Admission Requirements

Who Should Apply?
Caritas of Rome and St. John’s University will provide scholarship funding for students from around the world, with a special emphasis on students from least developed nations who are working in Caritas member agencies, and in other relief, development, and social service agencies.

International development professionals, social service providers (including those who may already hold advanced degrees in their areas of specialization) and those who aspire to careers in this field, will find in this concentration a challenging curriculum that will expand their horizons and that will provide a solid foundation for their work in Catholic social teaching.  The combination of on-site learning in Rome and distance learning will shape an ongoing international learning community, with participants learning with and from each other with the guidance of a skilled and dedicated faculty

Admission Requirements

  • An accredited bachelor’s degree or its equivalent
  • Proficiency in English (written and spoken).  Applicants whose native language is not English, or whose secondary and post-secondary education was not in English must take the (1) Test of English as a Foreign language [TOEFL] or (2) International English Language Testing System  [IELTS]
  • Two letters of recommendation from persons qualified to evaluate the applicant’s ability to succeed in a graduate program of study
  • A statement of personal and professional goals relevant to the applicant’s interest in the concentration in Global Development and Social Justice
  • The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required of Caritas scholarship applicants.  The GRE is required for other applicants who wish to be considered for a graduate assistantship.

Transfer of Credit
Because of the distinctive nature of the program, including in-person instruction during summer sessions in Rome and distance learning courses during the Fall and Spring semesters, no transfer credits may be applied for this concentration. 

Financial Aid
Scholarships will be available for students recruited from all parts of the globe.  Additional financial aid will also be available, including graduate assistantships.