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Master of Pastoral Studies (Online)

This pastoral studies online degree program is practical, transformative, international in scope, and open to students of all faiths. It prepares students to work in a variety of contexts, including parishes, schools, diocesan offices, secular workplaces, non-profits, or public sector work and the helping professions, such as healthcare and social work. If you are interested in chaplaincy, read this»

Additional Dual Degree Options:

Auto [Expedited] Admit Program for LOYNO Students

Are you a Loyola New Orleans graduating senior or current alum? You could be eligible for the auto admit program. The Pastoral Studies program will auto admit eligible Loyola New Orleans students who meet the following criteria:

students with a 3.0 GPA or higher and submission of a resume will be automatically admitted.

To apply as an auto admit, submit one of the following applications:

Online Graduate Programs Quick App
On-Campus Graduate Programs Quick App (if applying for the on-campus M.P.S. program)

Virtual Open House

Wednesday, June 14, 2023 | 7:00 PM until 8:00 PM Central Time

Master of Pastoral Studies or Master of Religious Education

Which is right for you?

Both the master of pastoral studies (M.P.S.) and master of religious education (M.R.E.) are practical and emphasize the importance of the educational process in forming students and faculty into a community of learners. Loyola’s master of religious education is designed for those interested in faith formation, not only in schools and churches but in any setting that can be conceived of as educational. The MRE degree does not provide a license or certification but may qualify graduates for teaching positions, depending on the employer’s requirements.

Loyola’s M.P.S. requires the same core courses but also allows students to specialize in a wider range of focus areas, which qualify graduates for a wider range of jobs — in churches, schools, and beyond — such as with youth and the environment, in non-profits, and within the helping professions. M.P.S. students have ample opportunity to explore both degrees, and applicants can begin in one program and move to the other if they wish, as the core requirements are the same. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor to choose the degree that suits their career goals.

Master of Pastoral Studies Curriculum

The master of pastoral studies program at Loyola University New Orleans provides the biblical, theological, and spiritual grounding on which to build specializations in youth ministry, spirituality, and pastoral care. It also enables people of faith to connect ministry to leadership, the environment, digital culture, and the working world.

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Degree Overview

36 Credits

master of pastoral studies

Loyola’s master of pastoral studies degree online consists of 36 credit hours, which includes:

Core courses (18 credit hours)
Focus area courses (9 credit hours)
Elective courses (6 credit hours)
Capstone course (3 credit hours)

Check out the University Bulletin to view further curriculum information about Loyola's online pastoral studies program and download a degree worksheet.

Core Courses

18 Credits

master of pastoral studies

Core Courses (18 credits):

LIM 703: Introduction to Practical Theology (3 credits)
LIM 704: Spirituality, Morality, and Ethics (3 credits)
LIM 711: Jewish Roots of Christian Faith: Intro to Old Testament (3 credits)
LIM 712: Christian Origins: Intro to New Testament (3 credits)
LIM 714: Grace, Christ, and Spirit (3 credits)
LIM 722: Church, Sacraments, and Liturgy (3 credits)

Focus Areas (9 credits)

Pursuing a Master of Pastoral Studies degree allows students to gain specific competencies in the focus area of their choice while earning a master’s degree from an institution with a long-standing reputation for excellence in education and ministerial formation. Students in the Master of Pastoral Studies online program choose from the following focus areas.

Christian Spirituality for Ministry

This focus area in Christian spirituality recognizes that theological reflection and ministry are rooted in and foster the minister’s lived relationship with God. The goal of this focus area is to enable students to become familiar with the Christian tradition of spirituality and so enrich their personal and communal lives as ministers. Courses include:

LIM 827: Spirituality for Ministers (3 credits)
LIM 828: History of Christian Spirituality (3 credits)
LIM 861: Pastoral Leadership and Organization (3 credits)

Digital Culture and Ministry

This focus area invites students into the communicative aspects of theology and ministry. Communication is especially relevant in our digital age, for the potential of social and digital media to extend the reach of our ministries requires us all to become professional communicators in the context of our work. Courses include:

LIM 826: Digital Media and Ministry (3 credits)
LIM 885: Religious Communication (3 credits)
LIM 861: Pastoral Leadership and Organization (3 credits)

Marketplace Ministry

The focus area of Marketplace Ministry assists students in reflecting upon the spirituality of work in its various manifestations. Pastoral studies students then explore the meaning and avenues for Christian praxis in the midst of organizational settings in the world of work, beyond church structures. Courses include:

LIM 819: Spirituality and the Theology of Work (3 credits)
LIM 820: Ministry in the Marketplace (3 credits)
LIM 861: Pastoral Leadership and Organization (3 credits)

Pastoral Life and Administration

The focus area in pastoral life and administration helps prepare pastoral leaders for ministry in the growing number of parishes without a resident pastor or to serve as pastoral administrators or assistants on parish teams. Courses include:

LIM 844: Parish Life and Ministry (3 credits)
LIM 845: Contemporary Issues in Pastoral Ministry (3 credits)
LIM 861: Pastoral Leadership and Organization (3 credits)

Religion and Ecology

This focus area explores the natural world as revelatory of God and grapples with the implications of the universe and its story for all people of faith. Courses include:

LIM 813: The Universe as Divine Manifestation (3 credits)
LIM 814: The Emergent Universe: Our Sacred Story (3 credits)
LIM 861: Pastoral Leadership and Organization (3 credits)

Youth and Young Adult Ministry

This focus area introduces students to the dynamic foundations of youth and young adult ministry with an emphasis on the developmental needs of adolescents, young adults, the lived experience of contemporary youth and young adult ministers, the prevalence of social media, and ministry models and practices that best promote healthy Christian development in youth and young adults during these challenging times. Courses include:

LIM 870: Foundations of Youth Ministry (3 credits)
LIM 876: Adolescent Spirituality and Methods of Faith Development (3 credits)
LIM 861: Pastoral Leadership and Organization (3 credits)

Pastoral Care

Opportunities for providing pastoral care come with the territory of prison, hospice, hospital, and nursing home ministry, as well as ministry in social service agencies. This focus area offers a solid background and working knowledge of skills for women and men who work in pastoral care settings, which require them to initiate and sustain relationships with others in which a high degree of support and challenge are offered. Courses include:

LIM 849: Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling (3 credits)
CNSL 830: Counseling Theories (3 credits)
CNSL 835: Introduction to Counseling (3 credits)
CNSL A836: Individual Counseling Skills Lab (1 credit)

Individualized Program

Given their unique ministries, some pastoral studies students find that a combination of courses from different focus areas may suit their needs best. Such students, in consultation with their advisors, may develop an individualized track for the MPS degree. Coursework will include:

Two focus area courses (chosen in consultation with an advisor)
Pastoral Leadership and Organization

Electives and Capstone

9 Credits

master of pastoral studies

Electives (6 credits)

M.P.S. students take six additional credit hours of electives. Normally, two elective courses are chosen – in consultation with a student’s academic advisor – from one of the focus areas listed in the previous tab.

Capstone (3 credits)

LIM 886: Pastoral and Educational Praxis (3 credits)

online master of pastoral studies online degree.

What can you do with an online master of pastoral studies degree?

discover your full potential

Loyola’s 100% online master of pastoral studies online program will prepare you with the skills and knowledge needed to advance in a wide range of careers that spread the Good News, bringing people closer to God and their communities, in jobs like: