University of Dayton to offer online religious courses in Spanish

Published: 2004-04-20

DAYTON, Ohio (CNS) -- The University of Dayton is exploring offering Spanish-language faith formation classes over the Internet, with a pilot program tentatively slated for early 2005. The university's Institute for Pastoral Initiatives already offers more than two dozen online classes. Last year, more than 1,000 students took 26 classes in such topics as Catholic belief, church history, sacraments, social justice and media literacy. Another 20 courses are expected to be developed over the next two years. Sister Angela Ann Zukowski, a Mission Helper of the Sacred Heart who is director of the institute, said Hispanic leaders in the 21 dioceses who are partners of the institute "strongly support expanding our successful online program and offering courses in Spanish." Participants earn continuing education credit from the University of Dayton. Classes, which take four to six weeks to complete, cost $40 for students from a partner diocese and $75 for students from other dioceses.

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