Frequently Asked Questions

Normally a maximum of twelve graduate-level credit hours in Catholic theology may be eligible for transfer credit to the Master of Arts programs. When exceptions are made to the twelve-credit maximum, they are typically for students who have completed a process of vocational discernment and are seeking to transfer credits from a seminary or house of religious formation. In such cases, up to eighteen credits may be transferred.To be eligible for transfer, all credits must have earned a 3.0 GPA or higher and be authenticated by an official transcript. All transfer credits are subject to the academic dean's approval upon submitting an admissions application. If I have additional questions, who should I contact? The Admissions Office is happy to assist you and may be contacted by email at admissions@augustine.edu or by phone at 314-816-5567 x 1181.

The Admissions Office is happy to assist you and may be contacted by email at admissions@augustine.edu or by phone at 314-816-5567 x 1181.

Auditing allows students to participate in the classroom experience without completing assignments or assessments. Auditors attend lectures, take notes, and follow course readings. Auditors do NOT take exams or write papers. No academic credit is awarded for courses that are audited. Auditors will not receive a final grade for the course. Visit our page to see the current courses available to audit.

Yes. All of our professors teach their own courses without teaching assistants. Professors faithfully reply to student emails and are also available for conversation during their office hours via telephone and Zoom video conferences. Live discussion sessions are also hosted throughout the course by the professor. Whether students are studying on campus or online, students will have direct access to the professor teaching the course.

In addition to the checklist requirements for admissions, foreign nationals must do one of the following: Submit your TOEFL scores (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with your application (Note: The TOEFL is a very costly test). OR Request that your admissions essay be considered as evidence of competency in the English language. You will be evaluated on your English competency by the Admissions Committee in order to determine your capacity for success in graduate studies. It is often the case that foreign nationals for whom English is a second language are recommended to pursue coursework on a non-degree seeking basis.

For our international applicants, we are so grateful for your interest in the academic community here at the Augustine Institute. As a part of the universal Church, we strive to be universal in our student body as well, and we are very proud of our foreign student body who contribute greatly to the program. It is with you in mind that we developed the highest quality distance education, as well as parish programming, so that we can serve the needs of the Church around the world. We welcome you to apply to our graduate program. In addition to the checklist requirements for admissions, foreign nationals must do one of the following: Submit your TOEFL scores (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with your application (Note: The TOEFL is a very costly test). OR Request that your admissions essay be considered as evidence of competency in the English language. You will be evaluated on your English competency by the Admissions Committee in order to determine your capacity for success in graduate studies. It is often the case that foreign nationals for whom English is a second language are recommended to pursue coursework on a non-degree seeking basis. *On Campus Applications: At this time, the Augustine Institute is not a SEVIS authorized school, and therefore is not authorized to issue the I-20 form, which is required for your student visa application. The Department of Homeland Security requires an information protocol on nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors to be collected during the course of their stay. Receiving a SEVIS authorization requires a great deal of resources and responsibility that we cannot afford at this time but may be able to achieve in the coming years as our graduate school grows.

There are three terms in a year: fall, spring, and a condensed summer term. Most courses are offered asynchronously to allow for maximum flexibility. However, all students journey through the course on the same week-to-week timeline to allow for fruitful discussion in the course. Classes are filmed in St. Louis and uploaded to the learning platform for distance students to view each week. Distance education students watch the video lectures at their convenience, participate in online discussion with professors and classmates, submit their work and receive comments and grades through our online course management system. We also offer synchronous courses periodically for those who are able to attend courses live. Optional weeklong intensive courses are offered twice a year for distance students who would like to study on campus for a short time.

Tuition is charged per class at $1,980. A student entering the program this fall should expect to pay approximately $23,760 for the degree. Students pay for the courses as they are earned, and may also split payments into a payment plan. Modest increases in tuition may be applied annually. Students may choose to pay for their class(es) at the beginning of a term or via a payment plan with no interest.

No. At this time, we do not offer the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the GI Bill.

Full-time students on our campus in St. Louis finish the program in two academic years. Part-time distance education students may complete the degree at their own pace. Most distance students strive to take three to four courses per calendar year and finish the program in three to four years.

Each course is 3 credit-hours throughout the semester, which is typically 14 weeks long. Each 3-hour lecture is filmed in person once a week on-campus. Lectures are then uploaded within 48 hours to our online learning platform for distance education students to view. Students who are a part of our online distance education community watch the courses asynchronously, on their own time. Additional Zoom sessions throughout the semester allow students to connect with the professor and other students. M.A. Biblical Studies students may have a different weekly schedule and typically take seminar-style classes offered on campus only.

Yes. The Augustine Institute is the largest Catholic graduate school of theology in the nation, with over 450 online students from the United States and around the world. We have a thriving online community with many peer mentors and people from a variety of positions in ministry and secular positions.

The graduates of the Augustine Institute are able to make Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church come alive as instruments of evangelization, catechesis, and conversion because they have studied the Word of God and the Catechism in light of their sources and with respect to the principles of the New Evangelization. Some graduates are parish and diocesan ministers, Catholic school teachers, and members of religious life. Others are professionals in various fields, including business, medicine, law, engineering, and technology. All are offering Christian witness in their families, communities, and parishes.

Our graduate courses will help strengthen, deepen, and illuminate your own faith in Jesus Christ and make you a better teacher and evangelist in whatever setting you find yourself.

The professors at the Augustine Institute share the common goal of teaching the Wisdom of Christ for conversion: for their own continuing conversion, for their students’, and for their students’ students. They teach from faith and for the sake of bringing Christ’s truth and love to the world. All of our faculty receive a mandatum, make the Profession of Faith, and take the Oath of Fidelity.

Increasingly, Catholics are recognizing a need to be well formed in their faith. Our students include catechists, recent college graduates, parents, lay leaders, educators, clergy and religious, and Catholics from a variety of professions. Whether you are seeking personal enrichment, continuing education credits, or a graduate degree in Theology, the Augustine Institute is your resource for helping you understand, live, and share your Catholic faith.