Ave Maria UNIVERSITY
Naples, Florida
The University
As the first new Catholic university in forty years, Ave Maria University exists to further teaching, research, and learning in the abiding tradition of Catholic thought in both national and international settings. The University sponsors a liberal arts education curriculum dedicated to the advancement of human culture, the promotion of dialogue between faith and reason, and the formation of men and women in the intellectual and moral virtues of the Catholic faith.
The University began as Thomas S. Monaghans dream to build an institution that would be faithful to the Magisterium and could produce faithful educators, leaders, and mentors. Through his initial financial donation, the University opened its doors in August 2003 with 109 undergraduate students, 75 of whom were freshmen, from thirty-two states. In August 2004, 307 students from forty-one states and ten countries, including Zimbabwe, enrolled in the University.
In addition to its undergraduate degree programs, the University also offers an M.T.S. in pastoral theology and a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in theology.
The University Retreat Program helps develop future leaders for society and for the Church through one retreat each semester plus extracurricular lectures, workshops, and opportunities for involvement in ministry to the University faith community. The University also encourages students to find opportunities to serve the poor, the infirm, and the elderly in the local community.
Full-time students are required to live on campus, unless they are living at home with their parents. However, students who are 23 or older may only live on campus with permission of the Dean of Students (excepting those discerning a religious vocation). Each residence hall includes a live-in adult residence director and a resident assistant on each floor. Choice of housing on campus is granted each year primarily, though not exclusively, on the basis of academic seniority. The University has a private dining area in the Ark of the Covenant Student Center. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served Monday through Friday. Brunch and an evening meal are served on Saturdays and Sundays.
Location
Nestled near the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, Naples is known for world class shopping, dining, and more than thirty-five golf courses. It is only steps away from the Everglades and boasts one of the nation's best sandboxes and calmest seas. Art lovers can spend an evening at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts or the popular Dinner Theater or visit local art galleries and historic sites around the city. The many nearby parks and nature preserves feature rare species of flora and fauna indigenous to the state.
Majors and Degrees
The University offers undergraduate degrees in biology, classics and early Christian literature, economics, history, literature, mathematics, music, philosophy, political science, and theology and offers a pre-Theologate program. It also offers preprofessional programs in prelaw and premedicine.
Academic Programs
The Universitys core curriculum requires students to take specific courses in the liberal arts, thus acquiring the indispensable foundation for a lifetime of learning. Of the 128 credits required to earn a bachelors degree, the core curriculum comprises one half, or 64 credits. The major of study comprises another 32 to 40 credits, and general electives comprise the final 24 to 32 credits. Students are required to take two noncredit practicums in the fine arts, one in chorus and the second in chorus, instrumental music, studio art, or theater. Other core courses include three courses each in theology and philosophy; two courses each in history, literature, Latin, and the natural sciences; and one course each in American civilization and mathematics. Some requirements may be earned through CLEP, Advanced Placement (with an exam score of 4), and military service.
Off-Campus Programs
The University offers study-abroad programs at Ave Maria College of the Americas in San Marcos, Nicaragua, and an Austrian program that is operated by the International Theological Institute in Gaming. Students may enroll in the program for one semester. Courses are taught in English and correspond to the requirements of the degree programs at the University. Students are expected to cover their travel expenses. Students must have at least sophomore status to enter either program. Transfer students must have spent at least one full semester at the Ave Maria home campus before they are eligible to apply.
Academic Facilities
The Ave Maria University Library has 4 librarians and a support staff of 10 members. The library has acquired more than 150,000 volumes that will form the basis of its permanent collection. Currently, the library has approximately 35,000 volumes and 200 periodicals on the shelves and a large electronic resources collection. It has interlibrary loan privileges with university libraries throughout the United States. The library also belongs to the Southwest Florida Library Network consortium, which includes reciprocal lending agreements with Florida International University, Florida Gulf Coast University, International Library, Edison Community University, and Collier County Public Libraries. Computer workstations located throughout the campus are connected to the campus network and include the most up-to-date software. All computer stations are equipped with printers and Internet access. A scanner for photos and graphics is available in the mens resident hall computer lab. Facilities for viewing audiovisual materials are also available. A writing lab program provides students with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with accepted standards for expository writing as well as the institutional style and research conventions.
Costs
In the 200506 academic year, undergraduate tuition is $6945 per semester or $13,890 for the year. Other costs per semester included housing for $1740, board including meals for $1470, and fees of $240, for a total of $10,395 per semester or $20,790 per academic year.
Financial Aid
Approximately 90 percent of students receive financial assistance. Because the University is a newly established institution, students are not currently eligible for governmental financial aid. Pell Grant Replacements are awarded to students who would have received Pell Grants under the Federal Financial Aid guidelines. The Ave Maria University Grant is awarded to students who show considerable demonstrated financial need. Ave Maria University Academic Scholarships are awarded to students based on prior academic achievement, ACT or SAT scores, and leadership factors; those interested in a scholarship should apply early (early action deadline is November15). Students requiring a job to help meet expenses may be eligible for employment under the Work Program. The University offers the option of paying over a four- or eight-month period with no interest.
Faculty
The faculty consists of 50 professors, 90 percent of whom hold the terminal degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in their fields of study. Faculty members are carefully chosen for a clear and strong commitment to Catholic education, and professors annually make the Profession of Faith and renew their Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
Student Government
The student body is represented by a president, a vice president, a secretary, a treasurer, and 2 elected representatives from each class. The student representatives are responsible for hosting a number of student activities and programs and for setting the budget for other student organizations.
Admission Requirements
Prospective students are required to have completed at least 15 high school credits with a minimum GPA of 2.8 and have an ACT score of 22 or SAT I score of 1050 (1580 if the new SAT is taken). Transfer students must have a college GPA of at least 2.4. In order to be admitted, applicants must submit a completed application form, official SAT or ACT scores, high school and college transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a list of extracurricular activities and other high school achievements, an essay (prospective students should visit the Web site for essay parameters), and a $25 application fee.
Application and Information
Early action deadline is November15. Applicants are encouraged to submit an application before March1 for fall admission. Applications that come in after that date are evaluated on a rolling admissions basis. Applications may be submitted online or mailed to:
