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Program Description
- The S.T.L. program represents two years (or four semesters) of post-Baccalaureate studies which provides students the opportunity to specialize in a particular discipline of theology: Biblical, Thomistic, Dogmatic and Fundamental, Ecumenical, Moral, or Spiritual Theology. The S.T.L. presupposes the successful completion of the S.T.B. degree (or its equivalent). Furthermore, the S.T.L. degree is a prerequisite for the further degree of the Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.).
- Rather than having a fixed sequence of courses, as found in the S.T.B. curriculum, the S.T.L. curriculum is comprised of a non-fixed and diverse course of studies that include lectures and seminars aimed at providing students with expertise in their chosen specialization, and to help students acquire greater facility with scientific research. The primary feature of the S.T.L. degree is that it qualifies one to teach in a Major Seminary or equivalent school.
- The Angelicum S.T.L. program is a bi-lingual program, with a full sequence of courses offered in both Italian and English.
Plan of Study
Attainment of the S.T.L. degree occurs when the following three elements have been completed and passed:
1. All required courses and seminars have been completed and passed.
2. An approved Tesina (Thesis) of at least 50 pages, written under the direction of one of the Professors in the student’s area of specialization.
3. A Lectio Coram Exam, understood as the final exam for the S.T.L. program.
The final S.T.L. grade is weighted according to the following proportion, out of 200%: (1) the average of all courses and seminars at 100 %, (2) the Tesina at 50%, and (3) the Lectio Coram at 50%.
A minimum of 121 ECTS must be completed over the course of the Section sequence of courses/seminars, tesina, and Lectio Coram.
S.T.L. Sections
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
Other Important Information
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.
Registering for Seminars
Registration for seminars is on a first come, first served Thus, students should be mindful to select their seminars as soon as possible. Students should never approach a professor and ask to be accepted into his/her seminar. If a seminar is full, the student must make a request to the Vice Dean. Requests may be made via this form.
Theological Writing Seminar (S.T.L.)
First year S.T.L. students are required to take either the Theological Writing Seminar (STL) Foundations or Theological Writing Seminar (STL) Advanced. The student may choose one seminar or the other when selecting his/her courses on the Portal. Otherwise, the student may indicate any requests here.
Cross-listed Courses
- Courses are sometimes shared between sections (i.e., cross-listed). Such courses are listed in the appropriate S.T.L. section. To receive credit for a course which is not listed under a section or for a course from another Faculty or another Institution, the student must have the approval of the Vice Dean prior to taking the course. For such an approval fill-out this form here explaining your request.
- Each S.T.L. course may count for only ONE of these three categories: specialization course, obligatory course, outside of specialization course.
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Course Registration Limits
- Students must be registered for at least four courses / seminars per semester, regardless of what course obligations have already been fulfilled.
- It is recommended that students not register for more than seven courses / seminars per semester. However, students may exceed this limit with the permission of the Vice Dean. Submit a request here.
Recommended General Schedule
Given that the entire two-year program requires 24 courses, students are normally expected to follow a typical schedule as follows:
- However, because Year 2 includes (1) the Tesina and (2) the Lectio Coram, many students choose to take six or more courses / seminars during Year 1 of the program, to lighten the load of Year 2.
S.T.L. Examinations
Tesina
The process at a glance
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.
1. FIND A MODERATOR
The Moderator must be from your specialization. Permission to work with a Moderator outside the specialization requires explicit permission of the (Vice) Dean. See the list of professors here.
2. SELECT A TOPIC
Prior to the end of Year 1 of the STL, a student should have selected a topic in agreement with a Moderator from their specialization.
3. PROGRESS MARKERS
The Professor / student should set deadlines for each chapter, allowing time for review and revisions to ensure successful completion of the work prior to the posted deadlines.
N.B. In addition to the assistance of the Moderator, the Angelicum has Writing Tutors available to assist students.
4. DEADLINE
The Tesina is DUE in the Office of the Secretary of the Faculty of Theology one month prior to the Lectio Coram. For a June Lectio Coram, the Tesina should be completed and approved by the Moderator by Easter.
Lectio Coram (Final Exam)
The process at a glance
1. TESARIO
The tesario with the themes of the specialization required for the comprehensive exam will be available in early Fall.
2. MEETING WITH THE DEAN / VICE DEAN
The Dean or Vice Dean will meet with all STL students together in early Fall (at a date to be determined) to review requirements for the Tesina and Lectio Coram.
3. SITTING FOR LECTIO CORAM
a. To sit for the Lectio Coram exam the student must have completed and successfully passed all required courses and seminars, have delivered a final draft of the tesina, approved by the Moderator, by the posted deadline, and have paid all pertinent fees.
b. The student must formally request the Lectio Coram in the Office of the Secretary of the Faculty. The student must fill out the forms (at bottom of this page) completely and e-mail the completed form to: [email protected]
c. If for some reason a student cannot receive the license, they may normally receive the Diploma in Pastoral Theology. This does not apply to plagiarism or similar cases.
4. THE LECTIO CORAM
a. The student will present a theme for forty minutes to a panel of three professors who are appointed by the Dean’s Office.
b. Following the student’s presentation, one professor will address questions to the student for ten minutes on the topic/theme on which the student presented.
c. For twenty minutes, two professors (ten minutes each) will address questions to the student based on the Tesario of the student’s specialization.
Tesari
Exam Deadlines
One month prior to the Lectio Coram exam: the student should consign to the Office of the Secretary of the Faculty of Theology’s Office the following:
- One bound copy of the Tesina.
- Original Licentiate Tesina Exam Form (complete and signed including self declaration) and Original Lectio
Coram Exam Form (signed and sealed by superior or rector of the college) - A list of twenty themes, drawn up by the student, at least one from each of the courses and seminars of specialization, taken during the biennium. The aim of each theme is to provide a precise topic that can be treated adequately in a forty-minute teaching exercise before a commission during the Lectio Coram. N.B. For students in the Dogmatic and Fundamental, Thomistic, Ecumenical, and Moral Sections: students are to submit a brief outline and bibliography for each of the topics in the Tesario.
- Three days before the scheduled date of the Lectio Coram, the student will receive an email (via the student’s PUST email address) from the Secretary of the Faculty of Theology, which will indicate three possible themes for the Lectio Coram. The student must choose one of the themes. The student must indicate this choice of the theme of the Lectio Coram via email reply to the Secretary within the time period indicated.
