What does a seminarian study?
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What does a seminarian study?“Intellectual formation contributes to spiritual formation. The study of the traditions of faith and the experiences of faith among the saints and the people of God serves to deepen one’s own spiritual journey.”
-Program of Priestly Formation 113
Men who enter a seminary come with a variety of educational backgrounds and experiences. Candidates for the priesthood range in age from 18 – 55. For any potential candidate for the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Detroit, their study and formation would take place at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
Sacred Heart is located in Detroit and has been forming men for the priesthood since 1919. Sacred Heart offers both a fully accredited College of Liberal Arts and Graduate School of Theology.
A man with little or no previous college experience would complete a traditional four year Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, while men who have already earned a Bachelor’s degree from another accredited academic institution, complete a two year Bachelor of Philosophy program, commonly referred to as Pre-Theology. For inquiries about how to apply to become a seminarian, please contact Fr. Tim Birney, Director of Priestly Vocations.
The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (A.B.)
is a four year degree program consisting of 120 credit hours of study. This program is designed to serve men who have not yet earned a Bachelor’s Degree.
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| Communication and Language Arts | 12-15 |
| Languages | 18 |
| Music | 5 |
| Mathematics, Natural and Behavioral Science | 12 |
| Art, History, Literature | 15 |
| Theology | 13 |
| Philosophy | 33 |
| Electives | 9-12 |
The Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil)
is a two year undergraduate degree program consisting of 60 credit hours of study. This program is designed to serve men who have already earned a Bachelor’s Degree and commonly referred to as Pre-Theology.
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| Philosophy | 30 |
| Theology | 13 |
| Language | 12 |
| Sacred Music | 5 |
The study of philosophy prepares a man for further studies in theology. As the Program for Priestly Formation states:
“The study of philosophy is fundamental and indispensable to the structure of theological studies and to the formation of candidates for the priesthood. It is not by chance that the curriculum of theological studies is preceded by a time of special study of philosophy.” (PPF 152)
The intellectual aspect of formation is complemented with the spiritual, human, and pastoral aspects which become the total formation program for a seminarian. These four areas of priestly formation are integrated through a seminarian's entire time in the seminary. They are referred to as the Pillars of Formation and come from the Program for Priestly Formation.
After completion of one of the undergraduate degree programs: the four year Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy or the two year Bachelor of Philosophy (Pre-Theology), a seminarian would then advance to graduate studies in theology. A four year Master of Divinity program is then offered.
The goal of the Master of Divinity program is to build upon and continue to provide the necessary human, spiritual, theological, pastoral and priestly preparation for ordination to the Catholic priesthood and service to Christ and the Church.
The Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
is a four year graduate program consisting of 110 credit hours:
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| Sacred Scripture | 15 |
| Systematic/Dogma | 20 |
| Applied Theology: Homiletics, Pastoral Counseling | 12 |
| Moral Theology | 11 |
| Liturgy and the Sacraments | 9-13 |
| Church History | 9 |
| Canon Law | 5 |
| Field Education | 9 |
| Integrating Studies | 6 |
| Sacred Music | 4 |
| Electives | 7 |
Contact Us
To seek application to the seminary to begin formation to the priesthood, please contact the Director of Priestly Vocations, Fr. Tim Birney
