Who is this class for?

For those who want to pursue an online MA in Theology and Christian Ministry at Franciscan University of Steubenville, this is a required background course. (Through our partnership with Franciscan University of Steubenville, Diocese of Venice students get discounted tuition for the online MA in Theology or Catechetics and they may take background courses through the Institute for Catholic Studies and Formation). 

For Diocese of Venice students who successfully pass this course, Franciscan University will waive the requirement for prerequisite course THE 519. Students must apply and meet other entrance requirements for acceptance into the online MA at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

For those not interested in formal graduate study but looking for a thorough graduate level introduction on “How to do Catholic theology” the class can be audited for half-price. [When you register enter AUDIT in the promotion box and click "apply" to get the audit price]

What does the class cover?

What is theology? What makes theology “Catholic”? Is theology a “science”? What is the role of prayer and the spiritual life in theology? What are the sources of Catholic theology? What is the theologian’s relationship to the Church? With guidance from key magisterial documents, you will find answers to these and other questions. This course provides aspiring theologians and students of theology with basic principles they need to begin theological study.

Who teaches the class?

The course is taught by Dr. John Gresham. Dr. John brings over 20 years’ experience teaching at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, and Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He is an experienced and expert online instructor who has taught other faculty best practices in online pedagogy. His publications include Jesus 101: God and Man, Holy Spirit 101: Present Among Us and Wonder and the Prayerful Study of Theology.

When and Where is the Class Taught?

The course begins August 23rd and runs for 16 weeks. The class is taught completely online. Students complete weekly assignments and interact with the instructor and fellow students at the times most convenient for them. The online format make it easy for students to fit coursework into their busy lives.

What do Former Students Say about the Course?

• The course is well organized and well presented.  The video lectures were very helpful in summarizing and clarifying the readings.  The online discussions were a rich source of discourse and they enhanced the material greatly. The insights of my classmates really helped me to better grasp and absorb the material. The Lectio Divina exercises were very rewarding-they have served to strengthen my prayer life.
• Dr. Gresham separated the course in easy-to-understand lessons. The lessons were filled with information to improve our skill sets on these topics ... We were able to communicate with others in the class through discussion posts which gave us all an opportunity to look at alternate viewpoints than just our own ...The video lectures were informative and just the right length to get you the information you needed without losing interest in the subject matter.
• I loved every part of this course. Dr. Gresham is an awesome teacher. I love his presentation of the material, and his enthusiasm.
• The strengths of the course were the Video lectures and Dr. Gresham's responses our posts. I enjoyed the Lectio Divina exercise, for me that was a breath of fresh air or the "Holy Spirit". 

What does it cost?

Those taking the course for a grade to meet requirements for the MA in Theology and Christian Ministry at Franciscan University of Steubenville: $525. (Regular tuition for this online course at Franciscan University would be $1575. You get a 2/3 off discount!)

Those auditing the course for personal enrichment: $250 

When you register you will be linked to Paypal where you can pay your course fee by credit card or paypal account. [To get audit price, when registering type AUDIT in the promotion code box and click on "apply" below that box. The reduced price will appear in the payment screen.]

For more information:

Contact Dr. John Gresham
John.Gresham@institute-dov.org
941-766-7334