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First Cycle

Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.)

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Program Description

  • The Bachelor’s degree in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) comprises three years of theological studies, which has Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition as its perpetual foundation, and aims to provide students with a systematic treatment of the wide variety of subject matters and disciplines that constitute the Catholic theological tradition. On the basis of the unity of these subject matters and disciplines as a whole, the S.T.B. program aims to equip students with a penetrating understanding of the mystery of Christ, in order that an effective communication of the Gospel message may be disseminated to a world in need of truth.
  • The Angelicum is the only pontifical university in Rome that offers the option of two distinct tracks for the three-year S.T.B. program: one track in the Italian language and another track offered in the English language.
  • The S.T.B. degree (or its equivalent) is conferred by the authority of the Holy See, and it is a prerequisite for higher theological studies such as the Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) and the Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.).
  • As a prerequisite for entrance into the S.T.B. program, it is required  that the student has already completed a two-year course of studies (i.e., Biennium) in philosophy, in addition to studies of the Latin language, as well as other auxiliary courses and seminars.
  • The principal subjects of the three-year S.T.B. curriculum are Sacred Scripture, Dogmatic Theology, Moral Theology, Spiritual Theology, and Positive Theology, including courses in Canon Law. The student is also required to take several theological seminars, which address specific theological topics.

Plan of Study

S.T.B. Curriculum

Attainment of the S.T.B. degree occurs when the following three elements have been completed and passed:

1. All required courses and seminars have been completed and passed.

2. During the third year, the student successfully completes a Final Paper of 15 pages, on a theological topic of his/her own choosing, written under the direction of the assigned professors. Students will receive a grade out of 20 for this Final Paper. A score out of 10 will be an evaluation of the written composition; a score out of 10 will be an evaluation of the theological content/theological argument.

3. A Comprehensive Examination of 30 minutes based on a list of the themes present on the Tesario.

**The final S.T.B. grade is the average of all grades for courses and seminars. The Comprehensive Exam is included in this average with a weight of 20%.

As a prerequisite to the S.T.B. program, the student must have completed a minimum of 120 ECTS of the philosophy courses listed below: 

Philosophy (Biennium Sequence)

  • Introduction to Philosophy (2 ECTS)
  • Logic I (3 ECTS)
  • Logic II (3 ECTS)
  • Latin I (3 ECTS)
  • Latin II (3 ECTS)
  • Latin III (5 ECTS)
  • Latin IV (5 ECTS)
  • History of Ancient Philosophy I (5 ECTS)
  • History of Ancient Philosophy II (3 ECTS)
  • History of Medieval Philosophy (6 ECTS)
  • History of Modern Philosophy (6 ECTS)
  • History of Contemporary Philosophy I (5 ECTS)
  • History of Contemporary Philosophy II (5 ECTS)
  • Metaphysics I (5 ECTS)
  • Metaphysics II (5 ECTS)
  • Philosophy of Nature I (3 ECTS)
  • Philosophy of Nature II (3 ECTS)
  • Anthropology I (3 ECTS)
  • Anthropology II (3 ECTS)
  • Epistemology I (3 ECTS)
  • Epistemology II (3 ECTS)
  • Ethics I (3 ECTS)
  • Ethics II (3 ECTS)
  • Political Ethics or Social Ethics (3 ECTS)

Sub-Total: 91 ECTS

  • PLUS Any Other University-level Courses (29 ECTS)

Total: 120 ECTS

To attain the S.T.B. degree, the student must complete a minimum of 180 ECTS of the required courses and seminars of the theology sequence listed below:

Introduction

  • Introduction to Theology and Theological Method (3 ECTS)

Sacred Scripture

  • Introduction to Sacred Scripture (6 ECTS)
  • The Pentateuch and Historical Books of the OT (6 ECTS)
  • The Psalms and Wisdom Books of the OT (6 ECTS)
  • The Prophetic Books of the OT (5 ECTS)
  • The Synoptic Gospels (6 ECTS)
  • The Johannine Writings (6 ECTS)
  • The Acts of the Apostles (3 ECTS)
  • The Epistles of St. Paul (6 ECTS)

History & Patristics

  • Introduction to Patristic Theology (3 ECTS)
  • History of the Ancient Church (3 ECTS)
  • History of the Medieval Church (3 ECTS)
  • History of the Modern Church (3 ECTS)

Dogmatic Theology

  • Fundamental Theology (5 ECTS)
  • Mystery of the Living God (6 ECTS)
  • Christology (6 ECTS)
  • Mariology (3 ECTS)
  • Ecclesiology (3 ECTS)
  • Eschatology (3 ECTS)
  • Theology of Creation (3 ECTS)
  • Theology of Grace (3 ECTS)

Moral Theology

  • Fundamental Moral Theology (6 ECTS)
  • Christian Faith, Hope, and Charity (5 ECTS)
  • Justice and the Allied Virtues (5 ECTS)
  • Prudence, Fortitude, and Temperance (6 ECTS)
  • Specialized Morals: Familial Issues (3 ECTS)
  • Specialized Morals: Critical International, Political, Economic Issues (3 ECTS)

Sacraments & Liturgy

  • Introduction to Christian Worship (3 ECTS)
  • The Sacraments in the Life of the Church I (6 ECTS)
  • The Sacraments in the Life of the Church II (5 ECTS)
  • Eucharist (3 ECTS)

Canon Law

  • Introduction to Canon Law (3 ECTS)
  • The Church’s Legislation on Sacraments (3 ECTS)
  • Matrimonial and Procedural Law (3 ECTS)

Other Theology

  • Spiritual Theology (3 ECTS)
  • Pastoral Theology (3 ECTS)
  • Religious Dialogue: Ecumenism & World Religions (3 ECTS)
  • Methodology Seminar (4 ECTS)
  • Reading Seminar (4 ECTS)
  • Rhetoric Seminar (4 ECTS)
  • Writing Seminar (4 ECTS)

Comprehensive Exam

  • Comprehensive Exam (12 ECTS)
  • STB Final Paper (2 ECTS)

Total: 184 ECTS

2024-2025 Course Schedule

Admissions: New Students

For admissions and registration information for students who are new to the Angelicum, click the button below.

This page also includes information on prerequisites, language requirements, transfer policy and tuition fees.

Registration for Returning Students

If continuing in the same cycle of studies OR if beginning a new cycle of studies, currently enrolled students are asked to register for courses during the month of June as follows:

STEP #1

Register and submit your course selections via the Angelicum’s online Portal: https://portale.angelicum.it/

STEP #2

Once the Dean’s office approves and confirms all of your courses via the Portal (you will receive a notification on the Portal that this has been completed), proceed to Step #3.

STEP #3

Pay all academic fees for the semester or full year (or at least the minimum deposit amount of €250.00 for the semester). Payments can be made online or in-person at the Administration Office by (1) credit/debit card or cash, (2) bank transfer. Online payments may be made here.

***If the student needs to obtain a “Certificate of Enrollment,” please contact the Secretariat General’s office directly at: [email protected]

N.B. In order to receive such a certificate, the student must pay the entire academic fees of at least one semester.

2024/2025 Tuition Fees

Adding / Dropping Courses

Students may add or drop a course or seminar during the first two weeks of classes at the beginning of each semester. The student may make the changes directly on the Portal. If the student has any question or concern, or if the student would like to meet with the Vice Dean, please make a request by filling-out this form.

S.T.B. Examinations

S.T.B. Comprehensive Exam: No student may sit for the Comprehensive Exam until they have (1) completed and successfully passed all required courses and seminars; (2) received a passing grade on the Final Paper; and (3) paid all pertinent fees.

STB 3rd-Year Essay - Methodological guidelines