Frequently Asked Questions

The dual degree programs offered at Boston College are academically rigorous, but more than doable for a student who is very interested in two fields of study.  The dual degree programs are a bit longer than the programs offered at the CSTM, resulting in three years of continuous study (though they would take four years if you did the two degrees independently), but there are multiple support networks to help guide you through the process and through the course requirements.

Yes! Many CSTM students are involved with undergraduate ministry at Boston College. Campus Ministry is often seeking Kairos retreat directors, spiritual companions for students, and Christian Life Community leaders. Working with these programs gives our students the opportunity to develop their ministerial identity and remain connected with students in a pastoral setting.

There are multiple opportunities to work on campus through graduate assistantships and other on-campus employment options. In addition to the financial benefits of these positions, our students and alumni often report on the professional and ministerial skills gained from their time as graduate assistants. Both the BC Office of Graduate Student Life and the BC Office of Student Services maintain listings of potential assistantships and work-study positions open to all Boston College graduate students.

Graduate Student Life

Student Services

You must reside in Boston for a minimum of two years while working on your Ph.D. 

Applicants may defer their offer of admission for up to one year. Applicants who have been accepted into a program should notify the Admissions Office as soon as possible with any changes in their enrollment plans. Scholarships and other financial aid awards, however, cannot be deferred. Candidates will be re-evaluated for financial aid during the year of their enrollment.

Yes, twenty percent of our students are part-time, non-degree seeking students. You can take up to four CSTM classes without having to enroll in a degree program. If you then decide to apply for a degree, these classes can be credited toward your degree. If you would like to sit in on a class without fulfilling the requirements for credit, you can apply as an auditor.

Non-Degree Options

Yes! Our graduate assistants in the Office of Admissions are current students who would be excited to speak with you about our programs and their experiences at the CSTM. You can connect with our Graduate Assistants by emailing stmadm@xyschool.net or calling 617-552-6506.

Yes! CSTM welcomes students from all faith traditions and backgrounds. Currently, about one quarter of our students are from traditions other than Catholicism.The STM is also a proud member of the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium (BTI). As a student at the CSTM, you are able to take up to 50% of your courses at a BTI member institution to study with students in programs rooted in other faith traditions and to enhance your learning. 

As part of student formation and our commitment to community life, students are encouraged to participate in student organizations that match their interests. Students who are interested in multifaith work and interreligious dialogue may be interested in the CSTM Interreligious Engagement Group, as well as the Multifaith programs offered by Campus Ministry.

Boston Interreligious Consortium

Campus Ministry Multifaith Programs

Yes. Degree students taking at least one course for credit may do so, through the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium (BTI), the world’s largest theological consortium. Students can cross-register at local universities that participate in the consortium, such as Harvard University and Boston University. Students may take up to 50% of their course work at a BTI school.

BTI Site

Absolutely. We are a vibrant community and host guests throughout the year. The Admissions Office works to set up visit days that enable you to sit in on a class, engage with students and faculty, and experience life at the school firsthand.

More About Visits

The English proficiency test requirement can be waived for international students who qualify under the following categories:

• You are a citizen of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean.
• You earned your prior college or university degree in the U.S.A., in one of the countries listed above in section 1, or at a college or university where the official language of instruction is English.
• You are currently enrolled as a full-time student in a degree-granting program in the U.S.A. or at an English-speaking school in one of the countries listed above in section 1 and will have completed at least two academic years of college/university work before beginning your studies at Boston College.

If accepted, and after meeting the financial certification requirements, you will be issued an I-20 form, which certifies to the U.S. government that you are eligible for F-1 Visa Student Status. The I-20 form certifies that you have met our admissions requirements, have been accepted for a full course of study, and have demonstrated that you have sufficient funds to study and live in the United States. I-20 forms are uploaded to your admissions portal no more than 90 days prior to the start of your term of entry. These forms are uploaded only after you have been accepted, have confirmed your intention to enroll, and have submitted financial certification.

Yes! Each enrolled student is paired with a member of our faculty for academic advising before your first semester begins. Our faculty members are always excited to meet with and get to know their advisees. At CSTM, students are not just a number. The one-on-one relationship between professor and student allows our students to become familiar with academic life at CSTM, to determine what courses they should take, and to explore options for the future. Students usually have the same advisor for the duration of their academic program, which allows the student and faculty advisor to better discern academic options.

Yes! Multiple CSTM students supplement their incomes with off-campus jobs!  There are many different employment opportunities in the Boston area, ranging from food services to hospital and mental health facilities.  While on-campus jobs only permit students to work a maximum of 20 hours per week, often only during normal office hours, off-campus employment can be a good option for flexible hours.

All dual degree students complete placements as part of their program, providing students with the chance to apply their studies and build their ministerial toolbox through rich field experience.

M.A./M.S.W. and M.A./M.A. students do not complete a supervised ministry placement through the CSTM, but instead complete a field placement through their partner school. M.A./M.S.W. students complete two social work field placements in Academic Year II and Academic Year III, while M.A./M.A. students complete a full-year counseling practicum in the final year of their program. M.A./M.S.W. and M.A./M.A. students can speak with their field advisors through the School of Social Work and Lynch School of Education and Human Development to identify field placement sites that are a good fit for their unique hopes and goals as dual degree students.

M.A./M.B.A. students do complete a supervised ministry placement through the CSTM and will complete this contextual education during the final year of their program. More information on contextual education for the M.A./M.B.A. program can be found in the program handbook.

M.A./M.Ed. students do not complete a supervised ministry placement through the CSTM; their teaching position through the Urban Catholic Teacher Corps takes the place of the CSTM placement.

Social Work Field Education

Counseling Practicum

M.A./M.B.A. Handbook

No formal background in theology, no problem! All undergraduate majors are considered. While a strong liberal arts background is helpful, our students come from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. Although CSTM does provide a rigorous academic environment, it offers a wide array of classes, tailoring to all levels of theological understanding and interest.

The GRE is optional. We recommend that applicants consider submitting scores if they do not have a strong background in the humanities or if they feel that their undergraduate transcripts are not indicative of their ability to succeed in graduate studies.

Yes! We encourage you to attend any that are useful for your discernment!

Virtual Events

Unfortunately, Boston College does not provide graduate student housing. Lay international students must find an apartment or place to live for themselves, though we provide as much support in this process as possible.

There are select possibilities for international priests to find housing through the Archdiocese of Boston. More instructions will be given after admission.

Boston College has partnerships with a couple of local convents for religious sisters. We are able to nominate a few sisters per year for this housing.

Dual degree students receive separate financial aid packages from both schools as part of their admission decisions. Each term, dual degree students will have a "home school" in which they are enrolled. During that term, the student will pay tuition to the school in which they are enrolled and the financial aid package that they receive from that school will apply to all credits being taken during that term, regardless of if you are taking classes at both schools during that term. For example, if a M.A./M.S.W. student is enrolled at the CSTM and taking classes at both schools, their CSTM financial aid package would apply to credits from both schools for that term.

For the M.A./M.S.W. and M.A./M.A. programs, the CSTM's financial aid package will apply to Academic Year I and both summers of the dual degree program, while the other school's financial aid package will apply to Academic Year II and Academic Year III of the dual degree program. 

For the M.A./M.B.A. program, the CSTM's financial aid package will apply to Academic Year I, Summer I, and the Fall semester of Academic Year III. The Carroll School of Management's financial aid package will apply to Academic Year II, Summer II, and the Spring semester of Academic Year III. 

For students in the M.A./M.Ed. program in partnership with BC's Urban Catholic Teacher Corps, the CSTM's financial aid package will apply to Academic Year II and onwards, and the Lynch School's financial aid package will apply to Summer I, Academic Year I, and Summer II.

If a student starts at Boston College in one graduate program and then later adds the second, the funding schedule may need to be altered. The admissions office will discuss specific details with each applicant. Never hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

Although CSTM is located on Brighton campus, students and faculty members have multiple opportunities to participate in courses and lectures on the main Chestnut Hill campus. CSTM students are welcome to take courses through the BC Department of Theology, located on main campus, and are always invited to different lectures and events happening campus wide. Many times throughout the year, CSTM professors will host their own lectures on main campus, giving students the opportunity to interact with the larger Boston College community. Getting involved with campus ministry and utilizing different libraries across campus are two great ways to make the trek over to Chestnut Hill campus with a bit more frequency!

If you poll current CSTM students on the car question, you’ll find about a 50/50 split. Some people really want to have a car here, while others think it’s too much of a hassle. Either way, getting around campus and Boston, in general, is very easy. There are buses and trains that will take you from Boston College to downtown Boston in less than an hour, with several stops at stores and restaurants in between. The BC shuttle is also a great service for students. It is totally free and runs throughout the entire BC campus and surrounding residential areas. With all the transportation opportunities, Boston is easy to navigate and fun to explore.

We understand the value of a strong theological education, which is why we do our best to make sure that our students have opportunities for financial assistance, whether it be through scholarships, federal aid, externships, or graduate assistantships. We are pleased to offer 100% of our M.A., M.Div., and M.T.S. students some level of scholarship aid for their studies with us, all the way up to full-tuition scholarships. We do all what we can to minimize financial barriers to studying with us.

For all applicants, there is a financial aid page on the application, and we encourage you to be as detailed as possible as to why you would like to be considered for funding. Over 90% of all applicants to all programs receive scholarship support. If you are concerned or have questions about your financial situation, please speak with a member of the admissions staff.

Admission Team

Please get in touch with us! We want to make sure we’ve explored all possible options to help you make studying with us a reality. Please email cstmapply@xyschool.net and our team will direct you to the right person!

The dual degree program is a great fit for students with a wide variety of interests who hope to incorporate faith and spirituality into their professional and personal lives, and who also view their current and future work in related fields as their call to ministry. On a personal level, the dual degree has been valuable to students by providing them with academic and faith communities, classes, and practical experiences that are rooted in their values and align with their professional, personal, spiritual, and social interests. On a professional level, dual degree students are equipped with a unique interdisciplinary skill set that opens up professional possibilities, with graduates living out their call to ministry through a wide variety of fields, or applying the lens of the partner field to more explicitly ministerial settings.

Definitions vary, but BC's program is committed to education from and for a faith perspective on life, with the goal of nurturing people so they can live into a transcendent horizon: God. While grounded in a distinctly Catholic and Christian tradition, our program honors diverse understandings of God. True to its name, the program takes both theology and education seriously and attempts to integrate them in service to the Church and world.

International applicants are asked to submit the following additional requirements:

• Two brief supplemental essays: These essays cannot be written or edited by anyone but the applicant themself in English. This requirement is waived for applicants from select countries and who are applying to select degree programs. Please follow the prompts in your application.
  
• Video Essay: Within the online application you will find a “Video Essay” section, in which you will be prompted to give a 90 second verbal response to a random question. Once you are given the prompt, you will have 60 seconds to prepare your response. You will have 2 attempts to answer the question; this portion of the application requires a web-camera to complete. If you experience any difficulties, please contact our office. This requirement is waived for applicants from select countries and who are applying to select degree programs.
• English Language Exam: All applicants for whom English is not their native language must also provide test score results from one of two tests:
  • TOEFL: An acceptable TOEFL score is 85 or above on the internet-based test. When taking the exam, include CSTM’s institutional code—3971—so that your scores may be sent directly to the school.
  • IELTS: An acceptable IELTS score is 7.5 (band score) or above on the paper- or internet-based test. Results can be sent to the Clough School of Theology and Ministry directly.
    
  • If you feel that you may be eligible for an English Language waiver, please see the FAQ "Can the English proficiency test requirement be waived?"

International Applicant Info

Religious applicants must include their bishop or major superior (for religious orders) as recommenders for their application. This means that religious applicants must have 4 total letters of recommendation: 3 general recommenders and 1 bishop/major superior. Please select the appropriate recommendation type (general or bishop/major superior) when adding recommenders to your application. 

For Jesuits: All of the CSTM’s admission procedures apply to Jesuit applicants. Before applying, international Jesuits must contact the Rector of the St. Peter Faber Jesuit Community, Fr. Michael Boughton, S.J.

CSTM is proud to be a welcoming, inclusive environment for students who identify as LGBTQ+. Gaudete, CSTM’s LGBTQ+ and ally student group, hosts safe-space brunches for faculty, staff, and students several times per semester, social events, LGBTQ+ workshops, and an annual academic gathering on gender, sexuality, and Catholic theology. In recent months and years, CSTM has welcomed supporters of the LGBTQ+ community to campus, including Fr. James Martin, SJ (a BC STM alumnus!) and Mike O’Loughlin of America Media. We are also excited to offer a summer course on ministering to the LGBTQ+ community.

We don’t really like those labels! CSTM works diligently to foster a culture of encounter and dialogue. One of the things we’re most proud of here is our unity in diversity. There is a diversity of opinion among our students, faculty, and staff, which is something we’re grateful for as we seek to represent a microcosm of the global church. Our primary task here is to accompany each other in our journey of discipleship and prepare one another for our work in service to God and the church. Getting wrapped up in labels can sometimes harm this work. We want to keep our eyes on our goal, which is a church that serves the people of God and God’s reign.

Applications at CSTM are reviewed holistically, taking all elements of your file into consideration. While your previous coursework and standardized test scores will be part of the review, we do not use them as cut-offs or post minimum score requirements. If you are concerned with your scores, please contact the Admissions Office so that we can speak with you individually.

An acceptable TOEFL score is 85 or above on the internet-based test. When taking the exam, please include CSTM’s institutional code (3971) so that your scores may be sent directly to the school. An acceptable IELTS score is 7.5 (band score) or above on the paper- or internet-based test. Results can be sent to the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry directly.

The School has a canonical or ecclesiastical faculty, meaning that it is empowered by the Vatican to grant ecclesiastical degrees. As an ecclesiastical faculty, we can offer theology degrees that are only available at a few schools in North America. These degrees provide preparation in advanced theological areas, preparing students for teaching in a seminary and Church leadership positions—both lay and religious—in the Catholic Church.

M.A., M.Div. and Th.M. (Ministerial Practice track) students complete a supervised ministry placement. This can be done in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, universities, social services, parishes, and nonprofits. There are many placement options. There is even an opportunity to work with the supervised ministry coordinators to develop a new one. 

If you are a dual degree student with the M.S.W. or M.A. in Mental Health Counseling, you will do your supervised ministry through the practicum requirement at the partner school. Dual degree students are enrolled at CSTM for their first year of study, so they would meet with a placement advisor during their first year of study.

Supervised Ministry

CSTM students are very active! Each semester, different student groups host events at CSTM and off campus. For example, in December, students host the Great CSTM Bake-Off, encouraging CSTM folks to show off their baking skills. These and other events are student-led, and the CSTM is always excited to support new projects/events to support our community.
There are also events all around Boston! The metropolitan area of Boston is home to wonderful theaters, museums, and eateries—all just a short public transportation ride away. Many of these destinations offer free or reduced admission rates for BC students. You will never be bored in this city.

The CSTM is proud to offer over 20 graduate and research assistantship positions each year to incoming students. In addition to the financial benefits of these positions, our students and alumni often report highly on the professional and ministerial skills gained from their time as graduate assistants. The majority of these positions last for one year and are reserved to support entering, first-year students. The application process for these positions begins during the admissions process. If you are interested in being considered for the positions we have available, make sure to indicate as such on your application form.

Graduate & Research Assistantships

A master's degree in theology is required. Candidates should be well recommended by faculty who have taught them at the graduate level, and they should have a strong writing sample and a demonstrated interest in religious education, the interface of theology and education, and/or practical theology. Some experience in teaching or ministry is also vital. 

Each year, the CSTM awards scholarships to new students, supporting those candidates who have the strongest academic credentials, ministerial commitment, and greatest financial need. Most students fund their studies through a combination of tuition scholarship, on-campus work, and federal student loans. 100% of master's students receive scholarship support.

Tuition & Aid

Take your acceptance letter, I-20 form, bank statement or financial certification, and passport to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, preferably in your country of citizenship, to obtain your student (F-1) visa. Be prepared to explain to the embassy or consulate officials how your U.S. education will relate to your future in your home country. Once you have your F-1 visa, you will not be admitted to the United States until a date that is 30 days or less prior to the beginning of your program date, or start date, as given on your I-20 form. Please consider that date carefully when making your travel plans to the United States.

Yes, but you would need to take an education-oriented approach to that subdiscipline that considers not only how to understand it, but also how to teach it effectively. If you are interested solely in the study of systematic theology, Scripture, ethics, or another area, BC's Department of Theology in the Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences offers a Ph.D. in theology.

BC Theology Department

Perhaps one of the best things about CSTM is the tight-knit community environment that the school offers both inside and outside of the classroom. One of the best demonstrations of this commitment is our Thursday “Lunch and Liturgy”.  Every Thursday, students, faculty members, and staff are invited to participate in Mass held in St. Ignatius Church, which is located right down the hill from Simboli Hall (CSTM's main classroom building). After Mass, everyone is invited back to Simboli Hall to enjoy a simple meal provided by the school. This gives everyone the opportunity to chat and interact on a deeper level outside of the classroom while enjoying breaking bread together.

The BTI is a consortium of graduate theological schools in the Boston area, and in recent years, the consortium has begun expanding throughout New England. CSTM's membership in the BTI creates the opportunity for ecumenical and interreligious dialogue through conferences, lectures, and cross-registration. CSTM students can take up to 50% of their courses at BTI member institutions. The BTI sends out a newsletter every two weeks to keep students informed about events happening at its member schools.

The application fee is $75. We provide fee waivers for Jesuits, current CSTM students, veterans, individuals completing a year of service with a Catholic Volunteer Network program, and individuals who are Pell Grant-eligible. If any of these situations apply to you, please reach out to the Admissions Office at stmadm@xyschool.net.

Although housing is on the forefront of everyone’s mind, it is not as stressful as it seems!  Boston College does not offer on-campus housing for graduate students, but ample tools are provided to enable students to find comfortable housing situations in the local area.  Through the off-campus housing portal, students are able to create a profile that lists their needs and browse available apartments. Another great resource is the CSTM Facebook Group! Current and graduated CSTM students often post vacant rooms or apartments that they are looking to pass down to incoming CSTM students.  Joining the CSTM student page can be a very helpful tool once you confirm your attendance!

The Clough School of Theology and Ministry is one school housed within the larger university of Boston College. Through CSTM, students are able to pursue different degrees focused on theology and ministry. The BC Theology Department is housed in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences on Boston College’s Chestnut Hill campus.  The focus of the Theology Department is the Ph.D. in theology (offered in Biblical Studies, Moral Theology, Systematics, Historical, and Comparative). Students in both schools are permitted to and encouraged to take classes in either the department or CSTM. The possibilities of courses are endless.

CSTM is committed to the theological and spiritual education of lay, religious, and clerical leaders in the context of their vocational goals. We currently have a 95% placement rate six months after graduation (and 100% for master’s graduates!). Graduates serve in many different fields, including serving as: campus ministers, college/university faculty, hospital or hospice chaplains, social workers, school teachers, publishers, healthcare coordinators, spiritual directors, and more. Some continue graduate education in doctoral programs at leading universities throughout the country while others choose to pursue further studies in different disciplines, including attending medical or law school.

Career Development

Higher education in the United States is expensive. However, CSTM is proud to award tuition grants, as well as graduate and research assistantship opportunities, to international students, depending on availability, to help ease their financial burden. For consideration, students must be enrolled in a degree seeking program, and should exhibit an exemplary academic record and personal potential. Students should be aware that, even if receiving a tuition grant, they still must obtain support to pay for their living expenses. Unfortunately, federal loans are not available to those who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

All international students must show that they have sufficient funds or resources to pay for their tuition and living expenses during the course of their studies, whether support comes in the form of scholarships, grants, or support from a religious order or a personal bank account. Applicants do not need to supply evidence of sufficient resources with their applications. Once accepted, the admissions office will send a form where one can document resources.

The city of Boston and its surrounding communities offer an array of housing options. Although the CSTM does not offer on-campus housing, we do all that we can to provide support throughout the process, including helping students find roommates and local listings. Boston College is located 6 miles from downtown Boston, so many CSTM students live closer to campus where rents can be less expensive than in the center of the city.

Graduate students are also welcome to apply to be Resident Assistants for Boston College.

Living in Boston

Being an RA

Applicants looking to start in the fall semester who submit their application by the priority deadline in January can expect an admissions decision by mid-February. Scholarship awards are released at the same time as an admission decision. To ensure your application will be considered for the greatest number of financial aid opportunities available, and to allow for an efficient processing and consideration process, please confirm on your application status page that your application is complete with all application materials.

For applications received after the priority deadline, and for spring and summer applications, it can take up to 3 weeks for your application to be reviewed and a decision to be released. When a decision is ready, you will receive an email that an update has been posted to your application portal. If you have any questions during the review process, please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions Office.  

Lots of places—you can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook through our social media handle, @bcstm, where we regularly share news, programs, and special posts like our “Humans of CSTM” series.