Courses & Programs
CDU's independent study program has attracted over 10,000 students in over 20 years. It is designed to meet the needs of adult learners eager to participate more actively in their own academic and spiritual growth while, at the same time, meeting their needs for flexibility and convenience.
CDU offers you the flexibility of enrolling in one of our diploma programs (e.g., Master of Arts, Catechetical Diploma), or just an individual course, as well as taking courses for credit or noncredit.
To learn more about our programs, and or courses offered, select an area of interest from the menu on the left, or follow one of the links below. If at any time you have questions about the courses or programs offered, please feel free to contact  CDU.
CDU's Distance Education
The first distance educator in the Church was probably St. Paul who, in the first century AD, wrote Epistles, or letters of instruction, to the early Christian communities. He found the epistle to be an effective way to continue catechizing even when he could not be physically present. God continues to catechize us today through St. Paul's Epistles.
Every CDU course uses a modular format. A manual, divided into short lessons, guides you step-by-step through the course. Each self-contained lesson includes an Introduction, a list of Learning Goals, Key Words and Phrases with Glossary, the Course Author's Lecture, and Reading Assignments. A Self-check reading comprehension Quiz, instructions for completing Written Assignments, Optional Discussion Questions and a Spiritual Reflection from the writings of Church Fathers and Doctors enrich each lesson, both intellectually and spiritually, which contributes to the effectiveness of individual study. You will appreciate the convenience of preprinted Request-for-Help forms should you need extra help from a Staff Theologian. A Distance Learning Schedule form and an ample supply of preaddressed return mail envelopes for mailing your assignments to CDU are included. And many of CDU's Faculty offer the option of sending written assignments through electronic mail.
Whether you mail, fax or e-mail your written assignments, a qualified staff instructor will evaluate your work and correspond with you. You will enjoy the advantage of being in a "class of one" while united in spirit with fellow students studying the same courses in many parts of the world.
No matter which course you choose, personal help is always available. In fact, many students have written to tell us that they received more personal attention from the CDU courses using distance learning than they did from courses taught in a traditional classroom. Whether you are a teacher, parent, priest, religious sister or brother, permanent deacon, college student, convert, or simply find yourself hungry to learn more about the Faith, CDU makes distance education easy. Most students discover that CDU courses not only meet their educational expectations but, more importantly, deepen their love for God and the Church and give them the confidence to communicate the Faith to others. You will discover that's the CDU way— personal, academically enriching and spiritually rewarding.
CDU's students attest to these unique advantages of independent study:
- It's easier to fit courses into a busy schedule.
- You can attend class no matter where you live.
- If you move, you can continue the course at your new location.
- If you have a family, you won't need child care.
- You save time and money not having to commute to class.
Distance Learning
Historically, distance learning has been a method of education in which the instructor and student are geographically separated. However, developments in adult learning have focused the purpose of distance learning beyond overcoming the constraints of time and place. Educators today recognize that school is a process, not a place, particularly for adults.
Although distance learning may be a new experience for you, if you prefer greater flexibility to plan when and where you wish to study, then you will find distance learning a rewarding experience. Today, more than three million Americans use distance learning each year, including many large state universities, Fortune 500 Companies and most branches of the Military and U.S. Government.
Distance learning invites greater self-discipline and because students arrange their own study schedule, they have found that what they learn is more easily integrated into their day-to-day life. Such a process enhances personal growth and immediate application of what is learned.
Along with these unique benefits, distance education programs include the very same components as traditional classroom programs— students, qualified faculty, the opportunity for individual help, textbooks, challenging assignments and examinations. With 20 years of experience in distance learning, CDU excels in two important areas: high quality, up-to-date course materials and a caring, responsive student services department to facilitate the learning process. We believe that these strengths will ensure that you are successful with this highly effective method of adult learning.
Course Management
Students have six months from the date of enrollment to complete a paper based course. AT the end of six months, the student will automatically be withdrawn from the course - a withdrawal due to expiration.
To re-enroll in the same course at a later date, following a withdrawal for expiration, a student must pay full tuition and submit all required course work. Students will be charged for the replacement of course materials.
The online courses are trimester based. The trimesters allow 15 weeks for the completion of the course including the Final Exam. No extensions are offered for an online course.
Course Manuals and Textbooks
Tuition at CDU includes a Course Manual, which guides you step-by-step through your course, bound in a convenient three-ring binder. The Course Manual includes the lessons, quizzes, instructions, assignments, a glossary, and an anthology of assigned readings. Integrated into each course are special elements that contribute to the effectiveness of individual study such as self-check quizzes and spiritual reflections from the writings of Church Fathers and Doctors that enrich each lesson both intellectually and spiritually.
Also included in your Course Manual are:
- A Progress Sheet to help you establish and achieve your goals,
- Request-for-Help forms, one of the ways we provide to assist you with any questions you may have as you progress through your course,
- A Student Questionnaire to help us serve you better, and
- An ample supply of pre-addressed return envelopes for your convenience.
Textbooks for courses need to be purchased (or borrowed) separately.
A number of courses require some of the same textbooks (e.g. Fr. Hardon's Pocket Catholic Dictionary). The Catechism of the Catholic Church (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1994) is a required text for all CDU courses and is a tremendous resource no Catholic household should be without.
Visit the CDU Bookstore to purchase your books online!
A word about The Word
It has been said that the best Bible is the one you will read. However, certain translations are more faithful to the meaning of the original, inspired texts than others, and some versions may be designed to serve specific purposes (e.g. bible study). One good English version of the Bible for use in theological study is the Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition (RSV-CE). Ignatius Press publishes this version, commonly referred to as the "Ignatius Bible."
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