Online Programs FAQ

For “online” classes do I have to login to my computer at specific times?

It will depend on the course. We use a few different formats for our online classes:

Asynchronous Courses - Many of our online courses do not require you to login at a specific time. There will be a weekly list of reading, online lectures, discussion through message boards, and other assignments you can do from your computer. Assignments and readings will still have due dates and timelines, but you would not be required to login at a specific day and time.

Synchronous Courses - Some classes will be just like an in-person class, but on your computer. You will login at a specific day and time as if you were coming in person to class, and you will be interacting with one of our on-site live professors and students who are both onsite and online. We call these

Some classes will be a combination of both models.

Is there a website where I can access these classes?

Yes, all students who are admitted into these programs will be given access to our online learning management system called Canvas. Each online course that you register for will have an online “classroom” in Canvas that you will login into and find all of your syllabus, reading, lectures, tests and everything else you need for that class. Everything is organized in a week-by-week checklist format that is easy to follow. You can get to Canvas using any web browser. Your user name and login information will be given to you after you are admitted to your program.

Are there tests, papers and assignments?

Yes, classes in these online programs are college courses that will include various assignments, writing requirements and assessments (tests, quizzes) which must be completed within a certain time frame and will be graded. All of these assignments and assessments will be able to be completed online.

How much time per week can I expect to spend on an online course?

Our seminary uses the Carnegie model for determining the amount of time that should be expected for each course. In this model, for every one hour of live class time, a student should expect to spend 2-3 hours outside of class. Online courses require the same time commitment. You may have less live class time but the total commitment of videos, discussion, reading and other learning activities will amount to 3 hours a week per credit hour. Thus, in a traditional 16-week semester a 2-credit undergraduate course will require a 6 hour weekly commitment and a 3-credit course will require a 9 hour weekly commitment. This will vary by professor, course level, student efficiency and other factors, but it is a good guideline for planning your time each week.

How does class discussion work?

The classes that require you to login at specific times will handle discussion using video conferencing. Those that give you more flexibility use tools like message boards and responses, drop-in sessions or office hours through video conferencing, and other online discussion tools and assignments.

How much do these programs cost?

Like most college tuition, the cost for each class is determined by: number of credit hours X credit hour rate = class cost. Our CCT classes are charged using the undergraduate credit hour rate, MA classes using the graduate credit hour rate, and PGCNE classes using the STL credit hour rate. There are other fees that apply. Click the link below for a full list of tuition rates and fees.

View Tuition and Fees

Is there financial aid available?

Yes, we offer Federal and State financial aid programs to those who qualify, and we also have a number of in-house grants and scholarships available. Students are encouraged to inquire with their pastors and dioceses about other aid that might be available through them as well. Click the link below for more information about Financial Aid.

View Financial Aid

How will I communicate with the Seminary staff and my instructors?

Every Sacred Heart student is given a Seminary email address when they are admitted to their program. Instructors will communicate with students through their SHMS email account, so be sure to check that account frequently or forward your messages to your personal email account. In your online Canvas “classroom," you can go to your profile and edit the notifications to get course announcements, comments, discussion posts, grades, etc., forwarded to your email account.

Are all of the seminary’s degrees and certificates available fully online?

At this time, only these three programs can be completed fully using online courses and resources. Other programs require at least some in-person work.

If I chose to, could I still come and take classes in person?

Yes, depending on which courses are being offered each semester, and in which format. Students who normally take in-person classes can take available online classes in their program, and students who normally take online classes could choose to come in person for an available class in their program if that was feasible for them.

What if I don’t have a theology library near me?

Online students still have access to our library, including several digital databases and book services we offer. We also participate in a lending agreement with other theological libraries throughout the country.

How do I apply for admission into the programs?

Like the classes themselves, the admission process can be done entirely online as well. Reach out to one of our admission team members by emailing admissions@shms.edu or calling (313) 883-8696. You can also click the link below for more information about the admissions process.

View Admissions Information

Certificate in Catholic Theology

Our most popular program, the Certificate in Catholic Theology (CCT) includes 6 introductory, college-level courses in the major disciplines of Catholic theology. This Certificate is perfect for parish volunteers and staff, those preparing to serve in the Church, or those who have a passion for studying the richness of our faith at a deeper level. Students who graduate with the CCT often use this credential to be certified in various forms of ministry, or as a stepping stone into an undergraduate or graduate degree program.

Master of Arts in Theology

A gold-standard academic credential, the Master of Arts in Theology (MA) will help students take their theological understanding to the next level, and communicate how Catholic faith and Tradition illuminate the meaning and purpose of human experience. An accredited graduate degree from an institution with a world-class faculty, this is perfect for students who already have a college degree (even in another discipline) and are looking to teach theology in Catholic schools or colleges, to further their research and prepare for terminal degrees, for personal and professional growth, or as an advanced credential for parish or diocesan work.

Post-Graduate Certificate in the New Evangelization

In 2005 Sacred Heart Major Seminary and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome developed an entire curriculum in pastoral theology focused on training leaders in the New Evangelization, as well as a Pontifical Degree (STL) in the same topic.

This Post-Graduate Certificate in the New Evangelization (PGCNE) gives ordained, religious and lay leaders throughout the United States access to this innovative and essential curriculum, taught by some of the most renowned scholars and practitioners of the New Evangelization in the country, without the need to complete an entire degree. This program is perfect for students who already have a graduate degree in theology that are looking to expand upon their research, teaching or pastoral work with a focus on discipleship and “the new springtime” of evangelization.