Any man interested in becoming a Permanent Deacon should contact the Clergy Life and Ministry Office of the Archdiocese of Detroit for information about the application process and formation. Academic preparation for those pursuing ordination as Permanent Deacons is accomplished through the courses of study at SHMS. Prospective students should contact the Institute for Ministry regarding the academic admissions process and the following curricula. Men aspiring to the Permanent Diaconate need to do pre-requisite course work in pastoral ministry during their time of discernment. Permanent Diaconal Formation Students must meet both the academic requirements of SHMS and the formational requirements of the Permanent Diaconate Program.

Undergraduate Academic Program
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Basic Undergraduate Diploma in Pastoral Ministry
Prerequisite for the Undergraduate Intermediate Diploma in Diaconal Studies

* This course is not offered on site at SHMS but can be taken through the Detroit Area Catholic Higher Education Consortium or through applied transfer credits, subject to transfer credit guidelines. 

***PHL 400 Philosophical Foundations I may be substituted. PHL 242 (Modern Philosophy) may be substituted if the student has previous academic experience in philosophy and with permission of the instructor.

Program Requirements

1. A minimum of 27 credits must be earned through completion of the course of study.
2. A minimum of 14 semester hours of credit must be earned at SHMS.
3. The student must maintain a C average (2.0).
4. The student must participate in 3 (three) formation sessions during the course of study.*
   1. Discernment
   2. Theological Reflection
   3. Spiritual Direction
5. The student must participate in an assessment process at the time of graduation.

* Student may substitute formational sessions that take place in the permanent diaconate program.

Undergraduate Intermediate Diploma in Diaconal Studies

Program Requirements

1. A minimum of 40 credit hours must be earned through completion of the course of study.
2. The student must maintain a C average (2.0).
3. A minimum of 21 semester hours of credit must be earned at SHMS.
4. The student must participate in an assessment process of the program.

Graduate Academic Program

Aspirants for the permanent diaconate who wish to study at the graduate level must fulfill admission requirements for the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies degree.

Admissions process and requirements for the M.A.P.S. degree

Program requirements for the M.A.P.S.

Course of Study

Courses usually taken during the three years of Diaconate Formation
EV/PMSP 680	Pastoral Care Across Cultures	2 cr
ST 650	Trinitarian and Christological Foundations of the Christian Faith	3 cr
ST 6351	Nature and Mission of the Church	2 cr
ST 675	Foundations of Christian Moral Life	3 cr
AT/PM 550	Church Law for Parish Ministers	2 cr
SS 525	Synoptics	3 cr
SS 625	Pauline Literature	3 cr
LS/ST 575	The Sacramental Life of the Church	2 cr
PM 625	Diaconal Homiletics Practicum	3 cr
THE 340	Church History	3 cr*
MNS 228	Introduction to Pastoral Counseling	2 cr*
MNS 271	Pastoral Catechetics	2 cr*
AT/PM 615	Liturgical Practicum	2 cr
IS 891	Supervised Ministry	2 cr
IS 895	MAPS Reflection Seminar (taken at the same time with IS 891)	2 cr

Courses usually taken after Ordination
SP 735	History of Spirituality	3 cr
PM 520	Dynamics of Parish Leadership	2 cr
LS/EV 645	Sacraments of Initiation	2 cr

Suggested Courses for Continuing Education**
AT/LS 746	Sacrament of Marriage and Law (for those who wish to be certified as Procurator-Advocates by the Tribunal)	3 cr
SS 621	Johannine Literature	3 cr