Conception (or PFIC) was founded in 1941 by the Holy See; however, it traces its origins to 1834 when the first house of studies (or "general studium") was established in Somerset, Ohio, under the leadership of Nicholas Dominic Young, O.P. After the founding of The Catholic University of America, the province moved the house of studies to Washington, D.C. in 1905. With a major university nearby, the Eastern Province Dominicans could continue the long-standing tradition of training the next generation of friars in close proximity to other universities, while maintaining their independence. In 1941, the Holy See established the house of studies as a pontifical university under the title of the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception. Most recently, the PFIC received civil accreditation to award the Master of Divinity during the 1970s and, in 1993 the Master of Arts. The PFIC shares the patronage of the Immaculate Conception with the priory and with the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception which is across the street. Academics While the Pontifical Faculty was established in order to educate Dominican Friars of the Eastern Province, the PFIC also accepts students from other religious institutes as well as lay students. The PFIC offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) Licentiate of Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) Doctor of Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Master of Arts (Theology) (M.A.) Master of Arts (Thomistic Studies) (M.A.) Thomistic Institute The Thomistic Institute is an academic institute of the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies. The institute was originally founded as an academic research institute of the Pontifical Faculty, but evolved to include a network of campus chapters at universities throughout the United States, England, and Ireland that sponsor lectures on theology, philosophy, ethics, and politics. The current director of the Institute is the Rev. Dominic Legge, O.P. As of 2018, the institute had chapters at around 30 universities. The Thomist The Thomist is a refereed peer-reviewed Catholic theological and philosophical journal published by the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception and the Dominican Fathers Province of St. Joseph. It is distributed by Catholic University of America Press. It was established in 1939. Notable alumni Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia, O.P., Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, O.P., former Archbishop of Louisville Archbishop Christopher Cardone, O.P., Archbishop