The Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University is a

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...

within

Santa Clara University Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit university in Santa Clara, California. Established in 1851, Santa Clara University is the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California. The university's campus surrounds the historic Mis ...

and one of the member colleges of the

Graduate Theological Union The Graduate Theological Union (GTU) is a consortium of eight private independent American theological schools and eleven centers and affiliates. Seven of the theological schools are located in Berkeley, California. The GTU was founded in 1962 ...

(GTU) in

Berkeley, California Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland and E ...

. Prior to its merger with Santa Clara University it was known as the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley (JSTB).

Campus

JST is located two blocks north of the

UC Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant uni ...

campus, and about two blocks east of " Holy Hill", the central area of the Graduate Theological Union. JST accepts students who are lay or ordained.

History

Originally established in 1934 at

Los Gatos, California Los Gatos (, ; ) is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population is 33,529 according to the 2020 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area just southwest of San Jose in the foothills of th ...

, as Alma College, JST was founded to serve the needs of the California and Oregon Provinces of the

Society of Jesus , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

. In 1969, the school moved to Berkeley to join the Graduate Theological Union. That same year, its name was changed to the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. JST is one of only two Jesuit-operated theological schools in the United States, the other being

Boston College School of Theology and Ministry The Boston College School of Theology and Ministry (STM) is a Jesuit school of graduate theology at Boston College. It is an ecclesiastical faculty of theology that trains men and women, both lay and religious, for scholarship and service, especi ...

(formerly known as Weston Jesuit School of Theology) in

Brighton, Massachusetts Brighton is a former town and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, located in the northwestern corner of the city. It is named after the English city of Brighton. Initially Brighton was part of Cambridge, and known as " ...

. On 1 July 2009, Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley merged with Santa Clara University, becoming Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. JST is following the lead of

Weston Jesuit School of Theology The Boston College School of Theology and Ministry (STM) is a Jesuit school of graduate theology at Boston College. It is an ecclesiastical faculty of theology that trains men and women, both lay and religious, for scholarship and service, espec ...

which completed its affiliation with

Boston College Boston College (BC) is a private Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Founded in 1863, the university has more than 9,300 full-time undergraduates and nearly 5,000 graduate students. Although Boston College is classified ...

in June 2008, becoming

.Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
Accessed on February 23rd, 2009.

Academic program and accreditation

JST is accredited by the

Western Association of Schools and Colleges The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) was an organization providing accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in California and Hawaii, the territories of Guam, American Sam ...

, the

Association of Theological Schools The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) is an organization of seminaries and other graduate schools of theology. ATS has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. History It was founded in 1918. The as ...

, and by the Vatican's

Congregation for Catholic Education , type = Congregation , seal = Coat of arms Holy See.svg , seal_size = 100px , seal_caption = Coat of arms of the Holy See , logo = , picture =Via della Conciliazione din Roma1.jpg , picture_caption = Palazzo delle Congregazioni in Piazza ...

as a

Pontifical university A pontifical university is an ecclesiastical university established or approved directly by the Holy See, composed of three main ecclesiastical faculties (Theology, Philosophy and Canon Law) and at least one other faculty. These academic institute ...

. In addition to participating in the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program of the

, the JST offers the following degrees: Civil Academic Degrees :* Master of Arts in Theology (MAT) :* Master of Arts in Biblical Languages :* Master of Divinity (M.Div.) :* Master of Theological Studies (MTS)

Pontifical A pontifical ( la, pontificale) is a Christian liturgical book containing the liturgies that only a bishop may perform. Among the liturgies are those of the ordinal for the ordination and consecration of deacons, priests, and bishops to Holy ...

Academic Degrees :* Bachelor of Sacred Theology (STB) :* Licentiate of Sacred Theology (STL) :* Doctor of Sacred Theology (STD)

Notable alumni

Chris Donahue Chris Donahue (born John Christopher Donahue) is an American film and television producer. He began his career as a producer in television news and documentaries, then transitioned to narrative film and television at the American Film Institute ...

(M.Div / Th.M. 1989), Academy Award-winning film producer *

Robert W. McElroy Robert Walter McElroy (born February 5, 1954) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has served as the sixth bishop of San Diego since 2015. McElroy was educated by the Sulpicians at St. Joseph High School Seminary and St. Patri ...

( S.T.L. 1985), American Roman Catholic Cardinal designate; sixth bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego The Diocese of San Diego is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Southern California, United States. Its ecclesiastical territory includes all of San Diego and Imperial Counties in Southern California, wi ...

References

External links