What is Pontifex University?

Pontifex University is a Roman Catholic university, loyal to the Magisterium, and grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition. We offer affordable, high-quality educational programs for credit or for personal enrichment combining online programs with optional in-residence programs, seminars and workshops. All Pontifex University educational programs are designed to be in accord with this supernatural aim, namely, the transformation of the person so that all they do might be directed to the common good and in accord with the will of God.

 

"The proper and immediate end of Christian education is to cooperate with divine grace in forming the true and perfect Christian, that is, to form Christ Himself in those regenerated by Baptism...For precisely this reason, Christian education takes in the whole aggregate of human life , physical and spiritual, intellectual and moral, individual, domestic and social, not with a view of reducing it in any way, but in order to elevate, regulate and perfect it." 

- Pope Pius XI, Divini Ilius Magistri..

Master of Sacred Arts (MSA) 

The Master of Sacred Arts (MSA) offers a holistic formation encompassing theology, liturgy, philosophy, art history and fine arts, in order to enrich all artistic pursuits by first enriching the artist. 

 

The Master of Sacred Arts is based on the traditional education that used to be given to artists in all creative disciplines - a Catholic inculturation which taught them to 1) Apprehend Beauty, 2) Develop Creativity, and 3) be Open to Inspiration.

 

For those who are interested in the Master of Sacred Arts but who are not seeking artistic fields, elements of the Master of Sacred Arts can be added beneficially to any program of study, whether academic or vocational, or can be a source of personal enrichment so that both work and recreation might be elevated, regulated, and perfected in conformity with the continuing work of God in this world..To learn more about our vision of education, please visit  Pontifex University's Educational Vision.

Why Pontifex University?

 

Pontifex University's online education program provides students with the chance to study with high caliber teachers from around the world and from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Our courses are asynchronous and fully online making them accessible anywhere at anytime. Hence, Pontifex is able to connect its students with a global community who share the Catholic faith. 

Degree Granting Authority.

Pontifex University is an apostolate of the Solidarity Association which is an Association of the Christian Faithful erected as a Public Juridic Body by Decree of the late Archbishop John Francis Donoghue pursuant to canon law sections 298-329. The operational authority granted to the Solidarity Association includes the provision of education and formation at all levels. Additionally, Pontifex University is compliant with the Decree of Promulgation of  Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

 

 

Every university or University is qualified by a specified mode of being. Yours is the qualification of being Catholic, of affirming God, his revelation, and the Catholic Church as the guardian and interpreter of that revelation. The term Catholic will never be a mere label either added or dropped according to the pressures of varying factors.

-Pope St. John Paul the Great

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Additionally, Pontifex University has complied with the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 20-3-250.3 (a)(6) by meeting reporting requirements and is in compliance with the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission from August 31, 2017 to August 31, 2018.  The Master of Sacred Arts Degree is awarded by Pontifex University and is in compliance with Georgia Law. To learn more about this certificate, please click on the following link: GNPEC Certificate Students undertaking the Master of Sacred Arts for the purpose of an occupation or vocation, or with an intent to proceed to further post-graduate education should ensure that the Master of Sacred Arts Degree meets the requirements of the proposed employment or academic institution as appropriate. The Master of Sacred Arts Degree Degree is intended to be taken as a complete program and credits may not transfer except to institutions with which Pontifex University has an articulation or credit transfer agreement. As a new academic program, the Master of Sacred Arts is not eligible for accreditation and Pontifex University will explore appropriate options for accreditation when the program has reached an appropriate level of maturity: 

 

"The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. Accreditation in the United State involves non-governmental entities as well as governmental agencies…Accrediting agencies, which are private educational associations of regional or national scope, develop evaluation criteria and conduct peer evaluations to assess whether or not those criteria are met. Institutions and/or programs that request an agency's evaluation and that meet an agency's criteria are then "accredited" by that agency." 

- U.S. Department of Education