Catholic health care in the 21st century faces a myriad of challenges. Among the most significant is the need for leaders who understand what it means to be part of the healing ministry of the Church – leaders who can work to ensure the vitality and integrity of the ministry into the future. Meeting this challenge requires Catholic health care leaders who not only grasp the complexities of health care but also have a sound knowledge of the Church’s theological tradition. They must be able to communicate that tradition and influence the future of faith-based health care.

The Master of Arts in Health Care mission exists to prepare current and future leaders for this critical task.

The program offers graduate-level education developing:

• A strong foundation in the Catholic theological tradition particularly as it relates to the Church’s mission of healing;
• The ability to identify and implement organizational activities that sustain and nurture Catholic identity while working to bring about systemic change;
• The ability to help Catholic health ministry think theologically about its future;
• The ability to grapple with complex ethical, legal, organizational and policy issues in light of the Catholic theological tradition;
• The personal and spiritual maturity needed to serve as an effective ministry leader in Catholic health care.

The non-residential, internet-enhanced approach enables students to remain employed for the duration of the program. Periods of online study and conversation are accompanied by “Intensive weekends” in St. Louis midway through each course that bring students and faculty together for dialogue, coursework, attention to spiritual formation, and community building.

How do I apply?

Applicants must possess at least a bachelor’s degree, some experience in health care, and a desire to advance the ministry of Catholic Health Care.

Complete and submit the Application for Admission to the Master of Arts in Health Care Mission Program (816Kb) as an email attachment to admissions@ai.edu.

Miller Analogies Test

All students applying for graduate degree programs at Aquinas Institute of Theology must submit scores of the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). You are responsible for scheduling a test date and having an official copy of your scores sent to the Aquinas Institute Registrar. Most major universities offer the Miller Analogies Test. Call (800) 622-3231 to find a testing center near you, or click on the following links for information:

• General Information
• Information Booklet
• Testing Centers (by State)
• Online Practice Test Site (available for a nominal fee). For your information, a free practice test is included in the information booklet.

For more information about the MA in Health Care Mission, please contact:

• Sr. Jean deBlois, C.S.J., Ph.D., program director
  314.256.8874
  deblois@ai.edu

or

• Office of Admissions
  314.256.8806
  admissions@ai.edu

MAHCM 2011 Cohort Schedule

Course Title	Credit Hours	Course Dates	Intensive Dates in St. Louis (Wed -Sat)
Orientation to Program	N/A		July 20-23, 2011
Proseminar/Introduction to Theology	3	July 31-October 15, 2011	August 24-27, 2011
Bible Interpretation	3	October 30-December 10, 2011 January 1 – Feburary 11, 2012	December 7-10, 2011
Healing in the Scriptures	3	February 26-May 22, 2012	April 18-21, 2012
Foundations of Catholic Morality	3	June 24-September 8, 2012	July 25-28, 2012
Christology	3	September 23-December 15, 2012	October 24-27, 2012
Ecclesiology	3	January 6-March 23, 2013	February 13-16, 2013
Justice and Catholic Social Teaching	3	April 7-June 29, 2013	May 15-18, 2013
Ethical Issues in Health Care and Public Policy	3	August 4-October 19, 2013	September 11-14, 2013
Health Care Ethics	3	November 3-December 14, 2013 January 5-February 15, 2014	December 4-7, 2013
Theology of Ministry	3	March 2-May 24, 2014	April 9-12, 2014
Sacraments for Healing Ministry	3	June 29-September 13, 2014	August 6-9, 2014
Integrative Seminar	3	September 21-December 13, 2014	October 29-November 1, 2014
Total Credits

4 units of Spiritual Formation

The Formative Spirituality Seminar meets for prayer, reflection and study for five hours at the beginning of each Intensive weekend. The focus is on growth in both personal spirituality as well as spirituality for ministry leadership. Program participants are strongly encouraged to engage in regular spiritual direction, to make an annual retreat and to work with the program’s formation directors to set goals related to personal and leadership spirituality and to receive feedback on progress toward those goals over the course of the program.

Program Format

The Master of Arts in Health Care Mission program is a cohort model program. That is, adult learners enroll together and proceed through the entire program as a community, both online and during Intensive weekend sessions in St. Louis.

Students complete three courses per calendar year, allowing completion of the degree within 3½ years.

Technology Requirement

Regular access to a high-end multimedia computer and internet access through a dedicated phone line or other high-speed connection is necessary, because the online component of the program is provided via Blackboard’s Course Info software (www.blackboard.com). All students must have adequate computer proficiency to participate fully in the online portion of each class.

Aquinas automatically enrolls each student in Fisher’s Net Campus, an online learning community for theology and ministry students. Further information is available at www.fishersnet.net.