Catholic graduate school offering theology, pastoral studies, and philosophy degrees online since 1893.
St. Bernard's offers four graduate master's degrees: Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, Master of Divinity, and Master of Arts in Catholic Philosophy. The school also provides six graduate certificate programs including Catholic Biblical Studies, Catechetical Leadership, Catholic Philosophy, Sanctity of Life, and Catholic Bioethics, plus a Certificate in Evangelization and Permanent Diaconate Formation. All programs emphasize live, synchronous online engagement as the foundation of formational education rooted in Catholic intellectual tradition.
St. Bernard's traces its roots to 1893 when Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid established St. Bernard's Seminary to educate priests for the Diocese of Rochester. The institution evolved through multiple iterations: it became St. Bernard's Institute in 1981 and relocated to its current independent facility on French Road in 2003. The school maintains covenant partnerships with Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and holds the official archives of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, a former Bishop of Rochester and internationally recognized evangelist.
The main campus is located in Pittsford, New York, with an extension in Albany serving the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. Classes are also offered in Syracuse at LeMoyne College. The school emphasizes distance education through live, formational online instruction designed to create community and spiritual transformation despite the virtual format.
St. Bernard's welcomes students pursuing complete graduate degrees for personal formation or professional ministry development. The school also accepts students seeking individual graduate certificates or those taking a first step toward theological study. Admissions information and application materials are available through the official website.