Theology

Post Doc

It is the level of academic specialization that is focused on special and/or pioneering topics in the domain of philosophical studies. It can be established in order to delve into a specific topic or meet professional and pastoral updating and retraining needs.

Access Criteria:

In order to access a Post Doc, a Doctorate in Theology is required. Each Faculty can introduce their own criteria regarding the recognition of pastoral and/or professional experience to allow Licentiates in Theology to enroll as well.

Credits: at least 60 ECTS.

Duration: at least 1 year.

Next level:

not regulated.

Courses are organized and degrees are issued under each institution’s responsibility.

Doctorate in Theology

Access Criteria: 

In order to access the 3rd cycle of the Faculty of Theology, a Licentiate in Theology is required ^[1].

Duration: not specified. It should be at least as long as the time needed to carry out in-depth research that is worthy of being published ^[2].

Credits: Not specified.

The 3rd Cycle degree in Theology can be awarded to students who:

• have demonstrated that they are endowed with a systematic understanding in the domain of theological studies they have chosen ^[3];
• have developed the full capability to use the specialist knowledge they have acquired to devise, design, and implement original research projects, in order to contribute to the progress of theological knowledge ^[4];
• have developed both analysis and synthesis capabilities to evaluate complex theological research questions, that are determined by a variety of interrelated factors;
• are able to systematically convey the knowledge they have acquired through teaching at academic level ^[5];
• have acquired the intellectual skills and the specific human and relational abilities to fulfill special ecclesiastical posts ^[6];
• are able to communicate with academic and professional experts, in the various domains, in order to contribute to human civilization through the evangelizing mission of the Church ^[7].

^{[1] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 49, § 1
[2] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 74, c)
[3] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 74.
[4] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 49, § 1
[5] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 50, § 1
[6] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 50, § 2
[7] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 3, § 1. Cf Giovanni Paolo II, «Proemio», Cost. Apostol. Sapientia Christiana, I, II.}

Licentiate in Theology

Access Criteria: 

In order to access the 2nd Cycle of the Faculty of Theology, a Baccalaureate in Theology is required or the completion of a six-year course in philosophy-theology in a Seminary or in another approved Higher Education Institution ^[1].

Duration: 2 years.

Credits: at least 120 ECTS.

Next level: Doctorate in Theology.

The 2nd Cycle Degree in Theology can be awarded to students who:

• have demonstrated an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the specialist subject they have chosen and that they are equipped with the capability to produce a methodologically sound contribution, aimed at strengthening theological knowledge ^[2];
• have acquired the ability to integrate the various aspects of theological knowledge in order to address scientific, cultural, and ecumenical issues and engage in dialogue with other more complex religions ^[3];
• have the ability to discern the specific domains in which the Church’s evangelizing mission can play a role, in the complex and fragmentary nature of human-social development, by being able to devise specific initiatives independently ^[4];
• are able to clearly communicate and unambiguously promote the unity of theological knowledge, so that Christianity can be proclaimed to all peoples ^[5], both in specialist and non-specialist contexts;
• are able to convey this theoretical and practical knowledge in the fulfillment of ecclesiastical posts, with particular reference to teaching in major Seminaries or equivalent schools ^[6];
• have fully developed the theoretical, methodological, and language skills in the domain of theological studies to continue their studies in the 3rd Cycle of Theology.

^{[1] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 75
[2] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 74, b)
[3] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, artt. 71-72
[4] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 73
[5] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 70, § 2
[6] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 50, § 1}

Baccalaureate in Theology

Access Criteria: 

In order to access the First Cycle of the Faculty of Theology, appropriate degrees are required to enroll in a university pursuant to the laws existing in students’ countries or in the region where the Faculty is located ^[1]. If the First Cycle is structured as a three-year course, the completion of a canonically recognized two-year course of philosophical studies is required ^[2].

Duration: 5 years of a single course or two years of philosophical studies followed by three years of theology.

Credits: at least 300 ECTS.

Next level: Licentiate in Theology or other 2nd Cycle study courses that require 1st Cycle philosophical and theological studies.

The 1st Cycle degree in Theology can be awarded to students who:

• through a sound prior philosophical formation, in preparation for this level, have demonstrated knowledge of, and ability to understand, the basic principles of theology, supported by the study of the Sacred Scripture, and the writings of the Fathers and the Doctors of the Church ^[3];
• have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the main theological subjects ^[4] and, through the implementation of basic methodologies, their ability to organize such knowledge in relation to the corpus of Catholic doctrine ^[5];
• have demonstrated a critical understanding and knowledge of the main theological questions involved in the relationship between faith and reason ^[6], ecumenism and relations with non-Christian religions, and dialogue with the world ^[7], considering them in the special light of Catholic faith and being able to discern what pertains to the Magisterium of the Church and what, instead, pertains to peculiar or individual positions and perspectives ^[8];
• have demonstrated the ability to gather knowledge and interpret ecclesiastical studies to the benefit of the pastoral dimension of their professional activities ^[9];
• have demonstrated the ability to adequately develop the transmission of Catholic faith in a doctrinally consistent way, adapting it to the cultural character and sapiential heritage of different peoples and groups;
• have developed the basic intellectual, methodological, and language attitudes and skills in philosophical and theological subjects that are useful in order to enroll in the 2nd Cycle of Theology.

^{[1] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 32, § 1
[2] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 75
[3] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 69
[4] Sacra Scrittura, Teologia fondamentale, Teologia dogmatica, Teologia morale e spirituale, Teologia pastorale, Liturgia, Storia della Chiesa, Patrologia, Archeologia, Diritto canonico, discipline ausiliari. Cf. Norme Applicative della Sacra Congregazione per l’Educazione Cattolica per la fedele esecuzione della Costituzione Apostolica Veritatis Gaudium, art. 55
[5] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 72, a)
[6] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 69
[7] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 69 e Commisione Teologica Internazionale, La Teologia oggi: prospettive, princìpi e criteri, nn. 51-58
[8] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, artt. 69 -70
[9] Cf. Veritatis Gaudium, art. 74}