Master of Theological Studies

Student Profiles

Stephen Meniccuci
MTS Student in Systematic Theology, Graduating Spring 2006

Schools attended and degrees attained before MTS
Santa Clara University, B.A. in Philosophy and English

What attracted you to the MTS program
Notre Dame’s MTS program allows a lot more coursework in place of a thesis requirement, and I knew I would prefer covering more material over the course of the two years.  This was especially attractive to me because of my interest in teaching at a Catholic high school after graduation.  The free summer language classes were also a draw, and I took advantage of the opportunity both summers I’ve been here.  Finally, the Catholic character of Notre Dame, its rich tradition, and the Theology Department’s solid academic reputation made my choice easy.

The greatest strengths of the MTS program
The faculty here are excellent, and they are more than willing to work with Masters students.  In that regard, I’ve been very happy with my courses and the access I’ve had to some of the top theologians around.  The students in the program are another positive—there is a great sense of community and friendship among the MTS students and it’s very easy to feel at ease among them.  Clearly the people, then, are the greatest strength of the program.

Your greatest challenges since coming to the MTS Program
I think the biggest challenge is deciding where you want to go from here: a doctoral program, teaching high school, or somewhere else?  For the time being, I’ve decided to go back to high school teaching, and the MTS program has prepared me well for that endeavor.  The first couple of months in the program are also challenging, especially if you’ve been out of school for a while, as I had.  Taking four classes (and being a TA for a fifth) keeps you extremely busy.  You’ll love mid-semester break and Christmas vacation.

Employment opportunities have you pursued while in the program
I had the opportunity to be a TA for Fr. Richard McBrien’s Catholicism course both years.  Besides being a great opportunity to work with undergraduate students in a classroom setting, I learned a lot from the course itself.  For those considering teaching someday, I would highly recommend being a TA.

Your housing situation
I live in the married graduate housing just north of campus, the “Cripe Street” apartments.  They’re smaller than what you would get for a comparable price if you lived off campus, but I like being within walking distance of campus (especially on football game days).  There are some other perks as well: a shuttle bus that takes you right to the library, the ability to call campus phone numbers free (and use campus phones to call home), a direct connection to the campus computer network, and a great sense of community among all the graduate students who are your neighbors.

Other thoughts that you have about South Bend, ND, the program
Students may sometimes complain about South Bend, but I don’t have any problems with it.  There is plenty to do on campus; I would especially recommend taking advantage of the films/theatre/music available at Notre Dame’s performing arts center.  The MTS students themselves often host a number of social events, from dinners to parties to snow sledding.  My wife and I also enjoy the occasional day trip to Chicago, which is less than 2 hours from campus.  And the weather?  Well, despite growing up in Southern California, I particularly like the winter snow.