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Institutional Effectiveness
The Board of Trustees, Administration, and Faculty of Saint Joseph’s Seminary and College are dedicated to the fulfillment of the SJS Mission Statement, and to providing all of its students with the services and resources needed to graduate on time and to achieve the Intended Student Learning Outcomes for their respective degree programs.
STUDENTS- Major Seminarians who are studying for the Priesthood
- Candidates for Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate
- Graduate students in Philosophy who are preparing for entrance into the Major Seminary
- Graduate students in Theology, including lay men and women, ordained clergy, and men and women in consecrated life who wish to study Theology for a wide variety of ministerial, professional and personal reasons.
PROGRAMS
- NEW Propaedeutic Program, Implemented Fall 2023 (Propaedeutic Stage of Priestly Formation) - Offered at the main campus in Yonkers, this non-degree formation program is a requirement of the the Program for Priestly Formation, 6th Edition (2022).
- Master of Arts in Catholic Philosophical Studies (Discipleship Stage of Priestly Formation) - Offered at the main campus.
- Master of Divinity (Configuration Stage of Priestly Formation) – Offered at the main campus.
- Master of Arts in Theology - Offered online and at the Yonkers, Huntington, and Douglaston locations.
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Theology - Offered online and at the Yonkers, Douglaston, and Huntington locations.
- Post Master’s Certificate in Dogmatic Theology - Offered online and at the Yonkers, and Huntington locations.
- Post-Master’s Certificate in Sacred Scripture - Offered online and at the Yonkers and Huntington locations.
degree PROGRAM LENGTH
Master of Divinity (87 Credits) – Saint Joseph’s Seminary has been offering the MDiv program to seminarians in priestly formation since 1961. Seminarians in the program typically complete their academic coursework in four years, with one additional fifth year of pastoral work - although extensions can be granted for various reasons. During these five years, seminarians concurrently earn a pontifical degree, the Bachelor of Sacred Theology (STB), from the University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.
Master of Arts in Theology (39 Credits) – The MA Theology program has been offered since 1987 and, until 2012, was completed within one year by seminarians pursuing this degree. With the 2012 Inter-diocesan partnership, the expansion of the Seminary’s Mission and subsequent curriculum revisions in 2013, students pursuing the MA Theology degree generally finish within four years, although they have up to six years to complete the program.
Master of Arts in Catholic Philosophical Studies (48 Credits) – The Seminary began offering the MACPS Program in 2013 and students typically finish the degree within two years, although they are allowed up to six years to complete their studies.COMPLETION RATES
MDiv/STB: 5-year completion rate: 70% (2018 Entering Cohort)
MA Theology: 6-year Completion Rate = 85% (2016 Entering Cohort) / 54% (2017 Entering Cohort)
MACPS: 2-year Completion Rate = 80% (2021 Entering Cohort)2023 VOCATIONAL PLACEMENT RATES
MDiv Graduates – 100% Vocational Placement
All of the seminarians who completed their MDiv at Saint Joseph’s Seminary between 2009 and 2023 have been ordained as Catholic Priests and serve in their own local Dioceses, Eparchies or Religious Communities.
MACPS Graduates - Of the four 2023 graduates of the Master of Arts in Catholic Philosophical Studies program, three (75%) continued on to the Major Seminary, and one (25%) chose a vocational placement.
MA Theology Graduates - Students in the MA Theology program pursue the degree for various ministerial, personal and professional reasons. Of the 34 2023 graduates, 32 (94%) held vocational posts after graduation, 23 of which are active parish deacons.
RETENTION RATES for ORDAINED PRIESTS2013-2023 - 157 Priests Ordained
Active Ministry - 149 (95% Retention Rate)
Inactive - 8 (5%)