The Diaconate Formation involves formal academic studies spanning a 4-year cycle.  

The proposed curriculum for these studies are:

 

I Year - Fall Semester I Year - Spring Semester
Introduction to Scripture (2) Introduction to Theology (2)
Diaconate Spirituality (1) Introduction to Liturgy and Homiletics (2)
Adult Faith Development (1)  
II Year - Fall Semester II Year - Spring Semester
Old Testament Survey (3) New Testament Survey (3)
Church History I  (1)  * Church History II  (1)  *

III Year - Fall Semester

 III Year - Spring Semester
Anthropology (2) Church and Ecumenism (2)
Christian Morality and Social Action (2) Christology (2)
IV Year - Fall Semester IV Year - Spring Semester
Pastoral Care (2) Canon Law and Sacramental Law (2)
Sacraments (1.3)  ** Mission & Ministry (1.3) ** Pastoral Counseling (1.3) **

The program reflects 32 semester hours

The first year curriculum is reflective of the Propadeutic Year suggested in the 1998 Guidelines from the Congregation of Education and the Congregation for Clergy regarding a special year of formational courses that make up an introductory year that allows candidates prior to official candidacy to prepare academically and spiritually for their formation and study.

*  Church history will be taught during the last 8-weeks of the semester for 2 hours per class. The extra hour for scripture would meet for 2 hours during the first seven weeks of the semester. This format will keep the intensity of the course focus and provide an easier adjustment for the professor's schedule on Saturdays especially in the last part of the semester when the history course is taught.

**  These Saturday classes will be divided into 10-week Increments for two hours. Sacraments will be scheduled for the first ten weeks of the first semester. Mission and ministry will be taught the last five weeks of the first semester and then resume the first five weeks of the second semester. Pastoral Counseling will be taught the last ten weeks of the second semester.