Divinity with a Concentration in Spiritual Direction (MDiv)
As of Fall 2026, the subprogram described on this page is no longer accepting applicants.
Those interested in the MDiv and Spiritual Direction ministries should apply to both the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program and to the Spiritual Direction Certificate, which can be integrated into a single comprehensive curriculum without increasing the number of required credit hours.
The IPS Master of Divinity (M.Div.) offers a unique Spiritual Direction concentration to provide students the opportunity to focus their formation on acquiring the theoretical and practical skills they need to provide spiritual direction, where they will accompany others with their spiritual development and relationship with God. Spiritual directors walk alongside each person on his or her spiritual journey, accompanying individuals as they become more fully realized spiritual beings. Students also have the unique opportunity to learn to direct and use the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola in and for spiritual direction, offering spiritual accompaniment framed by and infused with the Jesuit perspective and values.
The Divinity with a Concentration in Spiritual Direction (MDiv) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to start their Graduate studies in their senior year. Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.
Related Programs
Curriculum
The M.Div. degree is a 74-credit-hour (24-course) degree program that builds on the curriculum of the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS) degree. All components of the M.Div. Spiritual Direction concentration, except for CPE, can be completed online or on-campus. Students can complete the CPE requirement at any ACPE accredited location (across the USA). Some courses are also available in the summer through the IPS Rome program.
Besides the traditional Master's program, the Divinity with a Concentration in Spiritual Direction (MDiv) is also offered as an Accelerated Master's Pathway where exceptional students can begin their first year of Graduate studies in their senior year. A suggested sequence for the AMP can be found below.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Understanding | ||
| Context | ||
| IPS 555 | Human Person and Psychological Development | 3 |
| IPS 532 | Social Context of Ministry | 3 |
| Scripture | ||
| IPS 417 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| IPS 416 | Introduction to New Testament | 3 |
| Scripture Electives | 3 | |
| Systematic Theology | ||
| IPS 531 | Christian Doctrine | 3 |
| IPS 402 | Church and Mission | 3 |
| IPS 570 | Introduction to Theology and Ministry | 3 |
| Systematic Theology Elective | 3 | |
| Ethics | ||
| IPS 553 | Moral Theology and Christian Ethics | 3 |
| IPS 512 | Ethics, Pastoral Counseling, and Spirituality | 3 |
| Christian Living | ||
| IPS 541 | Liturgy and Christian Sacraments | 3 |
| IPS 545 | The Foundations of Christian Spirituality | 3 |
| IPS 403 | Spiritual Paths in World Religions | 3 |
| IPS 572 | Ignatian Spirituality | 3 |
| or IPS 573 | Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius | |
| Ministerial Practice | ||
| IPS 560 | Liturgical Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 565 | Pastoral Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 564 | Foundations of Pastoral Care | 3 |
| IPS 501 | Advanced Human Relation Skills | 3 |
| IPS 430 | Spiritual Direction Development and Practice | 3 |
| Ministerial Practice Electives | 6 | |
| Contextual Education | ||
| IPS 578 | Contextual Education Preparation | 1 |
| IPS 579 | Contextual Education Introduction | 1.5 |
| IPS 580 | Contextual Education I | 1.5 |
| IPS 581 | Contextual Education II | 3 |
| IPS 530 | Clinical Pastoral Care Registration | 1 |
| Integration Project | ||
| IPS 593 | Integration Project | 0 |
| Total Hours | 74 | |
Contextual Education
The Contextual Education requirement is adapted to enable students of the M.Div. Concentration in Spiritual Direction to acquire the practical skills for and experience of spiritual direction in learning interaction with their peers and under the supervision of an experienced spiritual director. Students have the unique opportunity to learn to direct and use the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola in and for spiritual direction. They also have the possibility of learning to practice spiritual direction in a spiritual tradition other than Ignatian (e.g., Carmelite, Benedictine, Franciscan, etc.) under the guidance of a trained coach/mentor. Suitable field learning settings may be found in the Chicago area, elsewhere in the United States or in other countries, upon approval by Dr. Dan Rhodes, Faculty Coordinator of Contextual Education.
Clinical Pastoral Education
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is an interfaith method of theological education through which a student learns pastoral skills within a context of ministerial relationships to people and under the direct supervision of a certified pastoral supervisor. It provides a learning situation for a ministerial student in which they may develop awareness of the theological and psycho-social concerns of persons in crisis.
The CPE component is typically completed before the application to candidacy to address one key candidacy concern, namely, personal growth matters of self-awareness and self-reflection. The student uses material from the CPE report to support his or her candidacy. Students complete CPE units at any ACPE Accredited Center and must concurrently register for IPS 530 Clinical Pastoral Care Registration, a zero credit registration course.
Candidacy is the process by which the IPS faculty exercises its responsibility to the church and other concerned publics by determining that the student has both the potential to satisfactorily complete this degree and a readiness to begin ministry.
Spiritual Direction
Students must complete 4 semesters of spiritual direction. The 30-day or 30-week version of the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola will count for 2 semesters of personal spiritual direction.
M.Div. Midpoint Review
When students reach the half-way point in their coursework, they begin preparing for contextual education. As part of this preparation process, students will also do a Midpoint Review. The student will write a brief statement (3-4 pages) on his or her “Vocational Identity, Vision, and Practice." This statement will first be approved by the Faculty Coordinator for Contextual Education. It will be submitted to the student's advisor, and the student and advisor will meet to discuss the statement and the student's progress toward the completion of the M.Div. program. Alternatively, if the advisor has concerns about the student’s progress, further work may be requested to successfully complete this review (e.g., further units of CPE, spiritual direction, or pastoral counseling, re-taking courses in which one did not receive a grade of C or higher, etc.). Failure to successfully complete this review and/or any additional steps requested in this process may be grounds for dismissal from the program.
In addition, the statement will serve as a draft for this same section of the student’s final integration project, and the comparison of the two drafts will ideally demonstrate the progress and growth the student has achieved through completing the final half of the M.Div. program. For guidelines on drafting this statement, see the relevant section of the M.Div. Integration Project Guidelines Integration Project.
Final Integration Project
Students complete the program with IPS 593 Integration Project, the zero-credit course that facilitates the completion of the Integration Project, in their final year.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
Traditional Master's Program
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| IPS 417 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| IPS 570 | Introduction to Theology and Ministry | 3 |
| IPS 545 | The Foundations of Christian Spirituality | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| IPS 416 | Introduction to New Testament | 3 |
| IPS 501 | Advanced Human Relation Skills | 3 |
| IPS 531 | Christian Doctrine | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| IPS 430 | Spiritual Direction Development and Practice | 3 |
| IPS 564 | Foundations of Pastoral Care | 3 |
| IPS 555 | Human Person and Psychological Development | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| IPS 512 | Ethics, Pastoral Counseling, and Spirituality | 3 |
| IPS 572 or IPS 573 |
Ignatian Spirituality or Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius |
3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| IPS 578 | Contextual Education Preparation | 1 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Summer | ||
| IPS 530 | Clinical Pastoral Care Registration | 1 |
| Hours | 1 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| IPS 402 | Church and Mission | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| IPS 579 | Contextual Education Introduction | 1.5 |
| Hours | 10.5 | |
| Spring | ||
| IPS 560 | Liturgical Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 553 | Moral Theology and Christian Ethics | 3 |
| IPS 565 | Pastoral Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 580 | Contextual Education I | 1.5 |
| Hours | 10.5 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| IPS 541 | Liturgy and Christian Sacraments | 3 |
| IPS 403 | Spiritual Paths in World Religions | 3 |
| IPS 581 | Contextual Education II | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| IPS 532 | Social Context of Ministry | 3 |
| IPS 593 | Integration Project | 0 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 74 | |
Accelerated Master's Pathway
Students can take up to 18 credit hours in the senior year with admission to the AMP. These credits are shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| Courses Taken Senior Year, Fall Term | ||
| IPS 417 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| IPS 545 | The Foundations of Christian Spirituality | 3 |
| IPS 570 | Introduction to Theology and Ministry | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| Courses Taken Senior Year, Spring Term | ||
| IPS 416 | Introduction to New Testament | 3 |
| IPS 501 | Advanced Human Relation Skills | 3 |
| IPS 531 | Christian Doctrine | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 1, Fall Term | ||
| IPS 430 | Spiritual Direction Development and Practice | 3 |
| IPS 555 | Human Person and Psychological Development | 3 |
| IPS 564 | Foundations of Pastoral Care | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 1, Spring Term | ||
| IPS 512 | Ethics, Pastoral Counseling, and Spirituality | 3 |
| IPS 572 or IPS 573 |
Ignatian Spirituality or Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius |
3 |
| IPS 578 | Contextual Education Preparation | 1 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Summer | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 1, Summer Term | ||
| IPS 530 | Clinical Pastoral Care Registration | 1 |
| Hours | 1 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 2, Fall Term | ||
| IPS 402 | Church and Mission | 3 |
| IPS 579 | Contextual Education Introduction | 1.5 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 10.5 | |
| Spring | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 2, Spring Term | ||
| IPS 553 | Moral Theology and Christian Ethics | 3 |
| IPS 560 | Liturgical Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 565 | Pastoral Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 580 | Contextual Education I | 1.5 |
| Hours | 10.5 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 3, Fall Term | ||
| IPS 403 | Spiritual Paths in World Religions | 3 |
| IPS 541 | Liturgy and Christian Sacraments | 3 |
| IPS 581 | Contextual Education II | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 3, Spring Term | ||
| IPS 532 | Social Context of Ministry | 3 |
| IPS 593 | Integration Project | 0 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 74 | |
Guidelines for Accelerated Master's Pathways
In Accelerated Master’s Pathways, students share limited, authorized credits between their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Shared credits are Graduate level credit hours (400-level or higher) taken during the Undergraduate career and then applied both to the Undergraduate degree and towards Graduate program requirements.
Admission and Matriculation
Accelerated Master's Pathways are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s Undergraduates. Admission to these programs is competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the Graduate program. Accordingly, the admission requirements for these programs may be higher than those required if the Master’s degree were pursued entirely after the receipt of a Bachelor’s degree.
Students enrolled in an Accelerated Master's Pathway who choose not to continue to the Master’s degree program upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.
Ideally, a student will apply for admission to an AMP program as they approach 90 credit hours in their Undergraduate career.
Students will not officially matriculate into the Master’s degree program and be labeled as a Graduate student by the university, with accompanying changes to tuition and Financial Aid (see below), until the Undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once admitted to the Graduate program, students must meet the academic standing requirements of their Graduate program as they complete the program curriculum.
Advising and Registration
Students in their final Undergraduate year will work with Advising in the home School of their Bachelor's program(s), as well as the Graduate Program Director of the Master’s program. Any 400-level or higher courses that the student plans to enroll in should be reviewed by both advisors to ensure that these courses will complete requirements for both degrees.
Registration in Graduate level courses during the Undergraduate year may require assistance from the Graduate Program Director and/or the student’s current academic advisor to enroll.
Shared Credits
Only courses taken at the 400-level or higher will count toward the Graduate program. At the Undergraduate level, students are restricted to enrolling in and sharing up to the number of Graduate level credits explicitly indicated in the catalog for their selected AMP program.
In general, Graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Master's Pathway. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Master's Pathway is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Program Director, students may take one of their Graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Pathway if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.
Degree Requirements and Conferral
Undergraduate degree requirements are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Master’s Pathway. Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a Graduate program.
The program’s Graduate Program Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and Master’s degree conferral review process. Graduate credit hours taken during the Undergraduate career will not be included in the Graduate GPA calculation.
If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate Program Director will review the relevant syllabus or syllabi to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400-level course or higher.
Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer Graduate curriculum to Undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.
Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of Undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once matriculated in the Graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the Graduate program. Students in these programs must be continuously enrolled from Undergraduate to Graduate degree program unless given explicit permission by their program for a gap year or approved leave of absence. In offering the option of an Accelerated Master’s Pathway, the university is making possible the acceleration of a student’s Graduate degree completion. It should be understood that students may not request deferral of their matriculation into the Master’s degree program. If students would like to delay their Graduate studies after earning the Undergraduate degree, they may apply for admission to the traditional Master’s degree program. Any application of Graduate credit earned while in the Undergraduate program is subject to the policies of the Graduate degree granting school.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
- Ability to interpret pastoral circumstances in relation to scripture, tradition, and human sciences (Theology/Religious Heritage)
- Ability to engage, transform, and/or critique social, economic, political, and ecclesial realities (Cultural Context)
- Ability to engage Christian faith, discipleship, and ministry with interpersonal, spiritual, and ecclesial maturity (Maturity/Personal Formation)
- Ability to discern and describe ministry required by being present to the person and community’s condition (Skills/Ministerial Leadership)
- Ability to construct ministerial vision and formulate strategies for personal and community transformation
- An understanding of key components and considerations for the practice of spiritual direction
- Self-awareness of one's own spirituality as it relates to the ministry and practice of spiritual direction
- Demonstrate professional skills in and for spiritual direction