While many universities offer online programs today, most prioritize their campus-based programs. At Catholic International, online students are our only students! Catholic International has educated students from afar since 1983, has been online since 2000, and was the first university to offer accredited online theological degrees and faith formation in the United States. Our student testimonials confirm our transformative curriculum.
Our program is unique, combining rigorous technical content in various areas of emerging technology with a deep grounding in Christian anthropology, ethics, and product development disciplines. Unlike many other AI programs which offer perhaps a single ethics course (often taught outside of one’s principal department), this program emphasizes throughout its technical courses the constant application of the human virtues within the product development cycle, thereby raising product design to high level of excellence, while prioritizing human growth and societal well-being. Our aim with this program is to develop skilled, virtuous product developers, fully capable of contributing in substantial ways to product development teams and to the world. Knowledgeable, able, but morally sturdy enough to make difficult design decisions, respecting human dignity and promoting the common good. We believe design and human work are moral acts.
Yes, the program is designed as an online academic program, consisting of 10 courses (30 credits) plus a capstone-style applied research project. It can be completed in one year full-time, or two years, part-time. Students are given up to five years to complete the program.
Yes, the program is designed with flexibility in mind for working professionals. Since all courses are offered online, students can complete coursework at their own pace while balancing professional and personal commitments. Courses are scheduled in 8-week terms and must be completed within that time frame. The program can be completed in one year full-time or two years part-time, allowing students to tailor their workload based on their schedules. Students are given up to five years to complete the program. Additionally, the curriculum is structured to provide practical, real-world applications, making it directly relevant to professionals looking to advance their careers in AI and ethical product development.
“Prudential design” refers to the assiduous and balanced application of all the human virtues, while conducting product design and development activities. By working in this way, developers can increase the quality and utility of their professional contributions while simultaneously growing in the human virtues.
Classically understood, prudence has different aspects or “parts”, such as memory, docility, shrewdness, foresight, etc. Each of these various parts of the virtue of prudence presents demanding ideals for the product developer to grow in as part of their participation in the product development cycle. Each ideal, as it were, stretches the engineer interiorly towards Christian perfection. Working well – constantly striving to better oneself through work – helps the product developer to “become more” for their employer, client, and one’s loved ones. This is one reason why work is a moral act and why working better is good for the person and for the downstream users of one’s products and services.
Some specifics. Here are just three (of many) examples of how the parts of prudence can help a developer produce better products would include:
The program requires courses titled, as two example, “AI Ethics and Catholic Moral Theology” and “Human-Centered Design” which in particular emphasize the practice of ethical design, the proper exercise of freedom and responsibility, the principles of natural law, and the preservation of human rights, as well as a Catholic perspective concerning the full purpose of human work. These courses promote integral human and social development, economic and social justice, and the rights of individuals and society. Design, in other words, is treated as a moral act, not an act of unconstrained human freedom. Human-centered design seeks to not just mitigate risks like skill depletion, loss of volitional control, privacy violations and algorithmic bias, but it? also seeks to promote human growth. St Irenaeus’s quote is fitting: “The glory of God is man fully alive.” Well-designed products and services help pursue? this beautiful image of the human person.
Yes. The program thoroughly faces the potential risks in product design, such as exploitative business models and user interfaces that progressively weaken a person’s freedom to control their attention. The curriculum also addresses the spiritual and psychological implications of technology which can alter a person’s perceptions of identity, the unity of oneself as body and soul, and the reality of the surrounding world, as well as one’s relation to others.
This program, however, doesn’t take a Luddite or timid approach to AI, instead presenting these advances as potentially useful to humankind if designed and implemented with wisdom and virtue. The proper augmentation of human capabilities can lead to greater personal and societal development, if designed well. This program looks at the various forms of assistive technology over the last 150 years as an arc of human invention capable of serving humans and, by extension, family life.
Yet this program also presents to students many opportunities possible with the prudent design of AI and other emerging technologies. The proper augmentation of human capabilities using such technologies can lead to greater human and societal development, if designed virtuously. There can be many positives that come out of this technology if it is well designed.
The program sees human intelligence as a rich and varied capability, allowing the human to come closer to the truth. AI can help humans sift through data with greater agility and precision in this pursuit of truth. AI, however, lacks moral discernment, the pursuit of immaterial goods, and any relational capacity, since it operates only within a logical-mathematical framework.
Our program’s coursework integrates the Church’s teaching on human nature, anthropology and ethics within the larger technical curriculum. And it is based on Catholic teaching on the human virtues, as well as its teaching on human work and leisure. More broadly, it aligns well with the university’s mission to communicate the Church’s teachings in a digital world, as inspired by Ex Corde Ecclesiae (an apostolic constitution issued by Pope John Paul II) which provides guidance for Catholic colleges and universities.
This program, notably, is also complementary with Vatican’s recent document, Antiqua et nova, which offers guidelines for the development and use of AI.
Yes, you can find that information here.
The capstone project is an individual design-related effort, involving the development of a new application idea for use of AI or robotics. The student will get practice “fully owning” a product, implementing the design principles synthesized from previous courses, particularly principles from the Human Centered Design course, and the product development course. The expectation is the student will progress their idea from concept to development with successive stages of design, and design validation, producing all critical development artifacts during the semester long project.
Several of the required courses require small-to-large simulated development projects, which will introduce the student to typical development “artifacts” that are part of any corporate product development cycle.
Yes, of course. We are interested in various technical professionals, including developers, product managers, consultants, entrepreneurs, and others with relevant backgrounds.
The program is open to all individuals interested in learning this spirited practice of product development and design, regardless of religious affiliation.
Students are, however, expected to be intellectually open to the Catholic Church’s teaching on anthropology and the human virtues, which underpin every course and graded activity. Any human activity which doesn’t aim toward interior perfection falls short in some way.
While a background in technology, math, or engineering is advantageous, the program values broad academic backgrounds, particularly those with theology, philosophy, or social sciences. An earned bachelor’s degree in any field with at least a 3.0 cumulative
GPA (although we provisionally accept applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA). Official transcripts for the applicant’s bachelor’s degree and any other college work taken for credit. A letter of recommendation should come from an academic or professional supervisor who can attest to the applicant’s intellectual currency with technology, a demonstrated sensitivity to business ethical issues, and readiness for advanced study. A 500-Word Statement of Purpose must be submitted in which applicants must explain: Their understanding of and interest in the intersection of technology, ethics, and human growth from a Catholic perspective; how they have engaged with technology or ethical issues in their past education or professional life; their motive for pursuing this program and how they plan to use this education to make a positive contribution to the common good.
And if they lack a technical background, they should describe how their unique perspective or experience can contribute to the program’s goals. If the student has a portfolio or previous relevant experience (optional but encouraged), they should include a description of projects, personal initiatives, or work experiences that demonstrate an ability to think analytically about technology’s role in society, even if these do not come from a formal engineering or math background.
Applicants to the program must have a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in any field. However, a technical undergraduate degree (such as in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a related discipline) is not required for admission.
While having a technical background can be advantageous—especially for courses involving programming, AI, and data science—the program welcomes students from a variety of academic disciplines, including theology, philosophy, social sciences, business, and the humanities.
The program requires courses titled, as two example, “AI Ethics and Catholic Moral Theology” and “Human-Centered Design” which in particular emphasize the practice of ethical design, freedom and responsibility, the natural law, and human rights, as well as a Catholic perspective concerning the full purpose of human work. These courses promote integral human and social development, economic and social justice, and the rights of individuals and society.
Design, in other words, is treated as a moral act, not an act of unconstrained human freedom. Human-centered design seeks to not just mitigate risks like skill depletion, loss of volitional control, privacy violations and algorithmic bias, but also seeks to promote human growth. St Irenaeus’s quote is fitting: “The glory of God is man fully alive”. Well-designed products and services help achieve this beautiful image of mankind.
Graduates of this program will be equipped to work as product developers, designers, product managers, and marketing professionals in various industry sectors (healthcare, finance, consumer products, energy, defense, etc.).
Students are, however, expected to be intellectually open to the Catholic Church’s teaching on anthropology and the human virtues, which underpin every course and graded activity. Any human activity which doesn’t aim toward interior perfection falls short in some way.
Our program’s coursework integrates the Church’s teaching on human nature, anthropology and ethics within the larger technical curriculum. And it is based on Catholic teaching on the human virtues, as well as its teaching on human work and leisure. More broadly, it aligns well with the university’s mission to communicate the Church’s teachings in a digital world, as inspired by Ex Corde Ecclesiae (an apostolic constitution issued by Pope John Paul II) which provides guidance for Catholic colleges and universities.
This program, notably, is also complementary with Vatican’s recent document, Antiqua et nova, which offers guidelines for the development and use of AI.
The program consists of 30 credit hours-
At Catholic International University, the current graduate tuition rate is $520 per credit hour. Based on this rate, the total tuition for the program is:
30 credit hours × $520 per credit hour = $15,600
This tuition covers the cost of instruction and access to course materials, but additional expenses—such as textbooks, software, or technology fees—may apply.
Financial aid options, scholarships, and payment plans may be available to help students manage tuition costs. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the admissions office to explore available financial assistance programs.
Financial aid options, scholarships, and payment plans may be available to help students manage tuition costs. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the admissions office to explore available financial assistance programs.
You will have a dedicated point of contact throughout the entire process, from admission to academic advising, ensuring continuous support and guidance.
Yes, the program is designed as an online academic program, consisting of 10 courses (30 credits) plus a capstone-style applied research project. It can be completed in one year full-time, or two years, part-time.
Join us in prayer.