Designed to Form the Next Generation of Catholic Evangelists and Cultural Leaders

The Catholic University of America, in collaboration with Bishop Robert Barron and his Word on Fire Ministries, offers the Master of Arts in Evangelization and Culture (MAEC) — a program designed to form the next generation of Catholic evangelists and cultural leaders.

33

Credits to complete the degree

$600

Per credit hour

3 to 4

Semesters for students to complete the program

Offering academically rigorous engagement with the key thinkers, ideas, and methods necessary for proclaiming the Gospel in a secularized and tech-saturated world, this program blends intellectual formation with pastoral formation. Courses are taught live online by dedicated faculty — including renowned faculty in the School of Theology and Religious Studies and fellows in the Word on Fire Institute — ensuring students receive personal mentorship throughout their studies.

The M.A. in Evangelization & Culture blends online coursework with an in-person summer residency to offer a unique, comprehensive experience.

bible in front of a virtual class

Anchored in the eight pillars of Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire movement, and with a special focus on identifying the “seeds of the Word” present in contemporary culture, the program equips students to draw deeply from the Church’s rich philosophical, theological, moral, and artistic traditions. 

This unique graduate program, with its emphasis on evangelization, offers a specialization not available in M.A. programs at peer institutions. The program will be delivered in a hybrid format: courses will be offered live online synchronously in the fall and spring semesters, with a one-week in-person summer residency program on Catholic University’s beautiful Washington, D.C. campus. 

Whether students are preparing for formal ministry, professional work, or simply seeking deeper participation in the Church’s mission, the M.A. in Evangelization and Culture provides the intellectual and pastoral formation needed for all to participate in the Church’s evangelizing mission with clarity, creativity, and joy.

Bringing Together Catholic University and Word on Fire Instructors

This partnership between two highly respected Catholic institutions brings you professors and instructors who are among the brightest minds in Catholic higher education and ministry today.

  • The School of Theology and Religious Studies: a Pontifical school, meaning our expert faculty have received a canonical mission to teach in the name of the Church, educating disciples in faith and morality.
  • The Word on Fire Institute: renowned experts on Church teaching who are part of one of the largest online communities of Catholic evangelists in the world.

Admission Requirements

  • Requirements List

    • A completed online application
    • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
    • Official transcripts from previous colleges / universities
    • Resume
    • Goal Statement
    • Students for whom English is a second language are required to submit Language Proficiency scores

Curriculum / Courses

  • Overview

    Assessment will combine written tests, essays, and research papers, oral and written exams, class participation and a capstone project.

    Upon successful completion of the program you will be able to:

    • Articulate the Church’s vision for evangelization through knowledge of key magisterial and theological documents;
    • Demonstrate knowledge of the relationship of the Gospel message to Truth, Goodness, and Beauty;
    • Articulate the relationship of theology to contemporary culture with attention to both the gift and the challenge of the Church’s witness to the Gospel;
    • Demonstrate skills for articulating their own story of faith and sharing the Church’s story with family members, peers, and others.

  • Core Requirements

    1. TRS 563 Ressourcement Theology for Evangelists
    2. TRS 564 Reading for Evangelists
    3. TRS 565 Christology for Evangelists
    4. TRS 566 The True: Philosophy for Evangelists
    5. TRS 567 The Good: Moral Theology for Evangelists
    6. TRS 568 The Beautiful: Art and the Sacred Arts for Evangelists
    7. TRS 569 Biblical Studies for Evangelists

    Subtotal: 21 hours

  • General Electives (Choose 3)

    1. TRS 570 Advanced Topics in Evangelization I: Summer Residency
    2. TRS 571 Advanced Topics in Evangelization II: Summer Residency
    3. TRS 572 Dante for Evangelists
    4. TRS 573 The Evangelical Legacy of Vatican II
    5. TRS 574 Spirituality for Evangelists 
    6. TRS 575 Patristics for Evangelists
    7. TRS 576 Evangelization and Anthropology
    8. TRS 577 Practical Evangelization and Catechesis

    Subtotal: 9 hours

  • Capstone

    1. TRS 578 Evangelization and Culture Capstone

    Subtotal: 3 hours

See full course descriptions for the core curriculum, electives, and capstone.  

Summer Residency Program

An optional summer residency on the beautiful campus of The Catholic University of America offers students the opportunity for intensive study, fellowship, and full immersion in Catholic culture in the heart of the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

view of campus and basillica

A student getting questions answered.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Find answers to common questions about the program.

A view of Catholic University campus.Apply Now

Submit your application today for the Master of Arts in Evangelization and Culture.