Master of Theological Studies

Student Profiles

Troy Anthony Stefano

Your area of concentration and expected graduation date:
I am a second year MTS Student in the History of Christianity, and expect to graduate in May 2010.

Degree and college you attended before ND, and any jobs you had between graduation and coming to ND:
As preparation for my graduate work at Notre Dame, I completed a BA in History at St. Thomas University (Miami, FL) and attended the University of Chicago and University of Miami for two years as a Graduate Student-at-Large for Classical and Modern Languages, Philosophy, and Theology.

What attracted you to the MTS program:
The main features that attracted me to the MTS are: the faculty, resources, program structure, interdepartmental availability, academic rigor, Catholic identity, and openness to faith-based theological inquiry.

Greatest Strengths of the MTS Program:
The faculty members are very approachable and are truly top-notch scholars in their respective fields of specialization – many of which not only hold the title of one of the most renown and established scholars in his or her area of expertise, but are also living paradigms of men and women who attempt to live out their lives in the spirit of fides quaerens intellectum (faith seeking understanding). The program structure maintains a great balance of breadth and specialization; it allows much room for personalization. In my case, for example, the program structure allowed me to not only gain a background in the different areas of theological study (Biblical, Liturgical, Moral, Systematic, and Historical), but to also pursue a background in my broad interests in the development of Christian thought and the history of philosophy. Further, this structural flexibility allows students to make full use of the programs resources, which in my case meant studying as much Greek and Latin as possible. In my first semester as an MTS student two of my professors met with me on a one-on-one basis every week outside of class to read the course texts in the original language. It was truly a great experience. Before entering this program, I could never have imagined world famous scholars taking the time to read these texts with me on a one-on-one basis. This experience, though just one of many, really captures the quality of professor in the Theology Department at Notre Dame. It has been my experience that the faculty members possess this one quality that makes them incredibly impacting: they’re human. One can stop in their offices to ask them how they’re doing; and they, with equal sincerity and concern, will return the question.

Greatest challenge since beginning the MTS:
Balancing one’s workload. My special talent for overloading myself is as much a tribute to my zealousness as it is to Notre Dame’s incredible course offerings. One great feature of the MTS is that it allows its students to take Doctoral level courses – most of which require a seminar paper in addition to other work throughout the semester. In my first year, I took three doctoral level courses (two seminars and one advanced ancient language) and quickly learned that planning ahead for one’s research projects, staying on top of one’s readings and translation tasks, and getting sufficient sleep, are three key ingredients for performing successfully.