Franciscan at Home: Free Online Courses provides opportunities to grow both intellectually and spiritually through courses that are academically excellent and passionately Catholic.
If you are not able to find an answer to your question from the list below, please contact us via email at [email protected].
Is there a cost associated with taking an online course?
Franciscan at Home online courses are completely free! We are able to offer this through the generous support of our Franciscan University benefactors and through our partnership with The Catechetical Institute. Readings and other materials are offered at no cost to you.
How are courses structured?
Courses consist of 4-6 sessions, each containing one video lecture (approximately 20 minutes), a brief reading assignment, and a reflection question. Free PDFs of reading materials are linked on each session page.
While submitting a written reflection is optional, writing a response helps you process and retain what you are learning. Upon completing your written reflection, a follow-up commentary from the instructor in written or video form will appear in the box below your response.
You will take a final quiz at the end of the course. A passing grade is required to receive a Statement of Completion.
How do I get my Statement of Completion?
Your Statement of Completion is a PDF that will be sent via email upon successfully passing the final quiz. Please note that you must answer all of the quiz questions correctly in order to receive the Statement of Completion. You may re-attempt the quiz an unlimited number of times.
Is any of my work graded?
Written assignments are not graded – these are opportunities for you to jot down your thoughts and reflections on the subject matter. The final quiz is graded, and you must receive a passing grade in order to receive the Statement of Completion. You may re-attempt the quiz if you do not receive a passing grade.
Are these courses taught in a way that upholds Catholic teaching?
Yes – all of the Franciscan University's courses are authentically and passionately Catholic and are faithful to the teachings of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
What is the average time commitment for a course?
Each session contains a 20-minute lecture video, a brief reading assignment, and a reflection question. We recommend budgeting approximately 45 minutes per session. Courses vary from 4-6 sessions. Therefore, you can expect to spend 3-4.5 hours on a course.
What are some tips to succeed in the online courses?
We recommend watching the lecture videos and completing the reading assignments with a pencil or pen in hand. You may find it helpful to print out the readings and to mark the text in the following ways:
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Underline points or ideas the author is indicating as important. One indication that a point is being emphasized is that the words or ideas recur; another is that the point is written about in a particularly arresting way.
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Mark any words or ideas when you are not certain as to their meaning. You’ll want to check the meaning of these — check any footnotes, or a biblical dictionary to help understand them. Probe the text; make it a habit to ask “Why?” of passages.
How do I reset my password?
On the Login page, click “Request new password.” Enter your email address and click “E-mail New Password.” A new password will be sent to your inbox within a few minutes. Click “Reset my password” in the email and follow the prompt to set a new password.
What courses do you have available?
Franciscan at Home’s free online course initiative launched in January. We will be adding new courses regularly, so be sure to check back frequently for new and exciting topics! You can visit all of our course offerings by visiting this page: franciscanathome.com/freecourses-offerings
What other opportunities for learning and formation exist with Franciscan University of Steubenville?
After completing a course with Franciscan at Home, we recommend visiting our Course Offerings page to check out additional courses.
If you would like to take your learning to the next level, we encourage you to consider earning a degree either on-campus or online at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Featuring over 40 undergraduate and 10 graduate degrees, Franciscan University provides an education as rigorous and demanding as it is faithful. You can view our online degree options here and our on-campus degree options here.
If you are unable to commit to moving to Steubenville, we still encourage you to visit our campus for one of our world-renowned conferences. We offer engaging and inspiring conferences for youth and adults. You can view a schedule of upcoming conferences here.
Catechists, diocesan or parish employees, or those who want to better integrate their faith in their work or family life, may enjoy exploring workshops offered through the Catechetical Institute! Officially launched in 2016, the Franciscan University Catechetical Institute seeks to serve Christ and his Church by forming those Catholics entrusted with the formation of others. This includes priests, deacons, and parents, as well as lay ecclesial ministers, teachers, religious, and parish catechists.
What is the difference between the Franciscan at Home’s free courses and the workshops offered by the Catechetical Institute?
Franciscan at Home’s free online courses are offered at no cost. Courses are continually being developed to represent a variety of disciplines and industries. Workshops offered by the Catechetical Institute seek to form Catholics who are teachers of the faith—whether at work or at home. These workshops are available to parishes or dioceses with a paid subscription, or are available for individuals to enjoy for as low as $4.99 per month.
The Catechetical Institute workshops are hosted within the Franciscan at Home website. However, you will need to create a separate account for use with the Catechetical Institute. You can learn more about the Catechetical Institute and sign up for a subscription here.
What data is recorded by the online system?
Aside from the information collected from each user during registration, the system tracks the pace of each learner through a course, the degree to which each video segment was viewed by a learner, the evaluation form submitted at the end of each course, the number of courses completed, and any Statements of Completion earned by the learner.
Do the courses accommodate those with hearing difficulty?
Each course video is posted with captions, as well as the ability to print out a full transcript. All reading assignments are provided in PDF format.
Who do I contact for technical troubleshooting?
For online system glitches and similar issues, please email our team at [email protected] or call (740) 283-6456.