Accreditation

Overview

The Franciscan School of Theology is committed to providing the highest quality education to men and women for professional ministry in the Roman Catholic Church, to those pursuing careers in social service and theological education, and to those seeking opportunities for enhancing their knowledge of Christian faith and the practice of ministry.

Accreditation means that the Commissions of the accrediting agencies have determined that the Franciscan School of Theology has clearly defined objectives appropriate to post-secondary education and is implementing them in a manner consistent with the Commissions’ standards.

The degree programs accredited by (ATS) and (WSCUC):

• Master of Theological Studies
• Master of Theological Studies – Franciscan Theology (online)
• Master of Divinity
• Master of Arts

Agencies

The Franciscan School of Theology is accredited by two agencies:

Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS)

10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275
USA
Telephone: (412) 788-6505
Fax: (412) 788-6510

WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

WSCUC (WASC) Accreditation Action Letter (Issued March 9, 2017)

985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100
Alameda, CA 94501
USA
Telephone: (510) 748-9001
Fax: (510) 748-9797

Franciscan School of Theology (ATS) accreditation status: Accredited

Franciscan School of Theology (WSCUC) accreditation status: Accredited

Program Assessment

FST regularly assesses its academic programs to ensure they continue to provide the desired depth and breadth of theological education as defined on our assessment webpage, and that they conform to the standards of the WASC and ATS accrediting agencies.

Educational Effectiveness Statement

The Franciscan School of Theology is committed to providing the highest quality education to candidates for professional ministry in the Roman Catholic Church, to those pursuing careers in social service and theological education, and to those seeking opportunities for enhancing their knowledge of Christian faith and the practice of ministry.

FST measures its effectiveness in a variety of ways. Individual courses are assessed in relation to established learning outcomes, and a consolidated outcomes program measures the effectiveness of degree program learning goals, which reflect our institutional learning goals. In addition, FST uses the ATS Entering and Graduating Questionnaires to track student satisfaction with their educational experience, and to collect information about their plans for employment after they graduate.

Retention and Graduation (2011-2015)

Placement

From 2013 to 2017 the Franciscan School of Theology graduated 55 students. Of the 43 (78%) graduates for whom we have continuing data between 2013 and 2017, post-graduation employment indicates that the school’s programs achieve their goals in training people for faith-based work in Church and society.