St. Mary's Seminary is the first Roman Catholic seminary in the nation: rich in tradition while focused on priestly preparation for the 21st-century.
These pages provide information on the history, personnel, environment, and formation (in the Sulpician tradition) at St. Mary's.
The three pages in this section of our site touch on the very basics of the formation process.
A major part of priestly formation is intellectual formation, accomplished through the pursuit of academic degrees.
Desiring to assist in the strengthening of Hispanic ministry and recognizing the need for well-prepared priests dedicated in-part or in-full to this ministry, St. Mary’s Seminary and University has established a specialized track in Hispanic ministry.
St. Mary’s Propaedeutic Stage implements the vision of the Program for Priestly Formation (6th edition). It takes place in a revitalized and expanded structure on the historic grounds of the original St. Mary’s Seminary in downtown Baltimore. The McGivney House welcomes candidates from all dioceses and is not limited to candidates destined to enter St. Mary’s Seminary & University, but is the recommended program for those who will come to St. Mary’s.
St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute (EI) was founded in 1968 by St. Mary’s Seminary & University, America’s oldest Roman Catholic seminary, in cooperation with ecumenical leaders. St. Mary’s is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The Ecumenical Institute encourages people of all denominations to explore theological studies in a serious, open-minded, and supportive environment. All EI programs are available wherever you are - on campus in Baltimore, and on-line.
The Ecumenical Institute invites people of all denominations into theological study that pursues excellence and promotes ecumenical understanding and respect. All EI programs are available wherever you are - on campus in Baltimore, and on-line.
St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute has a rolling admissions policy. Students may apply at any time for admission by submitting the appropriate materials.
The Ecumenical Institute offers accredited graduate theological programs for two master’s degrees, several graduate certificates, and introductory explorations.
The post-master’s Certificate of Advanced Studies in Theology (CAS) is designed for individuals who possess a master’s degree in theology (e.g., MAT.), ministry (e.g., MACM), divinity (e.g., MDiv), or a related field and who desire to continue their theological education with a general or focused program of study.
The Doctor of Ministry program roots ministry in the mission of God, the ways God is working in your context, in your ministry, and in you.
Students have a host of resources available to support their theological education, from free parking and a great library to writing assistance and advising.
St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute offers accredited graduate theological education that is intellectually rigorous, personally enriching, and professionally empowering.
More than 750 alums of St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute are making a difference in Baltimore, in Maryland and D.C., West Virginia and Pennsylvania, and around the world.
General communication and individual contacts
It is the mission of the Center for Continuing Formation to encourage bishops, priests, deacons, and lay ecclesial ministers to engage in human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral growth and to enable processes of growth that are ongoing, complete, systemic, and personalized.
Forming Supervisors for Vocational Synthesis implements the vision of the Program for Priestly Formation (6th edition) for the final stage of preparation for the priesthood.
Conference space rentals include a large room that will seat as many as 58 and smaller rooms that will seat from 4 to 30.
St. Mary's Center for Continuing Formation offers and hosts a variety of continuing formation programs for priests in the spirit of the Bishops' new Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests.
St. Mary’s Seminary & University’s Pinkard Scholars is the cornerstone of Youth Theological Studies at SMSU.
For more information about any of our conference facilities or space rentals, please contact our offices directly.
The Marion Burk Knott Library of St. Mary’s Seminary and University is the largest specialized theological library in the Baltimore area, with additional materials in the areas of philosophy, psychology, pastoral counseling and church history, among others. The library receives over 390 periodicals and maintains a collection of 20,000 volumes of bound periodicals. Other holdings include newspapers, microfilm, and audio-visual materials.
The Associated Archives at St. Mary’s Seminary & University opened in the spring of 2002. Located on the campus of the nation’s first Roman Catholic seminary, this program brings together the archives of the Archdiocese of Baltimore (est. 1789), St. Mary’s Seminary & University (est. 1791), and the Associated Sulpicians of the United States (U.S. Province est. 1903), making it one of the most significant repositories for records relating to the early history of the Catholic Church in the United States.
Click here for more information about hours and visitor policies.
This section was created to provide researchers with a brief description of the open collections in the archives of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, St. Mary's Seminary & University, and the Associated Sulpicians of the United States.
The Associated Archives at St. Mary’s Seminary & University has developed a genealogical policy responsive to individuals researching their Catholic roots.
We facilitate personal integration of the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral dimensions necessary for authentic priestly witness and service in the image of Jesus Christ.
The post-master’s Certificate of Advanced Studies in Theology (CAS) is designed for individuals who possess a master’s degree in theology (e.g., MAT.), ministry (e.g., MACM), divinity (e.g., MDiv), or a related field and who desire to continue their theological education with a general or focused program of study. (All qualified graduates of St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute, regardless of degree or year of graduation, may apply.)
The CAS program consists of ten courses, including at least one colloquium or seminar and one directed reading course. The program has three options, or tracks: general, specialized, and research. In general, students construct their own curriculum in consultation with the CAS Director and their advisor, as long as the curriculum falls within the program guidelines specified here and does not duplicate previous graduate work.
The 30-credit (10-course) program can be taken on a full-time or a part-time basis. The program is composed in part of regular courses available to students studying for master’s degrees and in part of specialized, advanced study specific to this program. (Advanced standing with credit, up to six credits, may be available for previous advanced work.) CAS students may specialize in one of the following areas: Biblical Studies, Ecumenical and Interfaith Studies, Moral and Systematic Theology, and Spirituality. Tuition is the same as for the master’s program.
The curriculum for the CAS general track consists of the following:
Students in the general track may take up to one approved independent-study course and any number of approved seminars and colloquia in lieu of the 700-level general course offerings. Students in the general track may take up to six credits in a biblical language at the 600 level.
CAS students may specialize in one of the following areas: Biblical Studies, Ecumenical and Interfaith Studies, Moral and Systematic Theology, and Spirituality. Students who concentrate in one academic area pursue the following sort of curriculum:
Note for students specializing in Biblical Studies: All students must take at least four 700-level courses, normally including one OT and one NT course (other than biblical language courses). Students without advanced standing may take up to twelve credits in biblical languages, while students with advanced standing may take up to six credits in biblical languages.
Students in a specialized track may take up to two approved independent-study courses and any number of approved seminars and colloquia in lieu of the 700-level general course offerings, as long as four of their total courses (counting courses, seminars, and independent studies) are in their area of specialization.
CAS students with demonstrated advanced research skills, whose primary interest is in theological research, whether simply as the focus of the CAS program or in preparation for doctoral studies, may pursue the research track. Students in the research track may specialize in a particular academic area, approved by the CAS Director, or follow a more interdisciplinary program. Areas for the specialized research track include Biblical Studies (NT, OT, or both), Ecumenical and Interfaith Studies, Moral and Systematic Theology, and Spirituality. In consultation with the Director of the CAS, they choose an advisor and work closely with the advisor throughout the program.
The course of study for the research track is as follows:
Successful completion of the CAS will be marked by the ability to demonstrate, both orally and in writing, one of the following major outcomes, depending on the track selected:
An intensive directed-reading course called TH790 CAS Directed Reading is the capstone experience of the program. The student is guided by a member of the faculty on a topic approved by the CAS Director. The course consists of guided reading (approximately 1,500-2,000 pages) on the topic together with appropriate writing projects, normally three critical reviews and a final paper analyzing and synthesizing the materials in the readings. (Note: Tuition for this course is at independent-study rates, 50% higher than regular tuition.) There is no thesis option in the CAS program.
All course work must be completed within five years from the date of the first course taken toward the CAS (excepting advanced-standing credits). A final GPA of 3.00 is required.
The CAS allowed me to both broaden some of my experience in areas of particular interest and continue to be guided by extraordinary faculty. Nathanael Briggs, CAS ’22