Our programs develop insight into Catholic wisdom, both pastoral and theological, as well as facilitate practical or administrative practices within each student's particular ministry.

Community of Learners with Effective Distance-Learning

An experienced pioneer in pastoral education, the Institute is a learning community of faith. Professors and students ardently practice the Roman Catholic faith.

Creative and accessible professors lead by example and clarify by theory. Faculty are drawn from pastoral and academic environments throughout the United States and hold the highest academic credentials. Our faculty are active clerical and lay ministers in the Roman Catholic Church. Students present a remarkable zeal for an informed faith and contribute diverse experiences that include, but are not limited to, pastoral care, religious education, youth ministry, campus ministry, teaching, ecclesiastical administration, and liturgical ministries. 

Since 1986 our Institute in Pastoral Ministries has aided 296 men and women from 34 states and provinces with Catholic doctrine, theology, and pastoral skills for their local church.

Communication between students, professors and administrators is essential in all aspects of the program. Email, telephone, and the internet-based Blackboard Learning System™ provide an array of tools to sustain the learning faith-community established in summer residencies. Students gain access to Blackboard upon admission.

Typical Daily Schedule in Residency

7:00 a.m.     Breakfast
7:45 a.m.     Morning Prayer
8:15 a.m.     Class period 1
9:45 a.m.     Break
10:00 a.m.  Class period 2
11:45 a.m.  Lunch
1:15 p.m.    Class period 3
2:45 p.m.    Break
3:00 p.m.    Class period 4
4:30 p.m.    Evening Prayer or Eucharist
5:00 p.m.    Dinner
6:30 p.m.    Class period 5
9:00 p.m.    Night prayer

Academic Highlights

The Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries includes the Integrated Pastoral Research project that correlates theology and Catholic doctrine with the pastoral situation and imagination of each student.

Participants in the Master of Arts in Pastoral Administration conclude their studies with PM 655 Readings and Research in Pastoral Administration, a course that focuses on theological and administrative literature relevant to an administrative or human resources issue of personal interest.

The Graduate Certificate in Canon Law is designed for persons who do not seek a pontifical degree in canon law (JCL, JCD) but seek canonical knowledge for administrative and pastoral duties, general knowledge of church teaching, or to enhance one’s pastoral ministry. It is taught by nationally recognized experts in canon law who are also pastorally astute and effective in the classroom.

Both programs for the Professional Certificate require participation in the two-week residency and completion of preparatory reading and writing; certificate students are not required to do post-residency research, the Integrated Pastoral Research project, or Readings and Research in Pastoral Administration.

Writing Center

The IPM Writing Center provides yearlong resources to help students write more effectively for pastoral service. Students can bring drafts of papers for review, call with questions about technicalities of writing, or seek help in changing bad writing habits. Students can call Writing Center staff on an 800-number as well as visit the center by appointment before, during, and after summer residency.