Admissions should be submitted to the Office of Admissions by the final day of Open Registration for the upcoming semester. The Admissions and Degrees Committee votes on the admission of prospective students only after all application materials have been received. 

Admissions Priority Deadline to secure classes and financial aid: 

Admission to the School of Theology is on a “rolling” basis. However, there is a priority deadline of June 1st for the Fall Semester and November 1st for the Spring Semester. Applications after the priority deadline will be considered for admission according to the number of spaces available for the semester for which they are applying. The Office of Admissions will review applications upon receipt of all required documents. 

• New Fall students: June 1

• New Spring students: November 1

Newly admitted students (both Fall and Spring) will be invited to attend the School of Theology Orientation which takes place on campus each August. 

To learn more, please review our Catalog
.

Admissions:
Phone: 513-233-6126
Email: admissions@athenaeum.edu

Jeff Royer, Registrar
Phone: 513-233-6118
Email: jroyer@athenaeum.edu

We’re here to aid you in pursuing Christ and deeper integration of your faith through lifelong learning. Contact us today with admissions questions! 

Academic Calendar

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

2024-2025 Catalog

Course Schedule – Spring 2025

Course Offerings – Spring 2025

Course: The Spirituality of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (CS 612)
Professor: Ms. Claire Therese Heyne
Class Time: 7-9:40 p.m., Mondays
Dates: January 6-March 17, 2025

Although her life on earth was short, her convent small, and her way “little,” St. Therese of Lisieux is one of the greatest Saints of our modern times. The Little Flower’s approach to holiness might seem lightweight, far easier than the arduous ways offered by spiritual giants before her; however, this Doctor of the Church can and will challenge us more than any of them if we let her. The course will focus on her Story of a Soul using the most faithful English edition. Students will also be invited to delve into some of her poems, letters, and prayers as a part of their class presentations.

Course: Religious Freedom in the American Context (CS 631)
Professor: Dr. Kenneth Craycraft
Class Time: 7-9:40 p.m., Wednesdays
Dates: January 8-March 19, 2025

In recent years, ever more social, political, and legal issues bear directly on the problem of religious freedom. This course will examine the historical foundation of the American doctrine of religious liberty, from its 17th century philosophical foundations, through 18th century debates, leading to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. We will then explore the Church’s responses to the unique American expression of religious liberty, through official documents and theological reflections. Finally, we will consider the ways that contemporary legal and political developments directly challenge the liberty of both Church and individual believer.

Course: The Immanence Apologetics of Walker Percy (S 569)
Professor: Deacon Tracy Jamison
Class Time: 7-9:40 p.m., Tuesdays
Dates: January 7-March 18, 2025

Apologetics as a Christian discipline is the intellectual endeavor to defend the Christian faith. It explains the believability of the deposit of faith and morals, which can be judged either by reason alone or by reason informed by faith.  Immanence apologetics relates the deposit of faith and morals to the common human predicament and our felt needs for perfective goods and supernatural deliverance.  This experiential approach to apologetics can be found in the writings of Walker Percy.  Our focus will be on his semiotic essays and existentialist novels which continue to be instrumental in the calling many modern castaways into the Catholic Church.

Our synchronous online courses allow students to fully engage with instructors and classmates in real time. Students access live lecture streaming and participate fully in class through classrooms equipped with distance-learning audiovisual equipment and software.

Our asynchronous online courses have been designed by veteran faculty with the support of educational consultants specializing in online learning. Students will be guided through learning modules with their instructor, who will be readily available to students. These courses intentionally focus on interaction with the instructor and with classmates, real application of course content and the delivery of an authentic educational experience.

Available Courses for Spring 2025

• MT 5000 Fundamental Moral Theology
• MT 650 Contemporary Issues
• P 715 Catechesis: Vision, Content, and Methods
• P 716 OCIA and Sacramental Preparation
• S 6110 Ecclesiology

Registration
To register for an online class, log in to your Populi account and click on the “Registration” tab. Courses labeled with “WEB” after the course number are offered online. For example:

MT 5000-1: Fundamental Moral Theology (in-person)
MT 5000-WEB: Fundamental Moral Theology (online) 

For help registering for online courses, contact the Registrar at jroyer@athenaeum.edu or 513.344.4511.  

2024-25 Graduate Tuition 

Academic courses with a 500-, 600-, or 700-level course number 

2024-25 Certificate Tuition 

Academic courses with a 100-, 200-, 300-, or 400-level course number 

 2024-25 Other Fees 

College Financing Plan
The College Financing Plan is a tool provided by the U.S. Department of Education.  This standardized form helps prospective students calculate their costs and financial aid so they can make an informed decision regarding their enrollment at the institution.  This can also be used to compare costs and financial offers from multiple schools.

The College Financing Plan (previously known as the shopping sheet) is required as part of the Principles of Excellence Program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  Institutions utilizing this form provide the necessary consumer information required by PL 116-315 § 1018 and 38 U.S.C. § 3679(f).

Financial Aid
The Athenaeum does not participate in Title IV Federal Student Aid programs.

The School of Theology administers its own need-based financial aid for lay students.  To be eligible, a student must be admitted and enrolled in a degree or certificate program.  For more information, visit the ‘Financial Aid & Scholarships’ tab here.

Other types of aid may be available to enrolled students, including ministry grants or parish scholarships.  Students serving as parish catechists may call the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Office of Evangelization and Discipleship for information about continuing education grants for catechists. 

College Financing Plan Template

This worksheet provides the estimated annual cost of your program, based on the information you provide.  The actual cost may differ.  If you have questions about items and information referenced in the worksheet, please contact the Registrar: email registrar@athenaeum.edu, phone 513.233.6118. 

If you are an educator, Lay Ecclesial Minister or an alum of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology (MTSM), you are eligible for a 25% tuition discount. 

• Educators must be employed by an Archdiocese of Cincinnati or Diocese of Covington recognized school. 

• Lay Ecclesial Ministers include Directors or Coordinators of Religious Education, Pastoral Associates or Staff, RCIA Directors, Catechists, etc. 

• Permanent Deacons* and Priests must be in good standing with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati 

• Alumni must have completed a recognized program and obtained a degree or certificate from MTSM. 

*The Office of the Diaconate of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is offering an additional 25% for an overall total of 50% off tuition for Permanent Deacons. 

Try a class and discover:
• Outstanding Faculty
• Personal & Spiritual Growth
• Revitalization of Your Ministry
• Continuing Education Units 

Application for Tuition Discount 2024-25

Need-Based Financial Aid
The School of Theology administers its own need-based financial aid for lay students.

To be eligible, a student must be admitted and enrolled in a degree, certificate or endorsement program. Financial Aid Applications for the School of Theology are accepted at designated times throughout the academic year. Students may not receive institutional scholarship awards that exceed the cost of tuition. 

Financial Aid Application

For more information about School of Theology financial aid, contact the  Office of Admissions or the  Office of the Registrar.

The institution is Title IV-eligible, but has elected not to participate in Title IV programs. Eligibility is maintained for the purposes of processing in-school deferment requests for eligible students (i.e., those in at least a half-time rate of pursuit).

Grants, Scholarships, and Other Sources of Aid
We encourage students to be proactive in locating outside sources of financial aid. You may wish to discuss tuition needs with your pastor, as some parishes assist active parishioners with tuition and/or book fees. Catechists may contact the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Office for Evangelization and Discipleship (513-421-3131) for information about the Gabrielle Bouscaren Fund, which offers support for the continuing education of catechists. Some courses may be reimbursed by your place of employment. Members of fraternal, social or civic organizations should explore the possibility of scholarships via their organization.

Priority Deadlines
Priority given to applications received before the dates below. To secure the award, recipients must confirm enrollment by the dates below.

Fall Semester: July 1
Spring Semester: November 1