Program Overview
- Specifically designed to meet the needs of Directors of Religious Education (DREs), secondary school teachers, and catechists.
Program Goals
- Articulate and apply principles of Catholic theology and God’s relationship to the created order to the problem of authentic happiness and the edification of the human community.
- Demonstrate how the New Testament fulfills the Old Testament with regard to Jesus Christ, the Church as the People of God, and its sacramental life.
- Faithfully and effectively teach Catholic doctrine, spirituality, and morals, while ministering in pedagogically and culturally diverse contexts.
- Synthesize the development of the Catholic Church’s understanding of the relationship between Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium, and their significance with respect to historical and contemporary challenges.
Course List
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| *CST 500/PHIL 512 | Foundations of Catholic Social Teaching | 3 |
| *CST 510 | Social Doctrine of the Church, 1891-1965 | 3 |
| *CST 520 | Catholic Social Teaching: John Paul II Benedict XVI, and Francis | 3 |
| THEO 503 | The Catholic Theological Tradition | 3 |
| THEO 510 | Revelation and Faith: Fundamental Theology | 3 |
| THEO 541 | Theology of Church | 3 |
| THEO 552 | Sacraments and Liturgy | 3 |
| THEO 560 | Fundamental Moral Theology | 3 |
| THEO 632 | Christology | 3 |
| THEO 640 | Presenting the Faith in the Modern World: Dealing with the Hard Questions | 3 |
| *THEO 682 | Forming a Catholic World View: Catholic Social Teachings | 3 |
| RELED 560 | Principles of Catholic Education | 3 |
| SCRPT 530 | Introduction to Scripture and Salvation History | 3 |
| SPIR 501 | Applied Catholic Spirituality | 3 |
| Elective | Students must, in consultation with the program advisor, choose one additional elective course that relates to their teaching interest. |
3 |
| PRACT 697 | Practicum | 0 |
Classes are 8 weeks long unless otherwise noted.
*Students may take either CST 500/PHIL 512, CST 510, CST 520, or THEO 682
Students may earn the degree sooner by taking two courses in a term if they have sufficient time for study.
Year 1
Fall I
THEO 503. Catholic Theological Tradition
Fall II
THEO 560. Fundamental Moral Theology
Spring I
SCRPT 530. Introduction to Scripture and Salvation History
Summer
THEO 541. Theology of Church
Year 2
Fall I
THEO 552. Sacraments and Liturgy
Fall II
THEO 510. Revelation and Faith: Fundamental Theology
Spring I
SCRPT 640. Isaiah and the Prophets
Spring II
CHIST 524 – Church History II
Summer
CST 500. Foundations of Catholic Social Thought
Year 3
Fall I
RELED 560 – Principles of Catholic Education
Fall II
SPIR 501. Applied Catholic Spirituality
Spring I-Spring II
PRACT 697. Practicum
Summer
COMP 699. Comprehensive Exam
THE CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL ADVANTAGE
In a 2022 survey of CDU graduate students, 100% reported that they had achieved their learning goals.
Catholic International Offers:
- Flexibility to study where and when you choose
- Authentic Catholic teaching
- Affordability
- A global Catholic community
- Knowledgeable and accessible faculty
- Engaging online courses with discussion forums
- Mobile app for study on the go
- Online library staffed by a theological librarian
- 24/7 technical support
The MA program is nationally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The university is certified as a degree-granting institution by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.
“My intellectual growth in the field of theology is indisputable after completing this program. I have also grown from a person who was just interested in the faith into a person who is able to invite and accompany others on their faith journeys to more fully live Christ’s mandate to become missionary disciples. This is mostly due to my spiritual progress.”
–Ute Eble, MA in Theology and Educational Ministry
