Educational Effectiveness

Aquinas Institute of Theology measures its educational effectiveness by evaluating degree program outcomes through a course-embedded assessment process for all of its academic programs. Educational effectiveness in all programs also is assessed in terms of average time of completion for graduation.

Aquinas Institute of Theology is hosting a comprehensive evaluation visit for reaffirmation of accreditation by the ATS Commission on Accrediting on February 9-12, 2026. The purpose of this visit is to verify that the school meets all applicable Commission Standards of Accreditation. Comments regarding how well the school meets those standards and/or generally demonstrates educational quality may be sent to accrediting@ats.edu at least two weeks before the visit. Comments may also or instead be sent via email to Dr. Brian Matz (matz@ai.edu). All comments will be shared with the onsite evaluation committee.

Degree Program Outcomes (DPOs)

Master of Arts in Theology (MA)

DPO 1

Communicate accurately, effectively, and systematically the theological tradition of the Roman Catholic Church so as to preach, teach, write, or provide a leadership of service to others in response to present-day needs and concerns.

Course Designated to Measure DPO 1: Church History I or II

DPO 2

Analyze, assess, and articulate a wide range of theological positions and texts - past and present - in order to express Christian and Dominican tradition in a way that is faithful to its foundations and sensitive to the concerns of the present day.

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 2: Introduction to Theology and Biblical Interpretation

DPO 3

Evaluate and assess present-day and historical situations, concerns, struggles, and debates in light of the broader Christian tradition in order to enter into important contemporary conversations - via research, writing, teaching, preaching, and/or pastoral ministry - in a way that is sensitive toward people of other contexts, including but not limited to other cultures, perspectives, denominations, religions, or political views.

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 3: Proseminar and Christology

DPO 4

Engage in theological dialogue with others in a professional, constructive manner through collaborative work with peers; through detailed, open, and inclusive research of a broad range of scholarly sources; and through professional-grade writing and publication.

Course Designated to Measure DPO 4: Foundations of Catholic Morality

DPO 5

Critically integrate, evaluate, and build upon a broad range of perspectives, concepts, and/or theological/philosophical frameworks for teaching, research, study, prayer, and/or ministry, demonstrating the ability to apply theological learning to practical problems, questions, and challenges.

Program Requirement Designated to Measure DPO 5: MA Thesis

Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS)

DPO 1

Communicate accurately, effectively, and systematically the theological tradition and the pastoral practice of the Roman Catholic Church so as to preach, teach, write, or provide a leadership of service to others in response to present-day needs and concerns.

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 1: Ecclesiology and Church History I or II

DPO 2

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 2: Introduction to Theology and Biblical Interpretation

DPO 3

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 3: Proseminar and Christology

DPO 4

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 4: Theology of Worship and Foundations of Catholic Morality

DPO 5

Course Designated to Measure DPO 5: Foundations of Pastoral and Ethical Care

DPO 6

Provide competent pastoral service and/or leadership to individuals and communities to respond collaboratively to practical problems, questions, and challenges through an integrated knowledge of theology and a process of reflection on current concerns.

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 6: Supervised Practice of Ministry I & II

Master of Divinity (MDiv)

DPO 1

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 1: Ecclesiology and Church History I or II

DPO 2

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 2: Introduction to Theology and Biblical Interpretation

DPO 3

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 3: Proseminar and Christology

DPO 4

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 4: Theology of Worship and Foundations of Catholic Morality

DPO 5

Course Designated to Measure DPO 5: Foundations of Pastoral and Ethical Care

DPO 6

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 6: Supervised Practice of Ministry I & II and Pastoral Year

DPO 7

Demonstrate a commitment to pursuing the Truth of Jesus Christ as embraced in the Order of Preachers by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the Church and for the world.

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 7: Foundations of Preaching I & II

Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology with a Specialization in Health Care Mission (MAPT)

DPO 1

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 1: Church History I & II

DPO 2

Course Designated to Measure DPO 2: Contemporary Issues in Health Care Ethics

DPO 3

Course Designated to Measure DPO 3: Christology

DPO 4

Course Designated to Measure DPO 4: Foundations of Catholic Morality

DPO 5

Program Requirement Designated to Measure DPO 5: MAPT-HCM Integrative Paper

DPO 8

Integrate Catholic theology - including ecclesiology, moral theology, and biblical theology - within a health care organization in a manner that displays organizational competency, sensitivity to pluralistic contexts, and (especially) promotion of Catholic identity and mission within the organization.

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 8: Formation for Health Care Mission Leaders I & II

Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies - Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (MAPS-CGS)

MAPS-CGS DPO 1

Communicate simply, accurately, and effectively the theological tradition of the Roman Catholic Church through the ministries of leadership, catechesis, pastoral care, and writing with particular attention to the spiritual insights of children.

Course Designated to Measure DPO 1: Introduction to Theology and Christology & Christian Anthropology

MAPS-CGS DPO 2

Analyze, assess, and articulate a wide range of magisterial and theological texts - with particular attention to the scriptural and liturgical traditions of the Church - in order to express the Christian and Dominican traditions in a way that is faithful to their foundations and sensitive to the concerns of the present day.

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 2: Theology of Worship and Christian Scriptures

MAPS-CGS DPO 3

Evaluate and assess present-day and historical situations, concerns, struggles, and debates in light of the broader Christian tradition in order to enter into important contemporary conversations and towards practical applications - via research, writing, teaching, preaching, pastoral ministry, and/or catechesis - in a way that is sensitive toward the child and people of other contexts, including but not limited to other cultures, perspectives, denominations, religions, or political views.

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 3: Foundations of Pastoral & Ethical Care and Contemporary Issues in Sacramental Theology

MAPS-CGS DPO 4

Engage in theological dialogue with others in a professional, constructive manner through the practice of collaborative ministry which honors the gifts of the community and the practice of critical, systematic theological refleciton.

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 4: Proseminar and Supervised Practice of Ministry

MAPS-CGS DPO 5

Analyze, access, address, and communicate the spiritual needs of the child accurately, effectively, and aligned with the theological and pedagogical approach of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Coursework Designated to Measure DPO 5: Level I Album Feedback and Level III Album Feedback

MAPS-CGS DPO 6

Demonstrate integrative growth in the areas of spiritual, human, intellectual, and pastoral development.

Courses Designated to Measure DPO 6: Integrative Seminar and Spiritual Formation VIII

Doctor of Ministry in Preaching (DMin)

DMin DPO 1

Personal and spiritual maturity, deepening one's sense of vocational calling and honing skills for self-directed learning and peer collaboration in service to the living Word of God

Curriculum Designated to Measure DPO 1: Theology of Preaching and Mid-Program Self-Assessment

DMin DPO 2

In-depth cultural competency, preaching the Gospel in ecclesial and cultural context through the integration of prayer, sound biblical hermeneutics and theology, astute attention to the listener, good use of religious imagery and storytelling, a clear call for an ethical response to the Gospel, liturgical sensitivity, and good communication skills

Curriculum Designated to Measure DPO 2: Core Homiletic Seminar and Core Homiletic Research Seminar

DMin DPO 3

Advanced theological integration, pursuing truth by engaging in the Church's homiletic tradition and its literature in dialogue with systematic and practical theology, biblical studies, church history, liturgy, and pertinent allied disciplines

Curriculum Designated to Measure DPO 3: Theology of Preaching, Biblical Hermeneutics & Preaching, History & Preaching, and Liturgy & Preaching

DMin DPO 4

Leadership capacity in the practice of preaching, addressing a particular problem or opportunity in the practice of preaching with a pastoral intervention and a written thesis project employing tools of qualitative or quantitative research and contributing new learning in service to the praxis of preaching in the Church

Curriculum Designated to Measure DPO 4: Final Thesis Proposal and Thesis Project

DPO Assessment

Aquinas Institute assesses DPOs by identifying specific courses that can suitably measure the various outcomes. The instructor provides the students with an assignment for this evaluation and prepares the appropriate rubrics. Upon completion of the assignment, the instructor will measure the assignment by means of the designated rubrics, using a 5-point scale (1-5). The instructor then submits to the Assessment Committee the score for each student's assignment and an aggregate score for the entire course.

Sample Rubric (Master's Program)

Course: Foundations of Pastoral and Ethical Care

Assignment: Paper on Theology of Suffering

DPO #5: Critically integrate, evaluate, and build upon a broad range of perspectives, concepts, and/or ministry, demonstrating the ability to apply theological learning to practical problems, questions, and challenges.

5. Excellent Achievement	4. Good Achievement	3. Adequate Achievement	2. Less than Adequate	1. Unsatisfactory
Clearly articulate and discuss suffering from a variety (4-5) of theological and pastoral perspectives	Articulate and discuss suffering from a variety (2-3) of theological and pastoral perspectives	Discuss suffering from a limited (1-2) theological and pastoral perspective	Limited discussion on suffering from a theological and pastoral perspectives	No discussion of suffering from a theological and pastoral perspective
Discuss 4-5 pastoral implications in relation to the above perspectives	Discuss 3-4 pastoral implications in relation to the above perspectives	Discuss 2-3 pastoral implications in relation to the above perspectives	Discuss 1-2 pastoral implications in relation to the above perspectives	No discussion of pastoral implications in relation to the above perspectives
Provide 3-4 examples of helpful ways to provide pastoral care based on one's ministerial setting to those who are dealing with life's difficulties	Provide 2-3 examples of helpful ways to provide pastoral care based on one's ministerial setting to those who are dealing with life's difficulties	Provide 1-2 examples of helpful ways to provide pastoral care based on one's ministerial setting to those who are dealing with life's difficulties	Prove 0-1 example of helpful ways to provide pastoral care based on one's ministerial setting to those who are dealing with life's difficulties	Provide no example or (no discussion) of helpful ways to provide pastoral care based on one's ministerial setting to those who are dealing with life's difficulties

Grading:

Student Name	Rubric 1 Score	Rubric 2 Score	Rubric 3 Score	Average
Student 1	4	5	5	4.7
Student 2	5	4	4	4.3
Student 3	5	3	4	4.0
Student 4	5	4	5	4.7
Student 5	3	4	3	3.3
Course Average				4.2

Sample Rubric (Doctoral Program)

Course: Theology of Preaching

Assignment: Operative Theology of Preaching Term Paper

DPO #3: Advanced theological integration, pursuing truth by engaging the Church's homiletic tradition and its literature in dialogue with systematic and practical theology, biblical studies, church history, liturgy, and pertinent allied disciplines.

5. Excellent Achievement	4. Good Achievement	3. Adequate Achievement	2. Less than Adequate	1. Unsatisfactory
Demonstrates critical understanding of course readings in-class interactions and integrates multiples readings in the term paper with further reference to relevant theological sources beyond course readings	Demonstrates critical understanding of course readings in-class interactions and integrates multiple readings in the term paper	Demonstrates having done the reading with active engagement in-class interactions and some critical reference to readings in term paper	Limited participation in class interactions about readings and little reference to readings in term paper	Minimal evidence of reading in-class interactions and no minimal meaningful reference to readings in term paper
Term paper demonstrates insight and the critical appropriation of theological concepts of the course in relation to lived preaching experience and with creative use of integrating image or metaphor	Term paper demonstrates insight and the critical appropriation of theological concepts of the assignment in relation to lived preaching experience	Paper demonstrates a foundational grasp of theological concepts of the course in terms of lived preaching experience	Paper misrepresents some of the theological concepts of the course or fails to apply these concepts to lived preaching experience	Paper does not engage with the theological concepts of the course or with lived preaching experience

Grading:

Student Name	Rubric 1 Score	Rubric 2 Score	Average
Student 1	4	5	4.5
Student 2	5	4	4.5
Student 3	5	3	4.0
Student 4	4	4	4.0
Student 5	3	4	3.5
Course Average			4.1

DPO Scores, Fall 2021 to Present

The following chart documents the DPO scores since AY 21-22. Given the cyclical (2-yr or 3-yr) nature of our courses, a DPO category can be blank for a given semester. Thus, e.g., during Spring 2023, no courses were offered that fell under the DPO 1 reporting requirement. DPO scores of 3.0-3.9 document that students in the courses are meeting faculty expectations. DPO scores of 4.0-5.0 document that students in the courses are exceeding faculty expectations.