Master of Theological Studies
Student Profiles
Karen Celano
MTS in History of Christianity, second year
Schools attended and degrees attained before MTS
I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and philosophy from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
What attracted you to the MTS program
Obviously, Notre Dame offers great financial support, a wonderful faculty, and unbeatable academic resources. What really made Notre Dame stand out for me, however, was the true spirit of collegiality that permeates the program. The professors are all genuinely enthusiastic about working and learning with their students, and the students are welcoming and cooperative. Such an atmosphere of collaboration makes studying theology not only more exciting but also more challenging, as we are pushed to examine and re-examine our thoughts and ideas from as many perspectives as possible.
The greatest strengths of the MTS program
One of the greatest strengths of the MTS program is the diversity of interests among the faculty and students. No matter how obscure your interests may be, you will be able to find someone here who shares them and who will encourage you to pursue and develop your own unique perspective. The professors here truly believe in their students’ abilities to contribute something special to the study of theology, and they encourage all voices to be heard.
Furthermore, the quality and enthusiasm of the faculty means that it’s practically guaranteed you won’t take a class that you won’t enjoy. Even classes outside of your own field of study about which you may not be particularly excited will often surprise you by becoming your favorite class that semester! The MTS program encourages developing well-rounded theologians who are capable of thinking theologically on multiple levels and from many varying perspectives. It’s amazing to look back and see how much my thinking has matured and grown since I’ve been here.
Your greatest challenges since coming to the MTS Program
My greatest challenge so far has been trying to decide what I want to do with my degree! The program has been so exciting that it has opened up possibilities I had never foreseen. My academic interests have been so greatly expanded that I’m now finding it difficult to decide what I want to study in a PhD program.
Employment opportunities have you pursued while in the program
I worked as a TA for one semester, but that’s the only paid employment I’ve had while I was here. Being a TA is a wonderful experience and I’d encourage everyone to do it! The academic program, however, is very rigorous, so I wouldn’t recommend seeking too demanding of a job outside of your studies.
Your housing situation
I lived at the Fischer Graduate Residences for my first year, and for my second I lived off-campus in an apartment complex in Mishawaka. Off-campus housing is less expensive (and much more comfortable) than living on-campus, but the lower cost must be balanced against the conveniences (e.g., proximity to the campus and its resources) of living on-campus, as well as the social life it offers.
Other thoughts that you have about South Bend, ND, the program
South Bend is full of surprises: for such a little city, there are always fabulous little gems to discover – new restaurants and shops to explore, new events and festivals to attend. Notre Dame always finds ways to entertain and educate their students, and the many concerts and lectures make the campus very culturally and academically rich. South Bend is certainly not the most ideal place to live – especially in the winter – but there is plenty to do, see, and learn that will keep you busy! I would, however, highly recommend bringing a car no matter where you live – being able to get around will make your life so much better!
Finally, I would just encourage everyone who comes to take full advantage of everything the program and the university have to offer. Take the free summer language courses, take the funding for summer coursework, go to lectures and concerts, get involved in the community. After four semesters here, I find that I wish there were more to look forward to! So milk the program for all it’s worth.