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 in the Graduate School of Theology of the Augustine Institute. 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. In assigning transfer credits, the academic dean seeks to match work done at another institution with the core curriculum courses at the Augustine Institute. When matches cannot be found, transfer credits are allocated as elective courses. Students seeking to transfer credits should be aware that the Augustine Institute has accepted the apostolic constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae as regulative of its academic policies. Accordingly, an important criterion for the acceptance of transfer credits is the compatibility of the coursework with the institute’s mission to train Catholics for the New Evangelization. The Augustine Institute accepts only credits carrying grades of “B” (3.0) or above earned at accredited institutions of higher learning. To be eligible for transfer, all credits must be authenticated by an official transcript. While approved transfer credits count toward a degree at the institute, grades earned elsewhere are not transferable and are not included in the calculation of grade point average. All transfer credits are subject to the approval of the academic dean.

The Admissions team is happy to assist and can be contacted by email at admissions@augustineinstitute.org or by phone at 303-937-4420.

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 growing in your Catholic faith.

Auditing allows students to participate in the classroom experience without being held to assessments. Auditors attend lectures, take notes, and follow course readings. Auditors do NOT take exams or write papers. No academic credit is awarded to audited courses. Auditors will not receive a final grade for the course. Please refer to the Financials section for information on tuition costs for auditors.

Yes. Professors faithfully reply to student emails and are also available for conversation during their office hours via telephone and Zoom.

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. In addition to the checklist requirements, 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 Admission’s 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 the graduate school grows.

Classes are filmed in St. Louis and uploaded to distance education student accounts each week. Distance education students watch the video lectures at their convenience, participate in online discussion with professors and classmates, and submit their work and receive comments and grades through our online course management system.

A full-time student entering the program this fall should expect to pay approximately $22,200 over the next two years. For those planning to take three or four years in the program, the modest annual increase in tuition will lead to a total closer to $23,200.

Full-time students on our campus in St. Louis finish the program in two academic years. Part-time and distance education students typically take three courses per calendar year and finish the program within four years.

Some 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.

Yes: the graduates of the Augustine Institute are able to make the Catechism of the Catholic Church come alive as an instrument of evangelization, catechesis, and conversion because they have studied the Catechism in light of its sources and with respect to the principles of the New Evangelization.

To strengthen, deepen, and illuminate your own faith in Jesus Christ and to make you a better evangelist in whatever setting you find yourself.

The professors at the Augustine Institute share the common goal of teaching 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.

Yes, if you are looking for faithful instruction in Catholic theology that will provide you with a solid foundation in the sources of Catholic Truth and form you for the work of the New Evangelization.