Pastoral Studies Online Bilingual MA

About the Bilingual MA Program in Pastoral Studies at Loyola

Congregations and communities have a growing need for culturally competent, multilingual leaders. This need is particularly prominent in the United States, which has one of the world's largest Spanish-speaking populations. Whether you are currently working in a Spanish ministry, discerning a call to serve, or envisioning work with Spanish-speaking populations, you will find Loyola University Chicago's bilingual pastoral studies program essential to your career and your life.

Delivered almost exclusively in Spanish and examining the unique challenges multilingual communities face, the Online Bilingual MA in Pastoral Studies program prepares you to live out your calling for ministerial service in bicultural communities. Learn how to broaden your impact as a spiritual leader and build strong connections within Spanish-speaking communities in this one-of-a-kind pastoral studies program.

Program Structure

The Bilingual Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS) in Spanish is a part-time, fully online program designed to be completed in two years, including summer sessions. Of your courses, 75% in the bilingual MAPS program are delivered in Spanish. To enter the program, you must be proficient or fluent in both Spanish and English.

Why Choose Loyola for Your Spanish Ministry Degree?

At Loyola, you will join a truly distinctive theology master's program that prepares you for ministerial service across the U.S. and the world. From a long history of producing exceptional Catholic leaders to our accomplished multicultural faculty, Loyola's program offers excellent training in Spanish ministry.

Multicultural voices

Get the perspectives and wisdom of ministers and theologians who are from (or working in) Spanish-speaking communities. Our faculty members bring diverse, multidisciplinary backgrounds and experiences to the classroom, enriching your bilingual education and helping you think critically about modern theological issues.

Balance your studies, work, and social responsibilities. In addition to completing your bilingual MA in pastoral studies in an online format, you will take no more than two courses per semester. Synchronous courses meet in the afternoons or evenings to help accommodate your work schedule and feature students and teachers from around the world. Asynchronous courses allow you to complete coursework on your own time.

Develop as a whole person. The Loyola program integrates theological and pastoral formation in four fundamental areas to help you better serve as a spiritual leader locally and globally. These areas include human, spiritual, intellectual, and ministerial formation.

Learn Spanish ministry at an institution with Jesuit values at its center. Our program is rooted in service, reflection, justice, and other values of Jesuit tradition, equipping you to become an ethical leader and respond to contemporary pastoral challenges.

Gain skills applicable to a wide variety of roles and settings. With our commitment to Christian values and doctrine, the bilingual online MA in Pastoral Studies prepares you to work in religious institutions across the world. You also will be prepared to work in numerous other settings, including nonprofits, community centers, government agencies, and other organizations that serve Spanish-speaking populations.

Apply what you have learned to ministerial contexts. Loyola's pastoral studies courses, combined with a final integration project, require you to critically examine how to integrate the four aspects of our program into your daily ministry.

Meet the Faculty

Loyola is proud to have talented and nationally-recognized scholar-teachers as part of our diverse community of exceptional faculty, students and staff. Loyola faculty are known for their commitment to teaching, the dissemination of knowledge through innovative and interdisciplinary scholarly research, and a commitment to social justice and cura personalis, or care for the whole person. Visit the Institute of Pastoral Studies faculty and staff directory to learn more about the teachers and mentors involved with the Pastoral Studies Online Bilingual MA program.

Faculty and Staff

Loyola Stories

Curriculum and Program Outcomes

While courses for the Pastoral Studies Online Bilingual MA program may vary from semester to semester, Loyola’s extensive Academic Catalog will always house the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies, degree requirements, and specialization or concentration options.

Additionally, this resource will provide Pastoral Studies Online Bilingual MA learning outcomes, showcasing the commitment to specific skills and growth graduates can expect to achieve following completion of the program.

2024-2025 Catalog
Browse Academic Catalog

Costs, Scholarships, and Aid

Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your graduate and professional studies a reality. Our Cost & Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education.

If you are a current Loyola undergraduate or recent alum, you may be eligible for a Returning Rambler discount. Learn more and see if you qualify on our Returning Rambler Scholarship page.

Tuition and Costs

The estimated tuition and fees for the Pastoral Studies Online Bilingual MA totals $18720.00, or 36 credit hours at a cost of $520.00 per credit hour. Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.

For more detailed information about tuition and fees, and a breakdown of how these costs are calculated on a yearly basis, please visit Tuition and Fees from the Office of the Bursar.

Pastoral Studies Online Bilingual MA Scholarships

Ofrecemos asistencia Financiera:

Haciendo Caminos Fellowship: (100% colegiatura, cuotas, libros), para quienes hayan nacido o crecido en EUA, y estén involucrados o tengan planes de involucrarse en el ministerio hispano en EUA, menores de 39 años.

Match Grant: aquellos estudiantes que sean patrocinados por una organización sin fines de lucro, tales como parroquias y diócesis, ofrecemos una compensación hasta del 30% de lo colegiatura.

Estamos a sus órdenes para más información: Felipe de J. Legarreta, PhD, flegarr@everyvoicemattersatl.com.

Institute of Pastoral Studies Financial Aid & Scholarships

More information about financial aid opportunities can be found on the Institute of Pastoral Studies Financial Aid page.

Appointments and Events

Whether you’re just beginning your search, in the midst of the application process, or eager to explore our graduate and professional programs, our admissions staff is here to assist you every step of the way.

Schedule an Appointment

The Institute of Pastoral Studies offers graduate open houses, information sessions, individual appointments, open Zoom and text sessions, and a multitude of other ways to get to know us better.

View all Events

Visit and Connect With Us

With our visit opportunities, you can tour our beautiful Chicago campuses and learn more about Loyola's ties to one of the most prestigious cities in the world.

Institute of Pastoral Studies
To explore the Institute of Pastoral Studies digitally, follow us on social or read up on our recent news below.
News and Stories

Application Process

Application Deadlines

The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the Pastoral Studies Online Bilingual MA are listed below. Please keep in mind that both the application and the required materials must be submitted by the specified deadline.

Summer: April 1

Application Requirements

Application requirements for the Pastoral Studies Online Bilingual MA include:

  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended

  • 2 Letters of Recommendation

  • Statement of Purpose

Prerequisite Standing Requirements

Applicants must have fluency in both English and Spanish languages

Statement of Purpose Details

Please submit a 1,500-word essay describing your personal, educational, professional, and ministerial background and how these have prepared you for the specific MA or Certificate program for which you have applied. In your essay, also address the following:

  • Prior undergraduate or graduate study in theology or philosophy, if any

  • The ways in which your professional life and any volunteer service have emphasized spiritually, community and social justice

  • A theological book(s) that has helped to shape your understanding of your proposed vocation and course of study

  • Your vision of ministry, your strengths relative to this vocation, significant influences on your faith life (including minsterial mentors or role models), and the professional context in which you see yourself working upon completion of your program

  • Why you are choosing to pursue this degree at Loyola's IPS

Official Documents

Official transcripts are those that are sent directly by the college/university to Loyola University Chicago. Transcripts sent by the student to Loyola are considered unofficial documents, and while they may be utilized for initial review of your application, official transcripts are still required. Official documents should be sent by the institution to gradapp@everyvoicemattersatl.com.

International Applicant Requirements

An official English language proficiency exam is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. If you have non-U.S. educational credentials, you are required to submit an official transcript evaluation. The transcript evaluation cannot be waived.

Please visit our International Applicant Requirements page for specific information regarding the application process for international students.

International Applicant Requirements
Start Your Application

Applying online to the Pastoral Studies Online Bilingual MA program is a swift, uncomplicated, and cost-free process. After submission, you can proceed to send and upload any additional requirements.

APPLY TODAY
Request Information
Loading...