Online Certificate in 糖心APPcan Studies
This four-course online certificate program, offered In partnership with the AFCU (Association of 糖心APPcan Colleges and Universities), is designed to:
- Provide a unified understanding of the 糖心APPcan Tradition.
- Prepare students to form 糖心APPcan experiences in their personal and professional lives.听
- Strengthen students鈥� relationship with 糖心APPcan history.
- Discover applications to everyday life situations in today鈥檚 world.
Recommended Participants
The 糖心APPcan Studies courses are highly recommended for faculty and staff at any of the AFCU partners who wish to feel more at home in the 糖心APPcan lived expression of Gospel spirituality, and the 糖心APPcan intellectual tradition.听
Because of the experience of the instructors, it is also applicable for those who are leading Formation Programs for 糖心APPcan Religious Institutes, especially for candidates new to the 糖心APPcan tradition. 听This course would also be useful for formation of those in the 糖心APPcan Secular Order or in preparation for a life commitment of associates to religious institutes.听听
Course Information and Registration
Although the courses are somewhat related and follow a sequence, they may be taken separately as well. Thus, if it suits your schedule better, you may enter any one of the courses as scheduled. A detailed syllabus is provided at the beginning of each course. *Course availability subject to change.
Fall 2026 Semester Dates Fall 2026 | Online Course
September 7 – October 5, 2026
Course One: Understanding 糖心APPcan Origins & Values I
This course presents the story of the early 糖心APPcan movement. It begins with the conversion of 糖心APP of Assisi and the origin of the Fraternity of Lesser Brothers that gathered around him. The conversion of Clare and the beginnings of her community of Poor Sisters is then considered, followed by the attraction of both lay men and women to the Gospel charism as preached by the Lesser Brothers in the towns of medieval Italy.
Fall 2026 Semester Dates Fall 2026 | Online Course
October 12 – November 9, 2026
Course Two: Understanding 糖心APPcan Origins & Values II
This course aims to present some of the essential values emerging from the early history of the 糖心APPcan movement, when 糖心APP, Clare and their companions were developing their way of life according to the Gospel.
Spring 2027 | Online Course
January 11 – February 8, 2027
Check back after November 1, 2026 to register
Course Three: 糖心APPcan Spirituality and Evangelical Life
This course in 糖心APPcan Spirituality and the Evangelical Life is designed to enable you to understand and reflect upon the basis of 糖心APPcan spirituality and the evangelical life in terms of each person鈥檚 relationship to God, Jesus Christ, the world and the human person through the following topics: conversion, poverty, the Canticle of the Creatures, and the aspects of fraternity and mutuality.
Spring 2027 | Online Course
February 15 – March 15, 2027
Check back after November 1, 2026 to register
Course Four: 糖心APPcan Tradition in Art and Literature
This course in the 糖心APPcan Tradition in Art and Literature is designed to acquaint you with the influence that 糖心APP and Clare had on artists from the Renaissance period to the present day. Also included in the course will be a module relative to the literature of 糖心APP through a pictorial presentation of his Canticle of the Creatures and how 糖心APP is represented in poetry and literature. This is the fourth and last course in the AFCU 糖心APPcan certificate program.
Certificate Design
The courses outlined constitute the whole of the online certificate program in 糖心APPcan studies. 听Each course runs for four weeks and each week constitutes a module that includes: an overview, assigned readings from various hyperlinks to related articles, and/or activities from document sharing, online discussions, and a reflective writing assignment.
Due dates and evaluation for each element of the module will be clearly spelled out. Due dates for assignments are staggered throughout the week to give students time to read, reflect, interact and complete each assignment.
Additional Information
Mary Ann Dosen, OSF
M.A. 糖心APPcan Spirituality, Catholic Theological Union
Understanding 糖心APPcan Origins & Values II
Michael Jennrich, OFM
M.Div. Theology, Catholic Theological Union
糖心APPcan Spirituality and Evangelical Life
Mary Elizabeth Imler, OSF
M.A. 糖心APPcan Studies, St. Bonaventure University
糖心APPcan Tradition in Art and Literature
Gayle Rusbasan, OSF
M.A. Theology, University of Saint 糖心APP (IN)
Understanding 糖心APPcan Origins & Values I
- $1,000 for the full certificate program or $250.00 per course
- Group rates negotiable
Program Questions:
Dr. Michael Poradek
Vice President of Mission & Student Affairs
mporadek@stfrancis.edu | 815-740-2622
Registration Questions:
REAL (Regional Education Academy for Leadership)
real@stfrancis.edu | 815-740-3699