Franciscan School of Theology
Encyclopedia
The Franciscan School of Theology is a Roman Catholic graduate theological school, owned and operated by the Province of Saint Barbara of the Order of Friars Minor. Rooted in 800 years of Franciscan
tradition, FST is a place where the issues and concerns of society intersect theological education.
FST is a member school of the Graduate Theological Union
, an ecumenical consortium of nine schools. FST is accredited by The Association of Theological Schools in the United States
and Canada
, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
was chartered as an apostolic college and continued in that capacity until 1885. From 1869 to 1877, it also functioned as a college for lay men. In 1896, it began a four-year high school seminary program. The high school became a separate institution in 1901, and the college department became a separate institution at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
in Oceanside, California
in 1929. Over the course of the years, the college department expanded into a four-year accredited liberal arts college.
Mission Santa Barbara
remained the center for theological studies and continued to operate as a seminary until 1968 when the theological school moved to Berkeley, California
as the Franciscan School of Theology, a member school of the Graduate Theological Union
.
and by the Association of Theological Schools
. FST is a member school of the Graduate Theological Union
, an ecumenical consortium of nine small proprietary schools for nuns and priests. The retention, graduation, and job placement rates are unknown and not disclosed by FST.
The school trains lay men and women to become clergy in the Roman Catholic Church and offers the following degrees:
A Masters of Arts program and PhD program are offered in conjunction with the Graduate Theological Union, a consortium of nine small proprietary ecumenical schools of theology..
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
tradition, FST is a place where the issues and concerns of society intersect theological education.
FST is a member school of the Graduate Theological Union
Graduate Theological Union
The Graduate Theological Union ' is a consortium of nine independent theological schools, and eleven centers and affiliates. Eight of the theological schools are located in Berkeley, California. The GTU was founded in 1962. It maintains the Graduate Theological Union Library, one of the most...
, an ecumenical consortium of nine schools. FST is accredited by The Association of Theological Schools in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
History
In 1854 Mission Santa BarbaraMission Santa Barbara
In 1840, Alta California and Baja California were removed from the Diocese of Sonora to form the Diocese of Both Californias. Bishop Francisco Garcia Diego y Moreno, OFM, established his cathedra at Mission Santa Barbara, making the chapel the pro-cathedral of the diocese until 1849...
was chartered as an apostolic college and continued in that capacity until 1885. From 1869 to 1877, it also functioned as a college for lay men. In 1896, it began a four-year high school seminary program. The high school became a separate institution in 1901, and the college department became a separate institution at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, also known as Mission San Luis Rey or San Luis Rey Mission Church, was founded on June 13, 1798 in coastal Las Californias, in the present day U.S. city of Oceanside in California. The local Quechnajuichom Native American tribe became known as the Luiseño 'Mission...
in Oceanside, California
Oceanside, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 people per square mile...
in 1929. Over the course of the years, the college department expanded into a four-year accredited liberal arts college.
Mission Santa Barbara
Mission Santa Barbara
In 1840, Alta California and Baja California were removed from the Diocese of Sonora to form the Diocese of Both Californias. Bishop Francisco Garcia Diego y Moreno, OFM, established his cathedra at Mission Santa Barbara, making the chapel the pro-cathedral of the diocese until 1849...
remained the center for theological studies and continued to operate as a seminary until 1968 when the theological school moved to Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
as the Franciscan School of Theology, a member school of the Graduate Theological Union
Graduate Theological Union
The Graduate Theological Union ' is a consortium of nine independent theological schools, and eleven centers and affiliates. Eight of the theological schools are located in Berkeley, California. The GTU was founded in 1962. It maintains the Graduate Theological Union Library, one of the most...
.
Academic Program and Accreditation
Franciscan School of Theology is a small Roman Catholic proprietary school located in a large house in the city of Berkeley, California. FST is not affiliated with the University of California Berkeley and is not accredited by the Association of American Colleges. FST students are not eligible to receive Cal Grants or Federally Insured Student Loans in payment of FST tuition. It is recognized by the Western Association of Schools and CollegesWestern Association of Schools and Colleges
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...
and by the Association of Theological Schools
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada is an organization of seminaries and other graduate schools of theology. ATS has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has more than 250 member institutions...
. FST is a member school of the Graduate Theological Union
Graduate Theological Union
The Graduate Theological Union ' is a consortium of nine independent theological schools, and eleven centers and affiliates. Eight of the theological schools are located in Berkeley, California. The GTU was founded in 1962. It maintains the Graduate Theological Union Library, one of the most...
, an ecumenical consortium of nine small proprietary schools for nuns and priests. The retention, graduation, and job placement rates are unknown and not disclosed by FST.
The school trains lay men and women to become clergy in the Roman Catholic Church and offers the following degrees:
- Master of Arts in Ministry for a Multicultural Church (MAMC) - is a two-year professional degree designed for lay women and men, religious and clergy who intend to work professionally in the Roman Catholic Church, and for those already engaged in ministry who wish to build upon their ministerial competencies.
- Master of Theological Studies (MTS)Master of Theological StudiesA Master of Theological Studies is a general academic degree that gives students an introduction to advanced theological studies. The M.T.S usually requires two years of program study to complete. The Latin equivalent for M.T.S...
- A two-year academic degree providing a breadth of theological understanding for general educational purposes.
- Master of Divinity (M Div.)Master of DivinityIn the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
- A four-year professional degree that testifies to proficiency in the sciences and skills necessary for ordination to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church.
A Masters of Arts program and PhD program are offered in conjunction with the Graduate Theological Union, a consortium of nine small proprietary ecumenical schools of theology..