Hispanic Ministry @ Boston College

MA in Pastoral Ministry with a Concentration in Hispanic Ministry:

The Master's degree program provides an opportunity for all students, ministers, and educators to prepare adequately for the challenges of living in a multi-cultural Church. Students will be immersed in the life of Latino communities in different pastoral settings and learn first-hand about the culture, language, practices, and traditions of this vibrant community.

Along with this immersion experience, students will take courses in the fields of theology and ministry that will prepare them professionally to lead Hispanic and other multicultural communities in the Church. Basic requirements for the MA in Pastoral Ministry program are standard for all concentrations. Academic year students must complete 44 credits of course work. Summer-only students must complete 35 hours of course work.

• Language Requirement - Basic knowledge of the Spanish language (reading and speaking). This requirement can be fulfilled through Boston College's Department of Romance Languages, the Woods College of Advancing Studies, or through Harvard Divinity School's Communication Skills for Spanish Ministry course. Students who speak Spanish as their first language are exempt from this requirement. Non-Hispanic students who demonstrate good command of Spanish can apply for a waiver (See program's Language Requirement Policy).
• Hispanic Ministry Seminar - Students must enroll in the Hispanic Ministry Seminar (6 credits). Participants in this one-year seminar meet periodically during the academic year to discuss theological, cultural, and ministerial aspects related to Hispanic ministry. At the end of the Seminar, students are expected to present an integrative project, either individually or as part of a group, that combines theological research with exploration and evaluation of practical issues from the Hispanic Ministry Contextual Education Placement. The seminar is also offered during summers, with one session each summer.

Certificate in Hispanic Ministry:

This graduate Certificate is a program designed to prepare students, ministers, and educators who are already working, or are interested in doing so, in the context of Hispanic communities anywhere in the United States. A limited number of applicants who do not already have an earned Bachelor's degree may apply for this Certificate program and be admitted under the following stringent conditions:

• Commensurate life experience in ministry
• Fluency in English
• A writing sample (Englis or Spanish) that demonstrates capability for graduate level work
• Strong letters of recommendation regarding character, commitment to the Church, and capacity for graduate level studies
• Significant leadership potential to warrant merit-based fellowships

Students interested in earning this Certificate must fulfill the following requirements:

Hispanic Ministry Contextual Education Placement:

A local parish or other Hispanic context in the Boston area or other local diocese. In fulfilling this requirement, students will have a direct experience of the Hispanic community and the particularities of ministry and/or religious education within that group.

Four Courses at the Graduate Level (12 credits):

One of these courses should be directly linked to Hispanic Theology and Ministry, e.g., U.S. Latino theology. The others can be electives, depending on the student's particular ministerial goals, and chosen with the help of a course selection advisor. Students are encouraged to take courses in Multicultural Ministry or related fields as offered.

Sufficient Knowledge of the Spanish Language:

This requirement must be demonstrated by the end of the program. The student will be tested orally at the end of the program. If the student is a native speaker, then he/she will be exempted from part or all of the requirement.

Hispanic Ministry Seminar and Integrative Project

Students must enroll in the Hispanic Ministry Seminar (6 credits). This one-year seminar meets periodically during the academic year to discuss theological, cultural, and ministerial aspects related to Hispanic Ministry. At the end of the Seminar, students will present an integrative project, either individually or in a group, combining theological research with exploration and evaluation of practical issues from the Hispanic Ministry Contextual Education Placement. This seminar is also offered during the summer (one session per summer).