Catholic Distance University (CDU) is a private Roman Catholic university based in Charles Town, West Virginia in the United States. It offers online undergraduate and graduate degrees.">
Established in 1983 in the Arlington diocese by Bishop Thomas Jerome Welsh, CDU offers an accredited bachelor's degree completion program in theology, a master's degree in theology, and a variety of catechetical certificates. There are no residency requirements for earning a degree at CDU. The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Community and Technical College System have authorized Catholic Distance University to operate as a degree-granting institution of higher education in West Virginia. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia certifies CDU to operate in Virginia as an out-of-state private, non-profit degree-granting institution and the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) has accredited CDU's degrees since 1986. In 2005, CDU launched its online campus. According to Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, in the academic year 2007-2008, CDU was the top Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program by number of enrollments.
CDU's programs aim to meet the goals set out in the Ex Corde Ecclesiae issued by Pope John Paul II regarding Catholic colleges and universities. . CDU was the first Catholic institution to offer an MA in Theology with no residence requirement. Several Catholic dioceses partner with CDU to help train their catechists. The school stays closely connected with the local Catholic bishop, Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde, who is chair of the Board of Trustees.
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