FAQs

Gonzaga University’s Master of Arts in Theology and Leadership program empowers graduates to explore their faith and to lead in their communities. Designed for working professionals, this program combines theological reflection and leadership formation.

You will find answers to our most frequently asked questions below.

For Additional Questions:

Britt Stone
Call or Text: (509) 313-6235
Email: stoneb@gonzaga.edu
Schedule an Appointment

General Questions:

Jesuits have been educating people since 1540 with a focus on the whole person, not just your mind. St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, realized that his order could have a much greater impact on the world if the Jesuit’s mission was not restricted to he and his companions alone. In founding schools, the early Jesuits sought to form students in ways that encouraged them imagine how they might work “for the greater glory of God” (ad majorem Dei gloriam) by serving the common good of society in their respective professions and fields.

Jesuit education today continues this mission through a commitment to the service of faith and the promotion of justice, the education of the whole person and academic rigor.

Gonzaga was founded in 1887 and continues to pursue a mission of educating leaders with the capacity for reflective and critical thought in service of the common good. Gonzaga's graduate programs offer you the opportunity to pursue a degree that strives to educate you - intellectually, spiritually, physically and emotionally.

Our program meets the certification requirements to become a Board Certified Chaplain with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) and is an official education collaborator with the NACC.

Our program also meets the educational requirements of the the Association of Certified Christian Chaplains and the American Correctional Chaplains Association, among board certifying bodies.

Once a student completes the MA in Theology and Leadership degree at Gonzaga, they are eligible to seek certification as long as they meet all other requirements of the associations.

The program welcomes all lifelong learners seeking to deepen their faith and inspire others both intellectually and spiritually, regardless of one’s faith tradition. While the program is grounded in Gonzaga’s founding Catholic and Jesuit traditions, it is committed to ecumenism and inclusion of all students. The MATL has a rich history of welcoming students belonging to a wide array of faith communities as well as students who do not formally belong to any particular faith community.

Graduate students may transfer credits into the MATL program with the approval of their Department Chair, the Dean of the student’s program and the Registrar’s Office. A maximum of 1/5 of program credits (usually 6 semester credits for graduate level students) may be transferred.

Course work must be distinctively graduate level and must have been taken within the last five years.
A minimum grade of a B (P grades must be defined as B or better) must be earned.
Courses previously applied to a completed degree are not transferable to the student’s current program.

It is important to note that all credits are converted to semester credits and are awarded after signatures have been obtained.

The program prepares students for work in a variety of fields. For example. alumni have successfully pursued leadership positions in non-profit, charitable, or other mission-focused work such as healthcare; ministry in a parish, congregational, campus, or diocesan settings; chaplaincy; and leadership and teaching positions in education.

Some graduates have gone on to pursue a doctoral degree in ministry or theology. Many students have completed the program to enrich the work to which they are already committed in fields such as social work, law, medicine and nursing, finance, and civil and public service.

The Course Experience:

This program is designed for working professionals with the majority of coursework completely asynchronously online, so you can maintain your work and family life. We also take community-building seriously. You will have substantial interaction with your instructors and classmates online and of course, during the immersion experiences. Class sizes and cohorts are kept small to further foster the program’s learning community.

The summer immersion experiences are central to the program. You will participate in an on-campus orientation during your first summer. In the second summer, you participate in the Theology and Leadership Institute. This event provides you the opportunity to meet experienced professionals in mission and ministry fields and to hone practical leadership skills in a workshop environment. Students say the summer immersion experience is one of the best parts of the program.

This will vary, depending on the courses you are taking, your learning style and your course load. We find that students commit on average 10-15 hours per week towards coursework. This may fluctuate. During a week with a major paper or project due, you might spend more time on coursework than other weeks. What remains true is that you will get out of this program what you put into it.

The Student Services team is available to answer your questions and connect you to the resources you need. You will also be assigned a faculty advisor to help guide you with your academic goals. You will have access to all of Gonzaga’s resources including:

Foley Library
IT Help Desk
Career Center
Grad Student Association
Disability Access
University Ministry

Scholarships, Tuition Discounts & Reductions:

Tuition is based on the cost of a credit. You can find the current credit rate on our tuition and financing page.

Gonzaga is committed to keeping this program affordable and cost per credit is offered at a significantly reduced rate.

As a graduate student you are only billed for the credits you are enrolled, for example during a full Fall semester you would be billed for 6 credits.

Tuition does not include additional fees, books or travel for immersions.

Yes, the Master's in Theology and Leadership Program awards scholarships for students, in fact in 2025 100% of incoming students received some form of scholarship funding.

You can also search for other scholarship opportunities with community groups, non profits and businesses.

In addition, Gonzaga’s Financial Aid Office maintains a database of outside scholarships.

Program information is subject to change.

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General Questions:

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FAQs

For Additional Questions:

General Questions:

Why choose a Jesuit education?

How many times do I need to come to campus?

How long are the courses?

How long does it take to complete the program?

Is Gonzaga’s Master's in Theology and Leadership program accredited?

Do I have to be ordained or seeking ordination to be in this program?

Do I need to have a religious studies undergraduate degree (or similar)?

Will I obtain ordination through this program?

Will this program help me become a chaplain?

Do I need to be Catholic to attend the program?

Can I transfer into the program?

What jobs do graduates pursue?

The Course Experience:

Is this program online or on-campus?

How many times do I need to come to campus?

Why are there required visits to Spokane for an Immersion?

What is a cohort model and why is it used?

Who will be teaching my classes?

How much time is required per week to be successful in the program?

What type of support services will I receive?

Scholarships, Tuition Discounts & Reductions:

Is there a tuition reduction?

What is the cost of tuition?

Are there scholarship available?