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Our History

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Past, Present & Future 

Since our founding we have served all across the world, accompanying others on their academic and spiritual journeys.  Learn more below. 

Founded over 35 years ago, the Neuhoff Institute has been called to serve the Catholic church and her people across our local churches in the Diocese of Dallas, to the far reaching mission dioceses of the United States and across the world. This is only  the beginning of our story. 

The Institute of Religious and Pastoral Studies (IRPS) was created as an institute dedicated to training ministers who could respond to pastoral needs in their local Church communities.
IRPS began offering masters degrees in theological studies (M.T.S.) and religious education (M.R.E) with its first graduating class of 23 students in May 1990.
At the request of the Superintendent of Schools in the Diocese of Dallas, a Masters in Catholic School Leadership degree was created to prepare teachers to meet the certification requirements of administrators in Texas Catholic Conference accredited schools.

The Masters degree in Pastoral Ministry (M.P.M) was introduced and expanded to six focus areas between 2002 and 2004: Pastoral Administration, Health Care Ministry, Campus Ministry, Family Ministry, Hispanic Ministry and Youth Ministry. Undergraduate, graduate certificates were also made available.

Another key development was the establishment of the Catholic Biblical School, a four-year part-time program of adult faith formation in Biblical Studies. This period also saw the introduction of the "Summer in Rome" program which allows students to live and study at UD's Rome Campus while also having the opportunity to explore the Eternal City.

IRPS commenced its online education programs, implementing an innovative and sector-leading program that allowed students to complete the entire M.T.S. Degree  or the Biblical School online. It was at this time that IRPS began to offer the Biblical School in Spanish in locations around Dallas and Fort Worth.
At it's 20th anniversary celebration, IRPS was renamed to the University of Dallas Neuhoff School of Ministry as a reflection of the school's important position at the University, its growing national reputation and its expanded areas of service in meeting the theological needs of the Catholic Church.
Just shy of its 30th year, the School of Ministry was renamed the Ann and Joe O. Neuhoff School of Ministry to perpetuate the legacy of faith and service of the Neuhoff family. Joe O Neuhoff was an early member of the university's Board of Trustees, and he and his wife, Ann, helped strengthen and sustain the Catholic mission of the university beginning shortly after the time of its founding in 1956. The naming also honors their son, Joe Oscar, who has continued in his parents' footsteps, serving on the university's Board of Trustees and has been a steadfast advocate for the School of Ministry as it has grown.
The University of Dallas' reorganization plan transformed the School of Ministry into the Ann and Joe O. Neuhoff Institute for Ministry and Evangelization. The Neuhoff Institute nt only preserved the School of Ministry's established reputation for excellence and its commitment to offering high-quality formation and intellectual programming, but it also renewed its commitment to expanding the School of Ministry's English and Spanish non-degree certificate offerings and other formation opportunities. Under this new organization, the graduate program in ministry moved into the Braniff School of Liberal Arts and homed in the Department of Theology. 

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