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Historical and Systematic Theology

1. Faculty:

Academic Area Director: Msgr. Paul McPartlan
Associate Area Director: Dr. Joshua Benson
Ordinary Professors: Dr. Mark Clark
Dr. William Dinges
Dr. Reinhard Huetter
Msgr. Paul McPartlan
Dr. Nelson Minnich
Rev. Steven Payne, O.C.D
Dr. Wilhelmus Valkenberg
Dr. Susan Wessel
Associate Professors: Dr. Joshua Benson
Dr. John Grabowski
Rev. Nicholas Lombardo, O.P.
Very Rev. Mark Morozowich
Dr. Chad Pecknold
Dr. Christopher Ruddy
Dr. Robin Darling Young
Assistant Professor: Dr. Thomas Clemmons
Rev. Vincent Strand, S.J.
Research Professor: Msgr. Kevin Irwin
Professors Emeriti: Rev. Regis Armstrong, O.F.M. Cap.
Rev. John Galvin
Rev. Joseph Komonchak
Dr. William Loewe
Dr. Michael Root

2. Description of Academic Area

  1. Historical Theology

    The program in Historical Theology studies the development of Eastern and Western Christian theology from the earliest Christian communities to the present.

    The program in Historical Theology works closely with the other academic areas in the School of Theology and Religious Studies as well as with the School of Philosophy, the Department of History, the Department of Greek and Latin, the Department of Semitics and Egyptian Languages, the Center for Early Christian Studies, and the Center for Medieval and Byzantine Studies.

  2. Systematic Theology

    Systematic Theology seeks a comprehensive and synthetic understanding of the Christian faith as mediated through Sacred Scriptures and Sacred Tradition and as interpreted by the conciliar and papal magisterium.

3. Degrees Offered

  1. Civil Degrees:
    1. Master of Arts (M.A.)
    2. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
  2. Ecclesiastical Degrees:
    1. Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.)
    2. Doctor of Sacred Theology (S.T.D.)

4. Master of Arts (M.A.): The M.A. program in Historical and Systematic Theology is designed to introduce students to scholarship and research in theology in general and to Historical and Systematic Theology. This program provides a basic grounding in Historical and Systematic Theology, along with an introduction to Biblical Studies, Moral Theology, and other disciplines.

  1. Admission Requirements:
    1. Applicants for admission to the M.A. program must possess a B.A. degree with a minimum of 12 credit hours in theology/religious studies and 12 credit-hours in philosophy. Applicants who do not have this background will be required to complete appropriate courses in tandem with their M.A. work. Such prerequisite courses will be specified in the student's letter of admission.
    2. Please refer to the admission requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Master of Arts (M.A.)" for further information.
  2. Coursework Requirements:
    1. M.A. students are expected to fulfill the following course requirements: Introductory Level: (3 credit hours), TRS 660A Introduction to Theology, Systematic Theology (9 credit hours) chosen from offerings at the 600 level, Historical Theology/Church History (3 credit hours) from offerings at 600 level, Moral Theology (3 credit hours) chosen from offerings at the 600 level, Scripture (3 credit hours): chosen from offerings at the 600 level, electives: (9 credit hours for students writing research papers; 3 credit hours for students writing an M.A. thesis).
    2. Thesis option: M.A. students who choose to write a thesis must register for 2 semesters of M.A. Thesis Guidance (TRS 696B Thesis- Masters). An M.A. thesis should demonstrate a student's ability to do research by means of a modest contribution to knowledge involving a limited but significant topic of investigation. Specifically, an M.A. thesis should demonstrate: a) a student's familiarity with basic methods of research; b) mastery of a limited subject area; c) ability to exercise sound theological judgments involving analysis, comparison, and criticism; and d) formation of appropriate and accurate conclusions The length of the thesis is primarily governed by the nature of the subject matter and the research involved but ordinarily should be 75-100 pages. Readers: A student, with the help of a faculty member who serves as director, will prepare a one-page thesis proposal that presents the background, purpose, method, and contribution of the proposed thesis. The proposal with a selected bibliography is to be submitted to the Associate Area Director for approval by Area faculty.
    3. Research Paper Option: M.A. research papers may be: [a] written independent of any course or [b] written in conjunction with a particular course and integral to the fulfillment of course requirements; in the latter case, students, at the beginning of the semester, must inform their professor(s) of their intention of satisfying M.A. requirements by writing an M.A. research paper. The length of each research paper should be a minimum of 6000 words but a maximum of 7500 words. 1 of the 2 research papers must show familiarity with pertinent works in Latin, Greek, or a modern foreign language.
    4. Please refer to the coursework requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Master of Arts (M.A.)" for further information.
  3. Language Requirements:
    1. M.A. students must demonstrate a basic knowledge of either Latin or Greek by: (1) passing either TRS 500A "Theological Latin" or TRS 502 "Greek for Theology," or by (2) passing a reading exam in either Latin or Biblical Greek. M.A. students must also demonstrate reading knowledge of either German or a Romance language by passing an area exam in the language. Instead of passing an exam, the German requirement may also be fulfilled by passing TRS 504 Theological German.
    2. Please refer to the language requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Master of Arts (M.A.)" for further information.
  4. Comprehensive Examination: Please refer to the comprehensive exam section of the "Civil Degrees: Master of Arts (M.A.)" for further information.

5. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Historical OR Systematic Theology

The degree "Doctor of Philosophy" (Ph.D.) in Historical or Systematic Theology represents an achievement in theological scholarship and research. The Ph.D. program is designed to prepare graduate students to make significant contributions to knowledge in a major area of historical or systematic inquiry while broadening their understanding of other areas of theology. By means of research seminars, advanced level courses, language skills, comprehensive examinations, and a dissertation, the program is designed to develop graduates who are capable of thorough theological understanding and careful research. The area offers Ph.D. tracks in Systematic Theology or Historical Theology.

Doctoral Degrees in Historical Theology: The focus in the course work, comprehensive examinations, and research for and writing of the dissertation is on the thought and the works (including manuscripts) of individual theologians or schools of theology in their theological, philosophical, ecclesial, socio-political, and cultural contexts ranging from the first century to the present. A dissertation in Historical Theology should be a work of original scholarly analysis and interpretation that challenges, expands upon, modifies, or overcomes previous interpretations and that draws upon the methods of theological, philological, historical, philosophical, and literary interpretation.

Doctoral Degrees in Systematic Theology: The focus in the course work, comps, and research for and writing of the dissertation is on particular systems of theology, theological loci, doctrines, dogmas and their conceptual constitution as well as correlated foundational, philosophical, and historical questions treated under the perspective of theological truth, doctrinal soundness, conceptual coherence, synthetic promise, apologetic relevance, and explanatory power. In this respect, individual theologians (and theological schools) from any historical period, but most typically the nineteenth century to the present, may be studied individually, cumulatively, comparatively, and contrastively. Different from a dissertation in historical theology, a dissertation in Systematic Theology will engage the question under discussion itself (in light of the status quaestionis and in the extant magisterial framework) and make a case for a specific answer that assists in advancing the discussion, or else, through its analysis of a particular theologian or particular theologians, implicitly advance the theological conversation

  1. Admission Requirements: Please refer to the admission requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)" for further information.
  2. Coursework Requirements:
    1. A minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework beyond the M.A. degree
    2. 24 credit hours (including TRS 760A: Theological Foundations, and one of the annual Topics in Historical Theology courses) are to be taken in courses at the 700 level (lecture) and 800 level (seminars). At least 12 of those 24 credit hours are to be taken in 800 level seminars which require major research papers, and those seminars should normally be taken in the Historical and Systematic Theology area of STRS. One such seminar may be taken outside the area with the permission of the Associate Area Director.
    3. 12 credit hours of electives that may be taken in any of the academic areas of STRS.
    4. Students in Historical Theology are encouraged to take a minor (6 credit hours) in some area other than Historical Theology; students in Historical Theology are also encouraged to take Church History as a minor area of concentration.
    5. Students in Systematic Theology may choose to take a minor area (6 credit hours) in 1 of the following areas: Biblical Studies, Catechetics, Church History, Moral Theology and Ethics, Liturgical Studies, or Religion and Culture. With the approval of the student's advisor, these courses may be taken in other graduate schools of the University (for example Philosophy or Canon Law).
    6. Please refer to the coursework requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)" for further information.
  3. Language Requirements:
    1. Ph.D. students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of the following languages: Latin, Greek, German, and a major Romance language.
    2. Reading knowledge of Latin must be demonstrated by successful completion of the Latin Proficiency Exam administered by the Historical and Systematic area or by a course in Patristic or Medieval Latin. Ordinarily, the Latin requirement should be satisfied during a student's first fall semester in the program.
    3. Reading knowledge of either Biblical or Patristic Greek must be demonstrated either by the successful completion of a reading course in Biblical or Patristic Greek (depending upon the student's area of concentration) or by an examination administered by the academic area.
    4. Reading knowledge of Theological German must be demonstrated either by passing an examination administered by the academic area or by passing TRS 504: Theological German.
    5. Reading knowledge of a modern Romance language must be demonstrated by passing an examination administered by the academic area.
  4. First Year Review: Toward the end of a student's second semester in the Ph.D. program, each student will have a review meeting with his/her advisor and other faculty members to review the student's progress to date, to plan remaining course selection, and to prepare themselves for comprehensive examinations in view of the student's major area and dissertation topic.
  5. Comprehensive Examination:
    1. Ph.D. students are required to take comprehensive examinations in order to demonstrate their knowledge both in their principal area of concentration (Historical or Systematic Theology) and in the major area of concentration in which a student intends to write a dissertation. The three-part examination will take place on 3 days.
    2. The comprehensive examinations are intended not simply to examine a student about the knowledge acquired through coursework, but also to provide an opportunity to study areas not treated in their courses, as well as to deepen knowledge of areas already studied, and to synthesize and interrelated areas of theological knowledge. The time for comprehensives should be seen as independent study in collaboration and consultation with faculty members.
    3. Please refer to the comprehensive exam section of the "Civil Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)" for further information.
  6. Dissertation: Please refer to the dissertation section of the "Civil Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)" for further information.

6. Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.)

The Historical and Systematic Theology area offers S.T.L. degrees in either Historical Theology or Systematic Theology.

S.T.L. students in historical or systematic theology do not need to take all of their coursework in their area of concentration. They may take up to 6 credit hours of electives, normally taken from among the School's offerings.

Language Requirements: successful completion of 500C satisfies the Greek language requirement.

For other details, please refer to the general requirements outlined in the "Ecclesiastical Degrees: Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.)" for information regarding the S.T.L.

7. Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.)

The Historical and Systematic Theology area offers S.T.D. degrees in either Historical Theology or Systematic Theology. The description given above for Ph.D. degrees in Historical Theology or Systematic Theology applies mutatis mutandis to S.T.D. degrees.

  1. Admission Requirements: Please refer to the admission requirements of the "Ecclesiastical Degrees: Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.)" for information regarding the S.T.D. in Historical Theology OR Systematic Theology
  2. Coursework Requirements:
    1. S.T.D. students must register for dissertation guidance (TRS 996A) for each of their 4 semesters in the S.T.D. program.
    2. Students should choose a dissertation director, with the approval of the area chair, as early as possible in their S.T.D. program.
    3. Please refer to the coursework requirements of the "Ecclesiastical Degrees: Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.)" for further information.
  3. Language Requirements:
    Candidates for the S.T.D. degree must fulfill the following language requirements, unless they have already fulfilled these requirements in the S.T.L. program in STRS:
    1. Latin: Successful completion of the Latin Proficiency Examination, administered by the academic area. The Latin requirement should ordinarily be satisfied by the end of the first fall semester in the program.
    2. Greek: Successful completion of a reading course or passing an examination in either Biblical or Patristic Greek, depending on the student's area of concentration.
    3. Modern Language: A reading ability in both German and a major romance language must be demonstrated by successful completion of an examination administered by the area.
    4. The requirement in theological usage in German may also be fulfilled by passing TRS 504: Theological German.
    5. If needed for the student's research, another modern foreign language may be substituted for German or a romance language with the approval of the student's dissertation director, readers, and the area director.
  4. Admission to Candidacy: Please refer to the admission to candidacy section of the "Ecclesiastical Degrees: Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.)" for further information
  5. Dissertation: Please refer to the dissertation section of the "Ecclesiastical Degrees: Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.)" for further information.
  6. Lectio coram: Please refer to the Lectio coram section of the "Ecclesiastical Degrees: Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.)" for further information.
  7. Final Grade: To be eligible for the degree, a candidate must obtain a 3.00 average in course work and in both the lectio and dissertation defense. The final grade for the degree shall be computed as follows:
    1. 30% coursework
    2. 50% Dissertation
    3. 10% Lectio
    4. 10% Defense

8. Certificate in Franciscan Studies

The Certificate in the Franciscan Tradition enables students to obtain an additional academic qualification that indicates they have completed focused study of Franciscan figures and thought. The Certificate consists of twelve hours of academic credit and draws on faculty from across the university.

  1. Program Objectives
    1. Provide students with graduate level instruction in the Franciscan tradition.
    2. Encourage students to study Franciscan sources in a variety of disciplines.
    3. Help students apply their growing knowledge of Franciscan sources to contemporary issues.
  2. Certificate Requirements
    1. The certificate program is open to:
      1. Students who are currently enrolled in graduate programs at CUA or elsewhere, and who wish to study Franciscan figures or themes and to earn a separate credential or simply to deepen their own formation.
      2. Students with a BA or equivalent who wish to study Franciscan figures or themes. No GRE scores are required from applicants.
    2. Timing of Studies

      The certificate may be pursued either part-time or full-time, either as a candidate for a graduate degree at CUA or as a non-degree certificate student (ND-CERT). Course work for the certificate will normally require two academic years, though (depending upon course availability) a student may complete the certificate in one academic year. Non-degree students must complete their course work in four consecutive semesters.

    3. Requirements for Completion
      1. Completion of four courses (12 credit hours) within any of the four areas of the certificate program (Franciscan Theology, Prayer, Writers, and Philosophy). Current courses include: TRS 608, TRS 727H, TRS 754B, TRS 754D, TRS 754 G, TRS 726B, TRS 727C, TRS 727J, PHIL 795, PHIL 797.
      2. Maximum period of validity of individual courses is 48 months.
      3. The minimum GPA score to receive the certificate is 3.00.

9. Certificate in Carmelite Studies

  1. The “Graduate Certificate in Carmelite Studies” is a set of subplans that can be attached to multiple TRS graduate degrees, as will be explicitly described in the Graduate Announcements, including the PhD, STD, STL, MA, MDiv, and STB, in each of the Academic Areas of the School. This set of subplans enables graduate students to obtain an additional academic qualification that indicates they have completed focused study in the Carmelite tradition. The “Certificate” consists of twelve hours of academic credit and draws on faculty and courses from across the university.
  2. There is also a Graduate Certificate in Carmelite Studies that enables non-degree graduate students to obtain an academic qualification that indicates they have completed focused study in the Carmelite tradition. The Certificate consists of twelve hours of academic credit and draws on faculty and courses from across the university.
    1. The certificate program is open to Non-degree students who meet CUA’s requirements to enroll in a masters-level courses.
    2. Applications for degree and non-degree programs are made through TargetX
    3. Application requires official transcript only; no GRE, TOEFL, or letters of recommendation are needed
  3. Enrollment Requirements
    1. Credits cannot be transferred from other institutions for the completion of this certificate
  4. Requirements for Completion
    1. Completion of four courses (12 credit hours) authorized for the program.
    2. The minimum GPA score is 3.00.
  5. Courses Offered in the School of Theology and Religious Studies
    1. TRS 754F: The Carmelite Tradition: Beginnings to 1500 (3 credits)
    2. TRS 754H: The Carmelite Tradition: 1500 to the Present (3 credits)
    3. TRS 759C: Teresa of Avila (3 credits)
    4. TRS 759B: John of the Cross (3 credits)
    5. TRS 759: Thérèse of Lisieux and Elizabeth of the Trinity (3 credits)
    6. TRS XXX: Edith Stein (3 credits)
    7. TRS XXX: Mary and Elijah in the Carmelite Tradition (3 credits)
    8. TRS XXX: Methods of Contemplative Prayer (3 credits)
    9. TRS XXX: Spiritual Guidance in the Carmelite Tradition (3 credits)
    10. TRS 692: Directed Readings (3 credits)
    11. TRS 693: Directed Research (3 credits)
    12. Additional Courses at CUA (may be counted towards the Subplan(s)/certificate with permission of the Chair of Carmelite Studies)
      1. SPAN 534: Prose of the Spanish Mystics (3 credits)
      2. SPAN 656: Early Modern Female Conventual Culture (3 credits)
      3. TRS 655A: The Practice of Spiritual Direction (3 credits)
      4. TRS 754: Mystical Theology (3 credits)