Catholic Theology (MACT)

In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Graduate Program accepts applications for admission from students without regard to ethnicity, race, color, sex, age, disability status, or national origin.

Applications are accepted by the Graduate Program in Theology by the following deadlines:
- July 1 for the Fall semester,
- November 1 for the Spring semester,
- February 15 for Scholarship consideration for the following academic year, and
- May 1 for the Summer session.

Applicants are be admitted to the Master of Arts in Catholic Theology (MACT) Program by the submitting the following:
To the Office of Admissions
- a completed online application form;
- application fee
- a record of or waiver for immunizations.

To the Graduate Program Coordinator**
- a personal written essay (see below);
- a Curriculum Vitae; and
- at least three letters of recommendation written by people qualified to evaluate academic potential as well as personal and professional promise
- a writing sample of academic prose

**N.B. Applicants (especially those who intend to do doctoral work) may be asked for aptitude scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). If these are requested by the Graduate Theology Coordinator, the scores must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions. Individuals who have completed a Master’s degree or have sufficient graduate hours from an accredited institution are exempt from the GRE or MAT.

ADMISSION ESSAY REQUIREMENTS
The applicant’s personal statement must be a part of the application. This statement should be between 1500-2000 words and address the following:
- What has motivated the applicant to apply for the MACT? The applicant should include a brief narrative of his or her religious/spiritual background and interests, combined with educational history, experience in ministry and/or religious education, and any other relevant professional and volunteer experience;
- How would a graduate degree in theology help the applicant serve the Church?
- What are the applicant’s principal strengths for graduate studies and/or ministry, as well as areas of needed development?
What is the applicant’s plan to apply theological education to his or her life, career, or future?

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Admission to the MACT at the University of Holy Cross is based on the evaluation of the applicant’s personal, professional, and academic records by the Graduate Faculty. The University recruits qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds who display intelligence, character, commitment to learning, and professional promise. At a minimum, applicants are expected to have the following academic qualifications:
- a Baccalaureate degree from a university or college approved by a recognized regional accrediting agency in the United States or proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution of higher learning;*
- a record of undergraduate study that is predictive of success in graduate studies;
satisfactory academic standing at the last university or college attended; and
- if deemed necessary, a completion of the GRE or MAT with sufficient scores.

* Possible exceptions may be made for life experience in ministry or service to the Church.

FOREIGN AND ESL STUDENTS
A foreign or ESL (English as a Second Language) applicant must present evidence of satisfactory proficiency in the reading, writing, and speaking of English. The applicant may do so by presenting a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), normally 550. For information about TOEFL, the applicant should write to TOEFL, 1755 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036 or visit www.ets.org/toefl/index.html. A foreign applicant is also required to take the Graduate Record Examination.

TRANSFER CREDITS
Normally, nine (9) semester hours may be transferred from an accredited institution for the Master of Arts in Catholic Theology. There may be exceptions for transfer credit in certain cases. Approval of all transfer credits must be obtained from the department Chair. These courses must be verified by an official transcript from the institution where the courses were taken.

LETTER OF GOOD STANDING
Students enrolled in graduate programs at other institutions who wish to register for transfer credit must submit a letter of good standing from the dean of the student’s graduate school.

STAGES OF ADMISSION
STAGE ONE: CONDITIONAL ADMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITY
Students conditionally admitted must hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university and may take a maximum of six hours (6) of graduate credit at the University of Holy Cross. Conditional admission does not guarantee admission to any of the graduate programs and is limited to one semester.

Conditional admission constitutes the following conditions:
- a completed online application form has been sent directly to the Office of Admissions;
- official transcripts for all prior undergraduate and graduate course work have been received by the Office of Admissions;
application deadlines are met (see above); and
- a minimum 3.0 undergraduate Grade Point Average is recommended to take graduate course work.

Once the application is completed, a candidate may take a maximum of six hours (6) and is limited to one semester.

For those with a limited background in Philosophy or the Catholic Tradition, potential candidates may be required to take THE 500 and/or THE 501. These courses may be taken for no credit or counted as elective credit in the MACT Curriculum.

Conditional admission does not guarantee full admission into the Graduate Program in Catholic Theology.

No candidate may register for the next semester until his or her graduate admission criteria are completed.

Those who are not accepted beyond a conditional basis are not allowed to continue in the Graduate Program in Catholic Theology at the University of Holy Cross.

STAGE TWO: ADMISSION TO THE GRADUATE PROGRAM
In order to be accepted into the Graduate Program, applicants must meet the following conditions:

All graduate admission criteria must be completed. (Refer to the criteria listed above).

Once the admission criteria are completed, the candidate will
be interviewed by the Graduate Theology Faculty and
submit a writing sample prior to the interview process
Applicants are notified in writing by the Graduate Coordinator regarding the results of their admission status. Those who are accepted for admission are allowed to register for the next semester.

STAGE THREE: CANDIDACY
Students remain at Stage Two status until they are accepted for Candidacy. Applicants must submit an application for Candidacy and cannot take more than eighteen (18) hours of course work until they have been accepted. Candidacy is primarily determined through academic achievement in graduate classes and demonstration of appropriate dispositions for the study of theology.

Applicants are notified in writing by the Graduate Coordinator regarding the results of their admission status. Those who are accepted for Candidacy are allowed to register for the next semester.