Hybrid
Doctor of Education in Catholic Social Thought in Practice
Grounded in the principles of human dignity and the common good.
Discover transformative leadership integrating faith and professional growth
In partnership with the University of San Diego’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the EdD in Catholic Social Thought in Practice provides a pathway for leadership preparation and professional development opportunities for those serving in Catholic healthcare, education, social services, chaplaincy, mental health ministry, healing ministry and within dioceses.
Featured Videos
1. Introduction
Introducing the new EdD in Catholic social thought in practice at USD and FST
2. Curriculum
The curricular design of the new EdD in Catholic social thought in practice: a blend of distance learning and residencies in a cohort model
3. Capstone
The Capstone research project
4. Women and Church Leadership
Women and Church Leadership
5. Franciscan Leadership
Franciscan Leadership: Inspiring from Within
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to make a meaningful impact in their communities by:
- Integrating Catholic social thought and spirituality into personal and professional life and leadership practice.
- Applying Catholic social thought for the leadership of organizations, program design and assessment.
- Generating original interdisciplinary research findings to advance the Catholic identity and mission of organizations.
Who is EdD in Catholic Social Thought in Practice for?
Leaders looking to grow their impact while continuing to serve as staff at a Catholic university, Catholic high school or Catholic K-8 school
Leaders committed to exploring and applying Catholic social thought in practice
A desire for leadership development with a Catholic lens
Lay leaders called to deepen their professional leadership within Catholic institutions
Professional advancement scenarios enabled by this degree
| Sector | Current position, Credential, Years of experience | Desired future position |
|---|---|---|
| Higher education | Student services manager, Masters in higher education, 5 Years | VP of Student Affairs |
| Higher education | Campus minister, Master of Divinity, 10 Years | VP of Mission |
| Catholic hospital | Charge Nurse, Master’s in Nursing, 20 years | Director of (Leadership for Mission) Formation of a hospital chain |
| Catholic hospital | Chaplain, Master of Divinity + CPE, 10 years | Director of Spiritual Care |
| Diocese | Catholic Mental Health Ministry volunteer in parish, MBA, 3 years (assumes lots of private business experience, but seeking new role) | Diocesan Coordinator of Catholic Mental Health Ministry |
| Diocese / Parish | Director of Family Life or parish minister, MSW, 5 years | Lay chancellor of diocese |
| Social Services | Department managers who are Catholic-adjacent but who wish to advance, MBA, 3 years | Executive Director |
Courses at a distance are complemented with five in-person residencies in San Diego.
Residency Experience
Each day includes seven hours of contact time, along with intentional opportunities for community building, faith sharing and prayer. Residencies take place at the Mission San Luis Rey Retreat Center in North San Diego County, the former home of FST, now serving as a satellite campus. The setting offers a peaceful, reflective environment that deeply supports the program’s purpose and spirit.
January Residencies
- Friday, January 8, 2027, to Friday, January 15, 2027
- Weeklong immersive experiences
- Includes in-person orientation to spring courses
- Courses bracketed by online learning before and after the residency
April Residencies
- Friday, April 30, 2027, to Sunday, May 2, 2027.
- Weekend immersive experiences
- Culminates in a Student Research Symposium
- Generally last weekend of April
Discover the Franciscan Difference
The Franciscan School of Theology embodies Franciscan theology in a diverse world, offering an optimistic, Christ-centered perspective. We integrate pastoral and academic learning, nurturing both mind and heart, and, in partnership with the University of San Diego, share a commitment to Catholic identity, academic excellence, social change, and global awareness. On-campus students benefit from small class sizes, experienced faculty, a supportive community, career-focused education, and access to USD resources.
Program Faculty
Biography
| Name: | Keith Douglass Warner OFM |
| Specialization: | Ethics & Spirituality |
| Email: | keithwarner@fst.edu |
| Phone: | 619.574.5800 |
Keith Douglass Warner OFM serves as President of the Franciscan School of Theology, and Associate Professor of Ethics and Spirituality. Throughout his career, Brother Keith has designed and launched several innovative academic programs, most recently the new EdD in Catholic Social Thought in Practice, developed jointly by FST and the University of San Diego. His teaching portfolio spans moral theology, Catholic social thought, and Franciscan philosophy. Within the international Franciscan community, he is known for teaching, research and publications about the intersection of Franciscan Eco-spirituality and Laudato si’. Brother Keith is a long-time member of the Commission on the Franciscan Intellectual-Spiritual Tradition, and is writing a book about the globalization of the Franciscan charism since Vatican II. He is an affiliated scholar with Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC.
Degrees
- MA in Theology, FST/Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley
- PhD in Environmental Studies, University of California – Santa Cruz
Books
Care For Creation: A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth. With Ilia Delio OSF and Pam Wood. Expanded edition forthcoming Orbis Press, 2027. First edition published by St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2008. Translated and published in Spanish (2018) and Korean (2022).
Knowledge for Love: Franciscan Science as the Pursuit of Wisdom. Franciscan Institute Publications, 2012.
Agroecology in Action: Social Networks Extending Alternative Agriculture. MIT Press, 2007.
Journey and Place: An Atlas of St. Francis. With John E. Isom. Franciscan Press, 2003.
Ecology and Religion: Scientists Speak. Edited with John E. Carroll. Franciscan Press, 1998.
Selected refereed journal articles
Ecology of Campus and Community: Laudato si’ Can Foster Engagement Between Catholic Universities and Local Communities. 2024. With Edgar Kelly Garcia, Christina Bagaglio Slentz, and Michel Boudrias. Journal of Catholic Higher Education 42:2, 125-139.
Strengthening Ethical Commitments to the Common Good: Team-Based Learning in the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm. 2024. With Katia Moles, Laura Robinson, Jen Merritt. Religion & Education Jan 11:1-16.
Social Entrepreneurship for Laudato Si: Pedagogies of Acceleration and Accompaniment. 2019. Educatio catholica, Anno IV/1, pages 151-162.
Research grants
National Science Foundation: Ethics & Values in Science, Engineering & Technology Program: “Managing Risk in the Public Interest: How Ethics and Values Shape Biological Control Practice and Policy;” $105,000, 2007–2011.
Biography
| Name: | Juliet Mousseau, RSCJ, PhD |
| Specialization: | Medieval Theology, Parisian School of St Victor |
| Email: | jmousseau@fst.edu |
| Phone: | 619.574.5802 |
“One of the most important gifts we bring to our ministry is the truth of our faith and history. Historical studies help us know how blessed the Church is and how we have overcome challenging times throughout history.”
Juliet Mousseau, RSCJ, completed her doctorate in historical theology at Saint Louis University in 2006. After teaching at Saint Louis University and the University of Dallas School of Ministry, she entered the Society of the Sacred Heart in 2009. She served as a professor of church history at the Aquinas Institute of Theology from 2012 to 2021. During that time, she published on the twelfth-century Abbey of Saint Victor as well as contemporary issues in religious life. She made her final profession as a Religious of the Sacred Heart in January 2020. She became the Vice President for Academic Affairs in 2021.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Saint Louis University 2006
- M.A. Saint Louis University 2002
- S.T.L. Jesuit School of Theology, Santa Clara University 2024
- B.A. Gonzaga University 2000
Select Publications
St. Madeleine Sophie Barat: Leadership in a Divided World (New York: Paulist, 2025).
Reseeding Religious Life through Global Sisterhood, edited by Susan Rose Francois, CSJP, and Juliet Mousseau, RSCJ (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2024).
Prophetic Witnesses to Joy: A Theology of the Vowed Life (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2021).
Life at Saint Victor, edited by Frans van Liere and Juliet Mousseau, Victorine Texts in Translation 9 (Turnhout: Brepols, 2021).
In Our Own Words: Religious Life in a Changing World, edited by Juliet Mousseau and Sarah Kohles (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2018).
A Companion to the Abbey of Saint Victor in Paris, edited by Hugh Feiss and Juliet Mousseau, Brill’s Companions to the Christian Tradition (Leiden: Brill, 2017).
Admissions
Step 1:
Attend an Info Session and Application Workshop. These events are designed to help you explore our programs, ask questions, and get to know the people who will support you throughout your graduate journey.
Step 2:
Connect with an enrollment advisor. The Admissions Office can guide you through the process and required application materials.
Step 3:
Create an online account to start an application and apply to the EdD in Catholic Social Thought.
Step 4:
Review the application checklist and complete the online application. Request your official transcript and submit the application.
Financing Your Education
The EdD in Catholic Social Thought in Practice is offered through a tailored tuition model that reflects our commitment to advancing Catholic education and supporting leaders in faith communities.
In addition to external funding resources, SOLES students may be eligible for various forms of financial assistance, including scholarships, grants, fellowships and discounts.
Note: FST, part of the University of San Diego, is authorized to enroll students in specific U.S. states and territories due to state authorization requirements and a religious waiver, specifically for their online degree programs. It shall be authorized in the states where FST is currently authorized, which includes all U.S. States except Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, D.C., Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wyoming.
Accreditation
The Franciscan School of Theology is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
The Franciscan School of Theology regularly assesses its academic programs to ensure that they continue to provide the desired depth and breadth of theological education and that they conform to the standards of the WSCUC accrediting agency.
Take The First Step on Your Journey to Change the World.
Join a vibrant academic and spiritual tradition.
