The Institute is an 8-semester program at Ave Maria University that offers a core suite of professional skills that all leaders need, personal formation to enable one to use those skills, and cultural formation that instills the poise that truth, beauty, and goodness demand for their expression. This formation works in harmony with Ave Maria University’s liberal arts core curriculum to equip students to be leaders and to discover their vocations, careers, or graduate school opportunities.
“Students are challenged to pursue an education that combines excellence in humanistic and cultural development with specialized professional training”
- Pope John Paul II, Ex Corde Ecclesiae
The Institute offers three levels of access to students:
The competitive and intensive four-year Scholars and Associates programs combine in-demand professional skills, personal formation, and cultural fluency rooted in the liberal arts. Led by industry leaders, these programs seek to form future leaders in the marketplace.
Scholars and Associates are Members of The Institute.
Professional Training by The Institute: This new program seeks to provide all students with essential career services and professional development. Students build foundational skills while also gaining real-world professional training. This track integrates professional formation into everyone’s journey.
The Professional Training track is offered to students who are not Members of The Institute.
Each Module has a professional, cultural, and personal theme that takes 3-5 hours per week... let’s take a look at the Business Start-Up Module.
Business Start-Up Month
BIG MEET
Recognize Scholar achievements through awards & credentials, introduce the new professional challenge & prize, and hear from a guest speaker.
PROFESSIONAL FORMATION: MASTERCLASS
Masterclass Entrepreneur & CEO Dave Durand shares key insights, lessons, and strategies for virtuous leadership and starting a business.
PERSONAL FORMATION: DR. GREG BOTTARO
Dr. Bottaro coaches Scholars in their spiritual, psychological, and philosophical growth through an exclusive, 10-minute podcast episode.
PROFESSIONAL FORMATION: SMALL GROUP MEETING
Small groups of 6-8 Scholars meet to work on their one-page business plan.
PROFESSIONAL FORMATION: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Scholars engage with 1-hour of leading industry videos and resources provided by Dave Durand.
CULTURAL FORMATION: FORD & EDISON ESTATES
Scholars explore the fascinating lives of two iconic inventors and leaders, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, at their stunning winter homes.
PERSONAL FORMATION: DR. GREG BOTTARO
Dr. Bottaro coaches Scholars in their spiritual, psychological, and philosophical growth through an exclusive, 10-minute podcast episode.
PROFESSIONAL FORMATION: SMALL GROUP MEETING
Small groups of 6-8 Scholars meet to work on their one-page business plan.
PROFESSIONAL FORMATION: ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
Scholars gather in their small groups to refine their one-page business plan with the feedback of The Institute's Fellows.
PERSONAL FORMATION: DR. GREG BOTTARO
Dr. Bottaro coaches Scholars in their spiritual, psychological, and philosophical growth through an exclusive, 10-minute podcast episode.
PROFESSIONAL FORMATION: SMALL GROUP MEETING
Small groups of 6-8 Scholars meet to work on their one-page business plan.
PROFESSIONAL FORMATION: SHARK TANK
Small groups present their one-page business plan to a panel of sharks and a live-audience of 450. The winning small group receives a $10,000 seed investment to start their company.
PERSONAL FORMATION: DR. GREG BOTTARO
Dr. Bottaro coaches Scholars in their spiritual, psychological, and philosophical growth through an exclusive, 10-minute podcast episode.
PERSONAL FORMATION MENTORING
Scholars meet with their assigned Mentor to discuss the Business Start-Ups Module, their studies at AMU, and their future goals.
Scholars earn verified digital credentials for their accomplishments in each program component. Below is the credential pathway for October's Business Start-Up Module.
The Institute and The Academy at AMU work in harmony. In their Freshman and Sophomore years, Scholars and Associates are provided with a “2x Core” comprised of the Core Curriculum of the Liberal Arts in the classroom and The Institute’s Core Suite of Skills that all leaders need. In their Junior and Senior years, Scholars and Associates study their Academic Major in the classroom while also gaining specialized skills in The Institute and developing onramps to graduate schools or a job.