The length of seminary school varies widely depending on the type of program, degree pursued, institution, and whether the student studies full-time or part-time.
- For youth religious education programs like those run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, seminary typically lasts four years during high school (ages 14-18), with classes held on weekdays during the school year.
- For graduate-level seminary education, the most common degree, the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), usually takes about three to four years of full-time study to complete. Some students may take longer if studying part-time or if the program includes additional requirements like internships or mission trips
- Other master's degrees, such as Master of Arts (M.A.) in theology or Christian leadership, typically take one to three years full-time, depending on the specialization
- Doctoral programs in seminary can take four to five years or more, depending on the degree and research requirements
- For Catholic seminary formation, the process is often longer, typically spanning six to seven years or more. This includes stages of spiritual, human, intellectual, and pastoral formation, beginning with preparatory stages and culminating in ordination
. It is common for Catholic seminarians to spend 7-9 years before ordination
In summary, seminary education length ranges from a few years for some master's programs to up to a decade for full priestly formation in some traditions. The typical full-time M.Div. program is about three to four years, while part-time study or additional formation stages can extend this significantly
