CDU was established in 1983 to meet the needs of adults who recognize that religious literacy is a life long process of growing in the knowledge and love of God.

The adults at CDU are offered a carefully designed curriculum of doctrinal, moral and spiritual formation that combines the convenience of learning at home or at work with the academic benefits of a highly qualified faculty. The Vatican II documents and abundant readings from Sacred Scripture are involved in this curriculum. The Catechism of the Catholic Church brings the Word of God to us in a language and style rich in meaning for our contemporary world. It also enriches the entire curriculum and serves as a recommended text for all courses.

CDU is certified annually by the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV) as an accredited nonprofit degree-granting institution in the Commonwealth of Virginia. CDU awards a Master of Arts Degree in Theology, and since 2004, a Bachelor's Degree in Theology degree completion program for students with ninety or more undergraduate credits.

CDU is a nonprofit corporation governed by a 15-member Board of Trustees made up of members of the Catholic Hierarchy, clergy and laity under the leadership of a Catholic bishop.

CDU Distance Education
The courses in CDU are built on a modular format. A manual, divided into short lessons, guides students step-by-step through the course. Each self-contained lesson includes an introduction, a list of learning goals, key words and phrases with a companion glossary, the course author's lecture, and reading assignments. A self-check reading comprehension quiz, instructions for completing written assignments, and a spiritual reflection from the writings of Church Fathers and Doctors enrich each lesson, both intellectually and spiritually. All these factors contribute to the effectiveness of study.