{"id":718,"date":"2019-08-23T14:48:57","date_gmt":"2019-08-23T18:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/?page_id=718"},"modified":"2026-02-09T14:15:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T19:15:25","slug":"master-of-sacred-theology","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/academics\/degree-programs\/master-of-sacred-theology\/","title":{"rendered":"Master of Sacred Theology (STM)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>The Master of Sacred Theology (STM) program is not currently accepting applications.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>The Master of Sacred Theology (STM) degree is a second-level graduate professional degree for those who wish to pursue a year of more advanced coursework focusing on a particular academic discipline (\u201cDisciplinary Concentration\u201d) or ministerial and other religious leadership practice (\u201cReligious Leadership Concentration\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>The STM is highly customizable and includes eight courses of the student\u2019s choosing. For those pursuing the Disciplinary Concentration, there is a thesis option which requires consent from a faculty member willing to supervise the thesis, making this an excellent second-level master\u2019s option for MDiv, MA, or MTS graduates anticipating doctoral study. For those pursuing the Religious Leadership Concentration, customized practica may be developed with faculty members focusing on practical, real-world contextual issues. The STM is ideal for those who wish to strengthen their knowledge or skills to the benefit of their journey in ministry, the academy, or both, without the commitment to a lengthier program.<br \/>\n<a id=\"stmdisciplinaryconc\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>As a second-level program, a previous theological masters is required for admission to the STM.<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/sth\/files\/2019\/10\/2017-01-27-STM-Disciplinary-Concentration.docx\">STM Academic Disciplinary Concentration Plan of Study<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/sth\/files\/2023\/12\/2023-12-19-STM-Leadership-Concentration.docx\">STM Religious Leadership Plan of Study<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/sth\/programs\/sacred-theology\/\">The STH Bulletin<\/a><span> contains the official description of the degree program along with admissions and financial information.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/academics\/degree-programs\/master-of-sacred-theology\/master-of-sacred-theology-handbook\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The STM Handbook<\/a> contains the policies and procedures by which the degree program is governed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><p class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">STM for Chaplains<\/p><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><a id=\"militarychaplains\" class=\"jump\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>STM for Chaplains<\/h3>\n<p>The Master of Sacred Theology program provides critical theological reflection on pressing issues confronting chaplains in a variety of settings, such as trauma healing, conflict transformation, interfaith ministry, spiritual formation, ethics, and leadership. As a theological school located within the context of a research university, we partner with the wider university to provide chaplains with coursework that strengthens their skills and capacities to respond to the complex realities of institutions in transition, as well as the most difficult ethical concerns of today. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><p class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">STM Learning Outcomes<\/p><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>The STM degree is a second-level graduate professional degree for those who wish to pursue a year of advanced coursework focusing on a particular academic discipline or area of ministerial or religious leadership.<\/p>\n<p>The primary learning outcomes of the STM include:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>for those pursuing the STM in Theological Studies: advanced competency in one area or discipline of theological study and a capacity to conduct original research in that area;<\/li>\n<li>for those pursuing the STM in Religious Leadership: advanced competency in ministerial or religious leadership practice within a particular area of focus and an advanced capacity for integrating theology and practice.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Master of Sacred Theology (STM) program is not currently accepting applications.\u00a0 The Master of Sacred Theology (STM) degree is a second-level graduate professional degree for those who wish to pursue a year of more advanced coursework focusing on a particular academic discipline (\u201cDisciplinary Concentration\u201d) or ministerial and other religious leadership practice (\u201cReligious Leadership Concentration\u201d). [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15163,"featured_media":0,"parent":656,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/718"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15163"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=718"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/718\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59890,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/718\/revisions\/59890"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}