechetical Ministries for our diocese, he oversees Catholic Schools as well as the offices for Catechesis, Social Concerns, Marriage and Family Life, Worship and the Catechumenate, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Campus Ministry, Missions, and Ministry Formation.
They’re not high paying jobs but they are rewarding!
My husband has a B.A. in Theology and Pastoral ministry, and a M.A. in Theology with a concentration in moral theology. He started out doing a fellowship with Trinity Health doing Health Care Mission and Ethics for a couple of different hospitals. Now he’s the Director of Catechetical Ministries for our diocese, he oversees Catholic Schools as well as the offices for Catechesis, Social Concerns, Marriage and Family Life, Worship and the Catechumenate, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Campus Ministry, Missions, and Ministry Formation.
They’re not high paying jobs but they are rewarding!
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
If you’re speaking specifically of a degree related to the Catholic Church then theology is the first thing that comes to mind.
But if you’re talking about living out your faith through your profession, then I can’t think of many things that you couldn’t major in. A Catholic doctor, lawyer, business executive, teacher, etc. are all possibilities. Any profession where you can bring your Catholic values into the workplace is good.
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Joannm
Guest
You can also do parish ministry. I have 2 MAs in Theology and a Doctor of Ministry and work for a parish as a Pastoral Associate, teach in our diocesan lay formation program, and do other work for the diocese in the areas of liturgy and RCIA. I have also published a few articles in journals. Yes, the pay is not great, especially for someone with a doctorate, but I just love being in pastoral ministry. Many people who get the MA go into some kind of catechetical ministry. In our diocese DRE’s and Pastoral Associates must have the MA. You can also teach religion in Catholic high schools. We are fortunate to have three schools that offer graduate degrees in theology in our area so it is kind of easy to go for the degree…if you have the money…that’s the hard part.
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Newbie2
Guest
In our local seminary, graduate education is pushing $500 a credit hour. A Master’s in theology is 40 credits and a Master’s in Pastoral Ministry is 48 credits; $20,000 and $24,000 respectively, plus a couple thousand for books and supplies.
However, there are plenty of opportunities for financial aid. Our diocese allows you to borrow 40% of graduate tuition, which gets written off at 20% per year if you work in some sort of ministry within the diocese. Basically, your entire loan gets forgiven for 5 years of post-graduation work.
Financial aid is not without it’s hoops, however. I got a grant from the State for a few thousand dollars to continues my graduate work…however…such grants cannot be used for theological studies. Somebody apparently didn’t catch that the school I was attending was “Sacred Heart Major Seminary”. But I guess that maybe one of the undergrad programs such as philosophy might qualify for state or federal assistance.
However, there are plenty of opportunities for financial aid. Our diocese allows you to borrow 40% of graduate tuition, which gets written off at 20% per year if you work in some sort of ministry within the diocese. Basically, your entire loan gets forgiven for 5 years of post-graduation work.
Financial aid is not without it’s hoops, however. I got a grant from the State for a few thousand dollars to continues my graduate work…however…such grants cannot be used for theological studies. Somebody apparently didn’t catch that the school I was attending was “Sacred Heart Major Seminary”.
But I guess that maybe one of the undergrad programs such as philosophy might qualify for state or federal assistance.
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Tradycja
Guest
You can work at Starbucks or a Barnes and Noble…
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Tradycja
Guest
Few people are aware but the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome has a English speaking sector and the tuition there is only about $1500 a year. I believe that lay people need their Bishop’s recommendation to study there.
angelicum.org/index.php?lingua=en
angelicum.org/index.php?lingua=en
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