Cool Timeline

1983
01 Jan, 1983
Doors of the Catholic Home Study Institute (CHSI) open on August 22nd.
01 Feb, 1983
The Congregation for the Clergy approves CHSI as a Pontifical Institute awarding a Catechetic Diploma exclusively through distance education.

CDU opens in 1983 as the Catholic Home Study Institute.

1986
01 Jan, 1986
Full accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), an accrediting agency of the U.S. Department of Education.

CDU earns DEAC accreditation in 1986

1992
01 Jan, 1992
The first Catechetical Diploma is awarded.
1996
01 Jan, 1996
Name changes to Catholic Distance University.
01 Feb, 1996
School offers fully accredited MA in Religious Studies.
1998
01 Jan, 1998

Bishop Welsh at Catholic Distance University in 1998.

1999
01 Jan, 1999
CDU begins offering noncredit continuing education courses.
2000
01 Jan, 2000
CDU offers its first online seminar.
2003
01 Jan, 2003
Bishop Paul Loverde, DD, Bishop of Arlington, takes the helm as president and chairman of CDU with Bishop Welsh becoming chairman emeritus.
02 Jan, 2003
MA in Theology is first offered, replacing the MA in Religious Studies.
2004
01 Jan, 2004
CDU adds a Bachelor of Arts in Theology degree completion program for students with ninety or more undergraduate credits.
2005
01 Jan, 2005
CDU upgrades to an innovative online campus and student life center.
2006
01 Jan, 2006
CDU offers a 100% online MA degree.
2008
01 Jan, 2008
CDU marks the beginning of its 25th year educating Catholics in the faith.
02 Jan, 2008
Marianne Evans Mount takes the helm as president with Bishop Paul Loverde serving as chairman of the Board of Trustees.
2010
01 Jan, 2010
CDU begins new partnership program with U.S. dioceses that allows them to offer CDU noncredit courses and seminars at a discounted rate.

CDU at the March for Life circa 2010.

2011
01 Jan, 2011
CDU adds another accredited degree program, the AA in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Catholic Studies.
2012
01 Jan, 2012
CDU offers a Graduate Certificate in Sacred Scripture.
2013
01 Jan, 2013

Chairman of the Board Bishop Paul Loverde and members of the CDU community at a pilgrimage to Rome in 2003.

2015
01 Jan, 2015
CDU moves to Charles Town, WV, and offers the MA in Theology and Educational Ministry degree funded by OSV Institute and the Graduate certificate for Catholic Educators.
2016
01 Jan, 2016

Graduates, faculty, and administrators attend 2016 academic convocation mass at annual gala.

2017
01 Jan, 2017
CDU offers courses to the incarcerated on tablets approved for use in prisons.
2018
01 Jan, 2018
CDU achieves candidacy in the Higher Learning Commission and associate membership in the Association of Theological Schools. CDU offers an Undergraduate Certificate for Catechetical Coordinators.
2020
01 Jan, 2020
The Graduate School of Theology is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.
2021
01 Jan, 2021
CDU receives a grant from the Lilly Foundation to develop Catholic Social Teaching (CST) programs especially targeted to the Hispanic Population.

Bishop Robert Barron is presented with the Founders Award, CDU’s highest honor, in 2021.

2022
01 Jan, 2022
CDU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
2023
01 Jan, 2023
CDU celebrates its 40th Anniversary.

Stories about Our Students

CDU by the Numbers

  • CDU has seen significant growth through the past 40 years, with 56% of the degrees and certificates being earned in the past 10 years alone.
  • CDU is a uniquely international institution, with 9% of the total student population residing outside of the U.S.
  • The international students reside in 24 countries.
  • CDU students hail from 49 states.
  • Today, CDU offers over 150 total academic and continuing education courses each year entirely online.
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