Graduate School of Theology

Vatican Certification Core

Introduction to Theology (w/ philosophy emphasis)

Old Testament

New Testament

Church History

The Creed

The Sacraments

Morality

Prayer & Spirituality

RE Specialization

Religious Education 1

Religious Education 2

Religious Education Practicum

Total Credit Hours: 33 Credits

The RE program is also available in-part through Distance Learning.

Certificate in Religious Education

The Graduate School of Theology (GST) & Program of Catholic Studies at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary offers a Certificate in Religious Education (RE) as part of its Undergraduate Vatican-endorsed Theology Diploma program.

GSTs religious education certificate program relies upon various Church guidelines including those from Bl. John Paul IIs On Catechesis in our Time, the Vatican Congregation for the Clergys General Directory for Catechesis and the United States Catholic Bishops Our Hearts Were Burning within Us.

The RE program is especially designed for those engaged in or preparing for leadership in religious education ministry to youth and adults, especially as Coordinators or Directors of Religious Education (CRE/DRE). The specialized RE courses in this program are taught by experienced DREs.

The goals of the joint Undergraduate Vatican Theology Diploma & RE Certificate program are:

• To foster a greater knowledge and a deeper appreciation of the Catholic Church, its theological traditions and its pastoral mission, with major emphasis on Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and Church-related documents on religious education.

• To enrich the faith life and theological competence of those who are engaged in leading parish religious education.

• To offer introductory training in the practical knowledge, experience, and requirements (including national and Archdiocesan guidelines) needed for success in religious education ministry.

• To provide practical and supervised training in various pastoral skills needed for directing religious education ministry.

• To foster the development of pastoral leadership among those who are engaged in religious education ministry.

RE Program Requirements:

The RE program consists of a 24-credit Vatican-endorsed Diploma program of theology with a 9-credit specialization certificate in Religious Education (total of 33 credits). Students must complete both the Vatican Theology courses and the RE courses to receive the diploma/certificate, but are not required to take courses in any particular order (except the practicum as specified).

Regarding the Practicum course:

In order to qualify for enrollment in the practicum course, a candidate must have completed (or be enrolled in) all other course requirements for the RE certificate.

General Program Guidelines:

A maximum of 12 undergraduate credits in equivalent courses from other accredited programs in Theology may be accepted towards the diploma/certificate; courses taken more than ten years before the request is made, or in which a grade of at least C has not been attained, will not be accepted in transfer. Requests to transfer credits or to substitute an equivalent course for a required course must be directed to the Academic Dean of GST. The diploma/certificate program is normally completed within a four-year period of time. Credits accumulated from courses taken more than ten years past need the approval of the Academic Dean in order to be accepted.

Those who have completed the Certificate in Religious Education may also qualify to continue their theological studies toward another certificate in the Undergraduate theology program.

Applicants for the Certificate in Religious Education must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Those seeking admission to the diploma/certificate program should follow undergraduate admissions procedures.