Programs

CLICK HERE for Documents and Instructions

This three-year baccalaureate cycle offers a general and organic exposition of Catholic theology in the form of courses and seminars.

Admission

The requirements for admission to the First Cycle Baccalaureate are as follows:

 

• A secondary-school (“high school”) diploma which would qualify the applicant for admission to a college or university in his or her own country;
• Successful completion of two years of university-level study in philosophy, including Introduction to Philosophy and courses in Logic, Epistemology, Philosophical Psychology (Philosophy of the Human Person, Philosophical Anthropology), Philosophy of Nature, Ethics (Moral Philosophy), Political Philosophy, Metaphysics, and the History of Philosophy (Ancient, Medieval, Modern, Contemporary);
• A knowledge of the elements of form and syntax of Latin.
• A sufficient knowledge of English or Italian; students whose mother tongue is neither English nor Italian will have to undergo a language proficiency test.

 

The principal subjects of the courses are as follows:

1. Scripture: a general Introduction course, and eight additional courses concentrating on different parts of the Old Testament (historical books, prophets, wisdom literature) and the New Testament (Synoptic Gospels, Pauline letters, Johannine writings, Acts of the Apostles, and Catholic Epistles).
2. Dogmatic Theology: two initial courses in fundamental theology (Introduction to Theology and Theological Method, and Theology of Revelation) followed by specialized courses offering a systematic exploration of the mystery of salvation in phases, according to the theological vision of St. Thomas’ Summa Theologiae:
   • Its origin: the mystery of God, the beginning and end of the whole order of salvation;
   • Its historic center: the mystery of Christ and of the Church (Christology, Mariology, Ecclesiology);
   • Its eschatological intentionality: the full revelation of Christ’s glory at the Parousia;
   • And its anticipation in the sacramental life of the Church whereby Christ remains a vivifying presence to his members.
3. Moral Theology and Spirituality: initial courses in fundamental moral theology and spiritual theology, followed by specialized courses on grace, the theological and moral virtues, and contemporary issues, especially in the realm of social justice.
4. Positive Theology: this category includes subjects which constitute additional “sources” of theology (patrology, Christian archaeology, Church history) and applications of theology to the Christian life (liturgy, pastoral theology, canon law).

 

Auxiliary Subjects: Ecumenism, Introduction to World Religions, New Testament Greek [biblical Hebrew – optional].

 

Seminars: In addition, students are required to take one seminar during their first year, two seminars during their second year and one integrative seminar during their third year. These acquaint them with a variety of special contemporary problems in theology and also serve as a practical initiation into scientific theological work.

 

Attainment of the Degree:

1. During the Third Year each student will write a final paper of 15 pages under the direction of the Professor of the integrative seminar.
2. Each student will sit for a Comprehensive Examination of 30 minutes based on a list of 30 themes.
3. The final grade is the average of all grades for courses and seminars. The Comprehensive exam is included in this average with a weight of 20%.

CLICK HERE for Documents and Instructions

 

The Licentiate programme represents two years of post- S.T.B. study in one of the following areas of specialization: Scripture, Thomism, Dogmatic and Fundamental Theology, Ecumenism, Moral Theology, and Spiritual Theology. The Licentiate is the academic degree which enables one to teach in a Major Seminary or equivalent institution and is therefore required for this purpose.

 

Admission

Those who have received the S.T.B. degree with a grade point average sufficient for admission to the Second Cycle according to the standards of the Institute which granted the S.T.B., may be admitted into the Second Cycle (e.g., 8/10 if the S.T.B. was granted by the Angelicum).

 

Those who have not obtained the Pontifical S.T.B. degree but who have completed an equivalent of five or six year programme of philosophical and theological studies, may be admitted to the Licentiate Cycle if, in the judgement of the Dean’s Office, their programme of studies and their grade point average are sufficient. In cases of deficiency or doubt, the Dean may require that some First Cycle courses or an examination be sustained.

 

A sufficient knowledge of English or Italian is required; students whose mother tongue is neither English nor Italian will have to undergo a test of language proficiency. Those who fail the test will have to attend a language course.

 

Registration

At the time of registration the student must choose one of the areas of specialization. During the two years of studies, the student must complete the following requirements:

• 14 courses in the area of specialization (42 ECTS);
• 3 obligatory courses including Methodology (9 ECTS);
• 3 courses from those common to all areas of specialization (9 ECTS).
• 4 seminars in the area of specialization (16 ECTS).
• The composition of a thesis, at least 50 pages, written under the direction of one of the Professors in one’s area of specialization (25 ECTS). The theme of the thesis is to be registered at the Dean’s office once it is agreed on by the student and the Professor.
• The personal preparation of a set of themes proper to the area of specialization (tesario). The list of themes is given to the student at the time of registration (19 ECTS).

 

Lectio Coram:

Towards the end of the fourth semester (deadlines are posted each semester), the student must formally request the final exam (lectio coram) at the Dean’s office. At that time the student consigns the following to the Dean’s Office:

• One bound copy of the thesis and one pdf copy;
• A list of 20 themes (list of themes): drawn up by the student, at least one from each of the courses and seminars of their specialization, taken during the biennium. The aim of each theme is to provide a precise topic that can be treated adequately in a 40 minute teaching exercise (lectio coram).
• Students of the Dogmatic and Fundmental Theology and Moral Theology specializations are required to submit a brief outline and bibliography of the themes set by the Faculty (tesario). Three days prior to the scheduled date of the lectio coram, the student goes to the Dean’s Office to choose one of three themes taken from the list of themes as the title of the exposition for the lectio coram. Students will be admitted to the final exam (lectio coram) on condition that [1] they have passed all their course and seminar examinations during the licentiate cycle, [2] successfully completed the thesis, and [3] paid all pertinent fees.

CLICK HERE for Documents and Instructions

 

The Third Cycle (Doctorate) has a minimum two years duration; it presupposes a Licentiate in Theology obtained from a Pontifical University or Faculty. It enables the student to reach a certain theological maturity by means especially of the preparation of a doctoral dissertation which will contribute to the progress of theological science.

 

I. Registration for the Cycle

In order to register for the doctoral cycle, a student must:

• Be qualified for admission to the doctoral cycle in the institution which conferred the Licentiate in Sacred Theology. Students with the STL from the Angelicum are admitted if they have achieved an 8.5/10 average in their courses, as well as an 8.5/10 for their tesina and the oral examination (lectio coram).
• Pay the academic fees.

Registration with it the following academic obligations:

• Participation by every student in the Seminar for Doctoral Students;
• Participation to the course of Methodology
• Participation by those students who obtained the License outside the Angelicum in two common courses and two courses of one’s area of specialization taken from the License cycle.

Those whose License is not specialized or who wish to change their area of specialization will follow a special study program established by the Dean.

 

II. Prerequisites for Admission to the Doctoral Examination

In order to be admitted to the doctoral defense, a student must have:

• Completed the academic obligations;
• Presented a précis of his dissertation to the Dean and received approval for it;
• Written, under the direction of a director and with the approval of a censor (second reader), a dissertation 150 to 400 pages long, that contributes effectively to the progress of the science of theology (cf. Sapientia christiana, art. 49 § 3; 72c);
• Completely paid his academic fees.

N.B. Should serious doubts arise during this period about the real capacity of a student to bring doctoral studies to a successful conclusion, the Dean will convoke the Commission for the Doctorate (The CPD is composed of the Dean, the professors who direct the Seminars for Doctoral Students, the professor in charge of the pertinent area of specialization, and the Director of the Dissertation. The Dean may also invite other professors of the Faculty to participate.

 

III. Final Examination

• When the dissertation has been approved by the director and the censor, the student shall consign three bound copies to the Dean’s office and formally request the defense in the Secretariat of the University.
• The doctoral defense lasts from between 60 and 90 minutes. The candidate has 20 minutes to present his argument. The members of the examining commission then pose questions, after which members of the public may also pose questions.

 

IV. Reception of the Doctoral Degree

In order to obtain the title of Doctor, the student must have:

• Passed the final examination;
• Published the dissertation in whole or in part. The candidate shall consign 25 copies of the dissertation to the Secretariat of the University. These copies should follow any observations made by the director and the censor, and should published according to the norms of the Congregation for Seminaries and Institutes of Study.

The Second Cycle includes a one-year optional Diploma in Pastoral Theology. In order to ensure that students are acquainted with a broad range of theological investigation, but to allow them to concentrate in a field of interest, the programme includes the following work to be done during a two-semester period:

 

• 5 courses taken from one of the areas of specialization.
• 2 courses from the other areas of specialization.
• 2 courses from those common to all areas of specialization.
• One seminar in the area of specialization.
• The completion of a thirty to fifty page dissertation, composed under the direction of a member of the Faculty of Theology.

 

Students who at a future date may wish to obtain the S.T.L., will be able to count the Diploma work towards the fulfilment of the Licentiate requirements. Normally, a student returning to finish the Licentiate would complete the requirements in two semesters and would be responsible for writing a new tesina and taking the lectio coram.