Master of Arts Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Theology (MA) is an academically rigorous degree that allows for specialization in Franciscan studies — especially Franciscan theology, history, and spirituality. Such specialization prepares students to work in programs of religious formation, in the translation and publication of theological and historical texts, and in preparation of printed and electronic resources to enhance awareness of significant authors, texts, and themes of the Franciscan Tradition.

The Franciscan Catholic tradition is a joy-filled faith study that promotes a heart of service, solidarity, and compassion. The Franciscan School of Theology faculty is committed to embodying this tradition in our increasingly diverse and connected world, using faith studies to enact positive change in communities from local to global.

Goals & Learning Outcomes

The goals of the MA program are to prepare students to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the basic documents and heritage of the Roman Catholic Church through instruction in Scripture, church history, systematic theology, liturgy, and moral theology within diverse cultural contexts
  • Demonstrate advanced graduate skills in research, multiple languages, sustained augmentation of a thesis, and skills in communicating a position in both oral and written form
  • Demonstrate advanced knowledge in the sources and themes of the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition

Upon program completion, MA program graduates will be able to:

  • Demonstrate basic knowledge of major theological disciplines (Scripture, Systematic Theology, Historical Studies, Moral Theology/Ethics)
  • Exhibit focused knowledge in an area of specialization within the Franciscan tradition (theology, history, spirituality)
  • Conduct research and construct a coherent, sustained theological argument in the form of a thesis
  • Use a foreign language in conducting graduate-level research
  • Communicate coherently, effectively, and persuasively in writing and speaking

Ideal candidates for this program include:

  • Those interested in Franciscan history, spirituality, and languages
  • Those who wish to pursue further advanced degrees

MTS Program Requirements

Students are required to:

  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Applicants for the MA Program are required to submit results of the GRE for evaluation before admission.
  • Credit Hours: All students are required to complete 42 credit hours for the MA degree including coursework, online and in-person, and thesis preparation.
  • Grade Point Average: Students are required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 while enrolled in the MA program.
  • USD Requirement: Students must take at least one course at USD.
  • Foreign language requirement: Each student must demonstrate competency in a second language to be used for research in preparation of the thesis. Competency will be determined by passing of courses at the appropriate level (at USD or other approved institution), or by written or oral examination. No more than three units of language study may be applied to the degree requirements. The language requirement must be completed before the beginning of the second year in the program to aid in the preparation of the thesis.

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.

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MA Curriculum

Students in the MA program will encounter courses like Writings of Francis & Clare (SP 501), Intercultural Theology (ST 603), Modern Social Justice Prophets (HS 505), and Spirituality in the Time of Climate Crisis (CE 615). Special Reading Courses may be designed by a student in collaboration with a faculty member to allow deeper investigation of an individual author, theme, or work.

FST faculty members are also available to work with students using Franciscan research materials in Latin, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, and English.

Featured Courses

Writings of Francis & Clare

A careful reading of the complete writings of Francis and Clare of Assisi, exploring their Gospel form of life, the bases of Franciscan spirituality; images of God, Christ, Church, and the human person. All texts available in English translation. No previous study of Franciscan sources necessary.

Franciscan Christology

This basic course in Christology focuses on the particular contribution of Franciscan thinkers, the importance of the intercultural dialogue today and the significance of Franciscan spirituality for the third millennium. Student work includes regular reflection papers, one major paper/project and one midterm exam.

Intercultural Theology

This course will examine the historical interaction between Christianity and various cultures throughout its global mission of evangelization. It will explore a diverse approach to accommodating local cultures and study various contextual theologies and religious practices that have emerged in response to the specific concerns of local communities as they embrace and nurture Christianity in new contexts.

Letters of St. Paul

An introduction to the Letters of St. Paul, their historical context, theological message, along with questions for their significance for the development of early Christian communities.

Franciscan Seminar: The Lives of Francis

This seminar will explore the rich tradition of hagiographical texts dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. Beginning with the earliest Vita (1228), the members of the seminar will read the major texts of the 13th and 14th centuries dedicated to the Poverello of Assisi. All sources are available in their original Latin and modern translations (English, Spanish, etc.). Special attention will be dedicated to the newly-discovered Vita brevior by Thomas of Celano (1239 ca.), Bonaventure’s Major Life, (1260) and Bartholomew of Pisa’s Conformity. (1390) Each seminar member will choose one text for an oral and written presentation, culminating in a final research paper on the chosen text.

Modern Social Justice Prophets

What is a prophet? What is a prophet of social justice in the modern world? This course examines practitioners of social justice through a biographical lens. Walter Rauschenbusch, Mother Jones, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, Cesar Chavez, the Berrigan Brothers, A.J. Muste, Oscar Romero and others are presented as models of serious prophetic engagement with the modern world.

Spirituality in the time of Climate Crisis: Leadership, Ethics, and Laudato Si

Our disruption of Earth’s life support systems poses existential threats to human society and its future. How can we nurture innovation and leadership to create equitable solutions? How can we reimagine ethics and spirituality in service of social transformation?

Program Faculty

Students of the MA program study with renowned scholars whose teachings are drawn from lives of active service in parishes, schools, and community involvement. With a small student-teacher ratio, every student gets access to a wealth of knowledge and lived experiences.

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Yongho Francis Lee, OFM
Assistant Professor of Systematic & Comparative Theology
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Yongho Francis Lee, OFM
Assistant Professor of Systematic & Comparative Theology

Biography

Name:Yongho Francis Lee, OFM
Specialization:Systematic and Comparative Theology.
Email: yongholee@fst.edu
Phone:619-574-5800

“My study of Buddhism definitely shed new light on my understanding of Christianity and even of Franciscan spirituality. It also brought me home, but the home I found is not only the Christian tradition but also the Buddhist. The journey to Buddhism is a way to my new home, where my adopted home, the Christian tradition, is now renewed and merged with my old home, the Buddhist tradition.” Yongho Francis Lee, OFM—Becoming a Christian and Practicing Comparative Theology for a Korean Theologian.

Yongho Francis Lee, O.F.M., a Franciscan friar of the Korean Province, is Assistant Professor of Systematic and Comparative Theology at the Franciscan School of Theology, where he joined the faculty in January 2024 after four years of teaching at the Pontifical University Antonianum in Rome.

He received his academic training at Boston College for Licenticate in Sacred Theology and the University of Notre Dame for PhD. His research focuses on the Church’s engagement with cultural and religious diversity, particularly the dynamic interactions between Eastern and Western religious traditions. He has a special interest in the dialogue between Buddhism and Franciscanism, as exemplified in his book, Mysticism and Intellect in Medieval Christianity and Buddhism: Ascent and Awakening in Bonaventure and Chinul, as well as in several journal articles. Through studying, living, and teaching in various countries, he has developed a strong commitment to intercultural learning and living. In addition to his work in intercultural and interreligious theology, he has developed an interest in the visual representation of Franciscan spiritual and theological concepts, examining their historical development and cross-cultural adaptation. His current research includes a study of the fresco cycle in the Luke Wadding Cloister at Saint Isidore College, Rome, and the Franciscan Allegory in the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi.

Degrees

  • Ph.D. in Theology, University of Notre Dame
  • Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
  • Bachelor in Theology, Catholic University of Korea
  • Master in Science, Seoul National University
  • Bachelor in Science, Seoul National University  

Courses

Intercultural Theology

In contemporary theological discourse, scholars increasingly recognize the pivotal role of culture in shaping both theology and the Church. This course delves into the intricate interconnections between culture, the Church, theological frameworks, and the dissemination of Gospel messages. It provides an overview of mission history and diverse approaches to mission, while critically examining the significance of local cultural and religious contexts in the evolution of local theologies.

Theology, Church and World: An Introduction to Theology

An introductory course in theology which will discuss sources, methodology, relationship to the world, and an understanding of the Catholic magisterium. This course is intended for first-year theology students.

Franciscan Christology

This foundational course in Christology examines the historical development of Christological thought, from the biblical understanding of the identity of Jesus Christ to modern efforts to interpret his life and teachings in diverse contexts. The course also highlights the distinctive contributions of Franciscan thinkers in the High Middle Ages, grounded in Patristic theology and continuing to hold significant relevance today.

Introduction to Christian Spirituality

This course explores the historical development of Christian spirituality by examining the inspirational texts that have touched the mind and heart of Christians throughout history. The course also discusses the development of the definition of spirituality and various approaches to the modern studies of spirituality.

Intellectual and Spiritual Life in Christianity and Buddhism: Bonaventure and Chinul

This course examines the intellectual and spiritual legacies of two influential figures in Christianity and Buddhism: Bonaventure (c.1217–1274), a Franciscan theologian, and Chinul (1158–1210), a Korean Zen master. Both dedicated their lives to integrating intellectual inquiry and spiritual practice in pursuit of the ultimate goals of their respective traditions. A key focus of the course is the tension between two modes of religious discourse: positive (cataphatic) and negative (apophatic) theology. These approaches reflect different understandings of the divine or the ultimate, particularly in relation to its immanence and transcendence. The course fosters a meaningful dialogue between these traditions and between Western and Eastern perspectives.

Publications

You can find his publications here (https://fst-us.academia.edu/YonghoFrancisLee).

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Angela Zautcke, PhD
Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture
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Angela Zautcke, PhD
Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture

Biography

Name:Angela Zautcke, PhD
Specialization:Sacred Scripture
Email: angelazautcke@fst.edu
Phone:619-574-5815

Angela Zautcke, PhD, a San Diego native and Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture at the Franciscan School of Theology. She received her doctorate in Theology from the University of Notre Dame, where she studied Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity. While at Notre Dame, Dr. Zautcke received the Notebaert Fellowship, the university’s premiere fellowship for doctoral students. She was also awarded the Catholic Biblical Association’s Emerging Scholars Fellowship in 2023. Dr. Zautcke’s research focuses on the study of the New Testament within the context of Judaism and the Greco-Roman world. Dr. Zautcke also earned a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree from the Franciscan School of Theology.

Degrees

  • Ph.D. in Theology – University of Notre Dame
  • MTS – University of Notre Dame
  • MTS – Franciscan School of Theology
  • MA in Marriage and Family Therapy – University of San Diego
  • BA in English Literature – University of Southern California

Courses

Introduction to Old Testament

After a brief introduction to the Bible as a whole and various approaches to it, this course seeks to present an overview of the Old Testament by studying its main literary works, theological traditions, and the historical contexts in which they grew. The primary focus is on theology and spirituality.

Old Testament Wisdom Literature

This course is a survey of the wisdom material of the Bible, focusing on the Old Testament. We will explore themes of Wisdom theology in the wisdom books and in other types of literature in the OT. With these themes in mind, the course also discusses how Wisdom theology appears in some works in the New Testament.

Luke-Acts

This course is a study of the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. The course explores these documents from a literary and historical perspective. To this end, the course examines the historical, cultural, and geographical setting of the gospel and Acts as well as its authorship, audience, literary techniques and characteristics, theology and important themes. The course also compares the purpose, themes and orientation of Luke’s Gospel with the other synoptic gospels and compare Acts with other contemporaneous Greco-Roman literature.

Letters of St. Paul

This class introduces students to the Pauline epistles. Students will study the letters within the context of the Greco-Roman world and first-century Judaism to gain a better understanding of their theological message both for their original audience and today.

Psalms

This class introduces students to the language and literary form of the psalms. Students study the psalms in light of Old Testament theology, the canon of Scripture, communal worship and prayer.

Publications

  • Book review of Literary Theory and the New Testament, by Mical Beth Dinkler, Ancient Jew Review, 6 December 2022.
  • Co-Editor with Mark Elliott and Raleigh C. Heth, Studies in the History of Exegesis (Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2022).
  • “Erasing the Gospels: Sinaiticus Syriacus and Patterns among Syriac Gospel Palimpsests,”Early Christianity 12 (2021): 85-102.
  • Contributing author to Christopher Baron, ed. The Herodotus Encyclopedia, (Hoboken: Wiley, 2021).

Academic Awards

  • Notebaert Fellowship – University of Notre Dame
  • Dean’s Fellowship – University of Notre Dame
  • Mary Stuart Rogers Scholarship – Franciscan School of Theology
  • Dean’s Scholarship – University of Southern California
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Christopher M. O’Brien, PhD
Assistant Professor of Sacramental and Liturgical Theology
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Christopher M. O’Brien, PhD
Assistant Professor of Sacramental and Liturgical Theology

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Biography

Name:Christopher M. O’Brien, PhD
Specialization:Sacramental and Liturgical Theology
Email:  cobrien1@fst.edu
Phone:619-574-5713

Christopher M. O’Brien, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Sacramental and Liturgical Theology at the Franciscan School of Theology. He received his doctorate from The Catholic University of America in 2025 in Liturgical Studies/ Sacramental Theology. Prior to his time at CUA, he received a B.S. in Physics and an M.A. in Education from Stanford University, and an M. Div. from the University of Notre Dame. He also spent five years teaching physics and mathematics, mostly at Catholic high schools. His research, writing, and teaching aims to put liturgical-sacramental history and theology into conversation with lived experience of Christian worship. His articles on topics such as Christian initiation, Eucharist, children and liturgy, liturgical sacramental theology, ecclesiology, and ecumenism have been published in liturgical, theological, and ecumenical journals. His forthcoming book explores the history and theology of the practice of infant communion in Roman Catholicism.

Degrees

  • Ph.D. in Liturgical Studies/ Sacramental Theology – The Catholic University of America
  • M. Phil. in Liturgical Studies/ Sacramental Theology – The Catholic University of America
  • M. Div. – University of Notre Dame
  • M.A. in Education – Stanford University
  • B.S. in Physics – Stanford University

Select Publications

Infant Communion in Roman Catholicism (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press Academic). [forthcoming, 2026]

“Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children, Another Look: Context, Text, Reception, and Evaluation.” Ecclesia Orans 40, no. 2 (2023): 279-305.

“Ecology and the Eucharist: Pope Francis’ Liturgical Theology of Caring for Our Common Home.” Studia Liturgica 53, no. 2 (2023): 279-305.

“Children and the Eucharist at the Council of Trent.” Theological Studies 83, no. 3 (2022): 379-399. https://doi.org/10.1177/00405639221113461.

“‘Urbi et Orbi’ and Digitally Mediated Liturgy: Embodied Participation and Ecclesial Formation.” Anaphora 15, nos. 1-2 (2021): 59-70.

A full list of Dr. O’Brien’s publications can be found here. https://fst-us.academia.edu/ChristopherOBrien

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Juliet Mousseau, RSCJ, PhD
Vice President for Academic Affairs; Professor of Historical Theology
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Juliet Mousseau, RSCJ, PhD
Vice President for Academic Affairs; Professor of Historical Theology

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).

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Keith Warner, OFM
Associate Professor of Ethics and Spirituality – Academic Director of EdD in Catholic Social Thought in Practice
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Keith Warner, OFM
Associate Professor of Ethics and Spirituality – Academic Director of EdD in Catholic Social Thought in Practice

Biography

Name:Keith Douglass Warner, OFM
Specialization:Ethics & Spirituality
Email: keithwarner@fst.edu
Phone:619.574.5800

Keith Douglass Warner OFM is a practical social ethicist in the Franciscan tradition, researching the role of ethics and spirituality in the transformation of people and social structures. He teaches moral theology, Catholic social thought, and Franciscan philosophy. He has written, taught, and presented internationally on Franciscan eco-spirituality in the encyclical Laudato si’. With Ilia Delio OSF and Pamela Wood, is co-author of “Care for Creation: A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth Expanded Edition” (Franciscan Media, 2024, translated into Spanish and Korean).

During his two decades at Santa Clara University, he designed and led a global action research fellowship in social entrepreneurship, and designed leadership formation programs for ACWECA, a network of 30,000 East African Catholic Sisters, to transform subsistence farms into social enterprises. He designed and led the Franciscan Journey Institute, a program of Franciscan philosophy as a way of life, structured by Bonaventure’s Itinerarium Mentis in Deum. He is a long-time member of the Commission on the Franciscan Intellectual-Spiritual Tradition, and is currently researching the globalization of the Franciscan charism since Vatican II. He is an affiliated scholar with Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC.

Degrees

  • PhD in Environmental Studies from the University of California/Santa Cruz
  • MA in Spirituality from the Franciscan School of Theology
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William Short, OFM
Professor of Spirituality
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William Short, OFM
Professor of Spirituality

Biography

Name:William Short, OFM
Specialization:The Writings of Francis and Clare of Assisi; Franciscan Spirituality
Email: wshort@fst.edu
Phone:619.574.5800

“My great passion is to help others unpack the revolutionary insights of Francis and Clare of Assisi. It is amazing to realize that these two friends had a vision of an inclusive Church community 800 years ago. I am delighted to be at the Franciscan School where I have the freedom to explore their wonderful vision and do that in a community of brothers and sisters trying to live that vision today.”

Brother Bill was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. After graduating from the University of San Francisco, he entered the novitiate of the Franciscan Friars of St. Barbara Province, making his solemn profession of vows in 1978. After graduate studies in Berkeley and Rome, he was appointed to a teaching position at FST, where he has subsequently served as Academic Dean and President. In addition to his academic work, he is also an amateur wine-maker, a native-plant gardener, and an interpreter – translator for many international Franciscan meetings.

Degrees

  • S.T.D. Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome
  • S.T.L. Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome
  • MA Franciscan School of Theology, GTU, Berkeley
  • BA University of San Francisco

Courses

The Franciscan Contemplative Tradition

An exploration of predominant themes in Franciscan spiritual writing with special attention to Bonaventure, Angela of Foligno, Franciscan mystics and contemplatives and the Eremetical tradition 13th to 17th centuries.

Francis of Assisi: Early Documents

Presents the principal events in the life of Francis of Assisi and discusses the historical context of early Franciscan documents written between 1228 and 1280. Students will be able to offer a critical reading of early Franciscan documents according to the peculiar emphases of each text.

Writings of Francis and Clare of Assisi

A careful reading of the complete writings of the two saints of Assisi, exploring their “Gospel form of life,” the bases of Francis-Clarian spirituality; their images of God, Christ, Church, and the human person. All texts are available in English translation.

Select Publications

Books

Saints in the World of Nature: The Animal Story as Spiritual Parable in Medieval Latin Hagiography (Rome: Pontifical Gregorian University, 1983).

The Franciscans (Collegeville MN: The Liturgical Press/Michael Glazier Books, 1989).

Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, (with R. Armstrong, W. Hellmann, eds.), 3 Vols (+ Index) (Hyde Park NY: New City Press, 1999-2002).

Thomas of Celano, The Francis Trilogy. The Life of Saint Francis, The Remembrance of the Desire of a Soul, The Treatise on the Miracles of Saint Franci. (with R. Armstrong, W. Hellmann, eds) (Hyde Park NY: New City Press, 2004).

Poverty and Joy: The Franciscan Tradition (London/ Maryknoll NY: Darton, Longman & Todd; Orbis Books, 1999).

United States Documents in the Propaganda Fide Archives Vol. 12 (editor) (Berkeley: Academy of American Franciscan History, 2002).

United States Documents in the Propaganda Fide Archives Vol. 13 (editor) (Berkeley: Academy of American Franciscan History, 2006).

Book Translations

Paolo Sacchi, Jewish Apolcalyptic: A History (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997).

Maria Pia Alberzoni, Clare of Assisi and the Poor Sisters in the Thirteenth Century (St. Bonaventure NY: The Franciscan Institute, 2004).

Articles

“Eden Restored: A Medieval Vision of Saints and Nature,” Continuum (Spring, 1992).

“Hagiographical Method in Reading Franciscan Sources,” Laurentianum (1994), repr. in Greyfriars Review (1996).

“Popular Religion: The Turn of the Last Millennium,” Chicago Studies, 37: 268-279 (December, 1998).

“Recovering Lost Traditions in Spirituality: Franciscans, Camaldolese and the Hermitage,” Spiritus: A Journal of Christian Spirituality 3:2 (Fall 2003) 209-218.

“Francis, the ‘New’ Saint in the Tradition of Christian Hagiography: Thomas of Celano’s Life of Saint Francis,”in Jay M. Hammond, ed., Francis of Assisi: History, Hagiography and Hermeneutics in the Early Documents (Hyde Park, New York: New City Press, 2004).

“The Conversions of Francis of Assisi,”, Listening: Journal of Religion and Culture (Spring 2006) (commemorative issue for 800th Anniversary of the conversion of Francis of Assisi).

“Hendrik Herp, OFM, Directory of Contemplatives: Book Three,” trans. and intro. (St. Bonaventure NY: The Franciscan Institute) in Festschrift honoring Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F. (Franciscan Studies, 2006)

(Chapter): “From Contemplation to Inquisition: The Franciscan Practice of Recogimiento in 16th Century Spain,” in Timothy Johnson, ed., Franciscans at Prayer (Leyden: Brill, 2007).

(Chapters) “The Earlier Rule,” “The Later Rule,” “Fragments on an Earlier Rule,” in M. Blastic, ed., The Writings of Francis of Assisi: Rules, Testament and Admonitions Rules (St. Bonaventure NY: Franciscan Institute) 2011.

(Chapter) “The Rule and Life of the Friars Minor,” M. Robson, ed., The Cambridge Companion to St. Francis of Assisi (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) 2011.

(Chapter) “Preface,” in Christopher Stace, A sua immagine/ In His Image: The Life of St. Francis in the frescoes of the Convent in Borgo a Mozzano (Borgo a Mozzano, Italy: Maria Pacini Fazzi Editore, 2016) 8-9.

(Article) “The Liber de conformitate of Bartholomew of Pisa and its Sibylline and Prophetic Literature,” Carthaginensia 31(Enero-Diciembre 2015) 881-899.

(Article) “A Neglected Classic of Franciscan Spirituality, the Book of Conformities of Bartholomew of Pisa,” Berkeley Journal of Theology and Religion 2:2 (2016) 80-106.

Audio Visual

St. Francis of Assisi: A New Way of Being Christian. Lecture Series (Now You Know Media, 2007)

The Treasure of a Poor Man: St. Francis of Assisi and Franciscan Spirituality. Lecture Series (Rockville MD: Now You Know Media, 2008)

The Franciscan Intellectual Tradition. Lecture Series (Now You Know Media, 2009)

Saints and Animals. Lecture Series (Now You Know Media, 2010)

A Franciscan Retreat. Lecture Series (Now You Know Media, 2011)

Saint Bonaventure: The Soul’s Journey into God. Lecture Series (Now You Know Media, 2012)

The Writings of St. Francis of Assisi/ Los Escritos de San Francisco de Asís. Lecture Series (Oceanside CA: Franciscan School of Theology – Avalon Media, 2016)

Step 1:

Create an online account to start an application and apply to FST graduate programs. Review the Steps to Apply page to see all requirements.

Step 2:

Connect with an FST enrollment advisor. An enrollment advisor can guide you through the process, coordinate a campus visit, and even get your application fee waived.

Step 3:

Gather additional application materials. Request official transcripts and the contact information for your letters of recommendation.

Step 4:

Submit your application. Once all application materials have been received, the Admissions Committee will review your application, and the Admissions team will contact you with the decision.

Tuition & Financial Aid

The Franciscan School of Theology utilizes the University of San Diego’s financial aid department to provide financial aid guidance and support to our student body.

FST offers scholarships based on financial need and academic merit. Additionally, we offer two special programs for employees of Catholic institutions and professed members of the Secular Franciscan Order (full-time, on-campus degree programs only).

FST also participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program, open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

We recommend that applicants begin the financial aid process when applying for admission.

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Hear from our
community of graduates

As a Franciscan Friar from Vietnam, I am blessed to study at the Franciscan School of Theology. I hope the Franciscan Spirituality that I have learned here will benefit my brothers and sisters in Vietnam, especially those in formation whom I am called to serve.

Tuan Nguyen Master of Arts, Class of 2025

I intend to use my M.A. degree to help Hispanic young adults grow in the knowledge of their Catholic faith through spiritual formation programs focused on the values of the Franciscan tradition. It is my desire that they fully discover the richness of their Catholic heritage — a strong component of the Hispanic culture– and become ministry leaders in their own communities. I am grateful for the quality of instruction and spiritual support received at FST, which makes me feel confident in the pursuit of this goal.

Clelia Sallaberry Master of Arts, Class of 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Franciscan School of Theology admit lay persons? Our students come from all walks of life, both lay and religious. Our Requirements Page gives more information about requirements for our degrees and non-degree programs.
Do I have to be Catholic to attend FST? The Franciscan School of Theology gladly welcomes people of all beliefs to share in the Franciscan Spiritual and Intellectual Tradition – you do not need to be Roman Catholic to attend. FST is a Roman Catholic institution.
What do graduates do with their MA degrees? A Master of Arts holder can enter a wide range of careers with their degree, provided they have any additional required preparation. MA graduates have gone on to become theological researchers, PhD students, religious or secular secondary school teachers, diocesan catechetical leaders, lay ecclesial ministers, and community ministers.
Does FST offer financial assistance? Yes. The Franciscan School of Theology offers financial aid in scholarships, tuition assistance, programs for employees of Catholic institutions, and a program for professed members of the Secular Franciscan Order. In addition, FST participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program, open to US citizens and permanent residents. Alumni can also audit courses as Clare of Assisi Scholars at a discounted rate.
Does the Franciscan School of Theology admit International Students? Yes. The Franciscan School of Theology has a long tradition of welcoming students from around the world. Students have joined us from countries such as Germany, Korea, Vietnam, Guam, Spain, China, the Philippines, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, and Mexico. FST is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students.

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