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Graduate Announcements > School of Theology and Religious Studies > Degree and Certificate Programs > Ecclesiastical Degrees

Ecclesiastical Degrees

Description

The School of Theology and Religious Studies (STRS) is an ecclesiastical faculty authorized by the Holy See. Programs leading to the Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.), Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.), and Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.), have canonical effects. Such programs satisfy both the norms established by the Holy See and the University’s requirements.

Since 1931, the sequence of the S.T.B, S.T.L. and S.T.D. degrees has been regulated by norms observed by Catholic faculties and universities throughout the world. Pope John Paul II’s 1979 Apostolic Constitution, Sapientia Christiana and Pope Francis’s 2018 Apostolic Constitution Veritatis Gaudium govern the granting of ecclesiastical degrees.

By offering these degrees, the School preserves a theological heritage and strives for excellence in a developing community of Catholic faculties and universities aspiring to academic cooperation and transcending national and cultural boundaries.

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.)

Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) in the following areas of concentration:

• Biblical Studies
• Historical Theology
• Systematic Theology
• Liturgical Studies
• Sacramental Theology
• Moral Theology & Ethics

• Church History

Doctor of Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) in the following areas of concentration:

• Biblical Studies
• Historical Theology
• Systematic Theology
• Liturgical Studies
• Sacramental Theology
• Moral Theology & Ethics
• Church History

Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.)

The S.T.B. degree provides the student with the opportunity to attain a foundational theological orientation at the graduate level. (please note that everything said in this section is also applicable to the Joint S.T.B./M.Div. degree with the exception of what is said in the description of the Joint Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) and Master of Divinity (M.Div.) below.

1. Admission Requirements:

a. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 2.75.

b. An undergraduate foundation in philosophy (18 credits), including courses drawn from among the following areas: History of Philosophy, Logic, Metaphysics, Ethics, Philosophy of God, and Philosophical Anthropology.

c. An undergraduate background in theology and religious studies that includes one introductory course in the Old Testament (3 credits) and another introductory course in the New Testament (3 credits).

d. A reading knowledge of Latin.

e. A completed online application through the Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA).

f. A Statement of Purpose: In an essay of 500-700 words, applicants state their purpose in undertaking graduate study in theology and religious studies. The essay also includes the applicant's academic objectives, research interests, and career plans as well as related qualifications, such as, e.g., collegiate activities, professional experience, community involvement, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application form.

g. Official Transcripts: Applicants should contact the registrar of every post-secondary school previously attended and request an official transcript be sent directly to the OGA. Transcripts marked "Student Copy" or "Issued to the Student" will not be accepted. Official transcripts must be sent in sealed envelopes with an official university stamp or signature across the seal to ensure confidentiality or sent electronically directly to the OGA. Please note: OGA provisionally accepts Unofficial Transcripts to help complete the application process; however, a Provisional admit hold will be placed on applicant's record, which will prevent the student from obtaining a copy of his or her Catholic University transcript or receiving a Catholic University diploma until it is resolved. Transcripts should show: (a) receipt of a B.A. degree from an accredited institution; (b) the courses completed toward the degree; (c) the grade in each course; and (d) the basis for grading in effect at the institution. Admission to University graduate courses for students completing their final year of undergraduate or graduate degree study at another institution is contingent upon the OGA’s receipt of the final transcript from that institution showing the conferral of the degree.

Note: All transcripts issued from outside the United States must be certified by a recognized evaluator of international education records (such as WES or AACRAO), even if the transcripts are in English. Education completed at institutions outside of the United States, as shown by official documents, may be accepted as equivalent to educational experience in the United States subject to this evaluation.

h. Three Letters of Recommendation: Submit three confidential letters of recommendation using the electronic form sent from the OGA. Along with the form, it is highly recommended to include a letter from the recommender. Recommendations should come from former or present college or university instructors and/or employers or supervisors and give evidence of the applicant's personal aptitude for, as well as interest in and motivation for, graduate level work in theology and religious studies.

i. Applicants to the degree programs of the School of Theology and Religious Studies (STRS) who are seminarians, priests, deacons, or members of religious communities are required to submit a letter of endorsement from their Bishop or Religious Superior (in addition to their three letters of recommendation) with their application. All applicants who will be funded for their studies by a diocese or religious community are required to submit a separate letter from their ecclesiastical superior attesting to this financial support.

j. Nonrefundable Application Fee.

k. An academic writing sample must be submitted.

l. International Students: Applicants from non-English speaking nations as well as some from nations where English is one of the official languages whose previous education has not been at institutions of higher education in the United States are required to certify their proficiency in English by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum score on the TOEFL of 80 (Internet-based) is required. On the IELTS an overall band score of 6.5 or higher is required.

2. Coursework Requirements:

The S.T.B. degree requires 69 credit hours with the following distribution:

a. Proseminar for New Graduate Ministerial Students (TRS 699A), which is to be taken during the student’s first fall semester in the program.

b. Foundational credit hours (21): Introduction to Theology (3), Foundations of Christian Moral Life (3), Introduction to Patristic Theology (3), Foundations of Liturgy and Sacramental Theology (3), Pastoral Theology (3), Introduction to the History of Christian Spirituality (3), and Basic Principles of Canon Law (3). Introduction to Theology, Foundations of Christian Moral Life, Foundations of Liturgy and Sacramental Theology, and Pastoral Theology must be taken by S.T.B. students during their first year in the program.

c. Systematic Theology credits hours (15) beyond Introduction to Theology, as follows: Theology of God (3), Christian Anthropology (3), Christology (3), Theology of the Church (3), and Christian Eschatology (3).

d. Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology credit hours (6) beyond the Foundations of Liturgy and Sacramental Theology course to be chosen from the following list: Sacraments of Initiation (3), Eucharist (3), Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing (3), and Ordained Ministries (3).

e. Moral Theology credit hours (9) beyond the Foundations of Christian Moral Life course, i.e. Christian Marriage and Family (3), Christian Social Ethics, and (3), Biomedical Ethics (3).

f. Scripture credit hours (15): Two courses from Old Testament offerings (6), two courses from New Testament offerings (6), and one course chosen from either set of offerings (3). These courses are to be chosen from the following list: Pentateuch; Prophecy in Israel; Psalms; Wisdom Literature; Synoptic Gospels; The Gospel According to John; and Pauline Letters.

g. Church History credit hours (3): One course chosen from the appropriate offerings in the field.

h. Students who are candidates for priesthood in the Catholic Church must take 1 course in a non-Catholic ecclesial tradition during their course of studies.

i. Students must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.75 in their coursework to be eligible for the S.T.B. degree. Students who incur two or more failing grades in formal coursework are subject to academic dismissal.

3. Language Requirements:

Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of Latin. This requirement should be satisfied by the end of the first year of studies in the program. Students may be exempted from this requirement by passing a proficiency test administered online through the Greek and Latin Department. The student should contact the department to arrange for the test between the time of matriculation and the first day of the fall semester. Students with insufficient Latin are required to take one of three options in their first year of studies: 1) LAT 501 (Introduction to Elementary Latin) in the fall semester for three credits; or 2) LAT 501X-LAT 501Y (Introduction to Elementary Latin) in the fall and spring semesters for two credits per semester; or 3) LAT 509 in the summer semester for six credits in either an online or on-campus format. It is highly recommended that students who anticipate proceeding to the STL program take LAT 509 in order to achieve a higher level of Latin reading proficiency. See further under Five-Year S.T.B.-S.T.L sequence. No other languages are required for the S.T.B. degree.

4. Comprehensive Examination:

a. To qualify for the comprehensive examination, the student must have satisfied the Latin requirement and have a grade point average of 2.75 or above. Awarding of the S.T.B. degree depends on the successful completion of the comprehensive examination.

b. Usually, students take the comprehensive examination during their sixth semester of study. The subject matter of the examination is material covered in the courses in (a) Systematic and Sacramental Theology; (b) Moral Theology; and (c) Scripture.

c. The comprehensive exam consists of a three-hour written examination, which will be graded by a total of six STRS faculty members, two from each of the three academic areas mentioned in ii.

d. In order to pass the comprehensive examination, a student must receive an average grade of 2.5 (on a scale of 0 to 4.0) on the exam.

e. Candidates for the S.T.B. degree may not continue their studies for this degree after failing the comprehensive examination twice.

5. Residency Requirements:

The residency requirement for the S.T.B. degree is six semesters of full-time enrollment or the equivalent.

6. Transfer Students:

Students transferring to STRS from another institution may ask to have up to 33 graduate credit hours for work done at their former institutions applied towards their S.T.B. requirements. Only courses in which the student received a grade of B or higher can be considered for transfer credit. Transfer students should discuss their transfer of credits questions with The Associate Dean for Graduate Ministerial Studies who will make the final decision about the number of credits that may be transferred.

Five-Year S.T.B.-S.T.L. Program:

Students enrolled in the S.T.B. degree program may be able to begin work on requirements towards the S.T.L. degree during their time in the S.T.B. program and then complete their remaining S.T.L. requirements in an additional two years of study in the following areas of concentration: Historical/Systematic Theology, Moral Theology/Ethics, Liturgical/Sacramental Theology, Biblical Theology, and Ecclesiastical History. Because of additional language requirements involved, those pursuing the S.T.B.-S.T.L. sequence in Biblical Theology will require a sixth year of study. Students interested in this option should contact the Associate Dean for Graduate Ministerial Studies by no later than the end of their first year of S.T.B study to discuss the details of their pursuing this option. In all cases, interested students should likewise be in touch early on during their time in the S.T.B. program with their academic advisors and the Director of the Academic Area in which they intend to concentrate to inform them of their interest and get their advice about best how to proceed.

Joint Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) and Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Program:

STRS offers both ecclesiastical and civil degrees. The Master of Divinity degree is a civil professional degree, recognized in the United States and Canada by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). The S.T.B. is a first level graduate ecclesial academic degree. The joint S.T.B./M.Div. degree is designed to integrate ministerial with academic training. Everything said above about the S.T.B. (application procedures, course requirements, etc.) holds for the joint S.T.B./M. Div. except for the following:

1. Candidates for the joint degree are required to take two rather than one church history courses for a total of six credit hours.

2. Candidates for the joint degree are required to take 9 credit hours of academic electives beyond the 69 credit hours of academic theology required for the S.T.B.

3. Candidates for the joint degree are required to take 15 credit hours in the Pastoral Theology area beyond the introductory Pastoral Theology course taken also by S.T.B. students. Candidates for the joint degree are ordinarily required to take two semesters of Basic Supervised Ministry or in lieu of this a unit of CPE plus the Advanced Supervised Ministry  course.

4. Candidates for the joint degree are required to take 6 credit hours of Ministry Capstone Seminars.

5. Candidates for the joint degree may request to have up to 45 credits from course work done at another institution applied to their S.T.B./M.Div. requirements. The Associate Dean for Gradual Ministerial Studies will make the final decision about how many credit hours may be transferred after consultation with the candidate and those involved in the candidate’s academic formation.

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

The S.T.L. degree program focuses on assisting the student in developing appropriate methods of scientific investigation in theology. The student specializes in one area of theological concentration, produces a thesis in that area, and completes written and oral comprehensive examinations. on a prescribed book list.

1. Admission Requirements:

a. Possession of the S.T.B. degree from an ecclesiastical university or faculty or a comparable degree with coursework that is equivalent to that required for the S.T.B. at the Catholic University of America (see above section on the S.T.B.) as determined by the Ecclesiastical Degrees Committee (E.D.C.). Such coursework must have been completed with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and within ten (10) years of the applicant’s matriculation into the S.T.L. program.

b. A reading knowledge of Latin.

c. A completed online application through the Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA). 

d. A Statement of Purpose: in an essay of 500 to 700 words, applicants state their purpose in undertaking graduate study in theology and religious studies. The essay also includes the applicant's academic objectives, research interests, and career plans as well as related qualifications, such as e.g., collegiate activities, professional experience and community involvement, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application form.

e. Official Transcripts: Applicants should contact the registrar of every post-secondary school previously attended and request an official transcript be sent directly to the OGA. Transcripts marked "Student Copy" or "Issued to the Student" will not be accepted. Official transcripts must be sent either in sealed envelopes with an official university stamp or signature across the seal to ensure confidentiality or electronically directly to the OGA. Please note: the OGA provisionally accepts Unofficial Transcripts to help complete the application process; however, a Provisional Admit hold will be placed on the applicant's record, which will prevent him or her from obtaining a copy of their Catholic University transcript or receiving their Catholic University diploma until the provision has been lifted. Transcripts should show: (a) receipt of a S.T.B. or equivalent degree (with such equivalency being decided on by the E.D.C.) from an accredited institution; (b) the courses completed toward the degree; (c) the grade in each course; and (d) the basis for grading in effect at the institution. Admission to Catholic University graduate programs for students completing their final year of undergraduate or prior graduate degree study is contingent upon receipt by the OGA of the final transcript showing the conferral of the degree.

Note: All transcripts issued from outside the United States must be certified by a recognized evaluator of international education records (such as WES or AACRAO), even if the transcript is in English. Education completed at institutions outside of the United States, as shown by official documents, may be accepted as equivalent to academic work done in the United States. subject to the judgment of the E.D.C.

f. Three Letters of Recommendation: Submit three confidential letters of recommendation using the electronic form sent by the OGA. Along with the form, it is highly recommended to include a letter from the recommender. Recommendations should come from former or present college or university instructors, and/or employers or supervisors and give evidence of the applicant's personal aptitude for, as well as interest in and motivation for, the field of theology and religious studies.

g. Applicants to the degree programs of the School of Theology and Religious Studies (STRS) who are priests, deacons, or members of religious communities are required to submit a letter of endorsement from their Bishop or Religious Superior (in addition to their three letters of recommendation) with their application. All applicants who will be funded for their studies by a diocese or religious community are required to submit a separate letter from their ecclesiastical superior attesting to this financial support.

h. Standardized Test Scores: applicants must submit GRE scores dated within the last 5 years. The Catholic University of America code for the GRE is 5104.

i. Nonrefundable Application Fee

j. International Students: Applicants from non-English speaking nations and some from nations where English is one of the official languages whose previous education has not been at institutions of higher education in the United States are required to certify their proficiency in English by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Duolingo Exam, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum score on TOEFL of 92 (Internet - based) is required. On the IELTS an overall band score of 6.5 or higher is required.

k. Writing Sample: Students applying to the S.T.L. program must submit a sample of their academic writing.

l. Conditional Admission: The School may grant conditional admission to those applicants not meeting the above prerequisites. In such cases, faculty in the academic area of specialization to which the student is applying will decide under what circumstances the conditions will be lifted, usually by assigning prerequisite courses that do not count toward the degree.

m. Provisional Admission: Students entering their sixth semester of theological study in the S.T.B. program who have obtained permission to delay their S.T.B. comprehensive exams until the scheduled dates may apply for provisional admission to the S.T.L. program, provided that their cumulative S.T.B. GPA is 3.0 or higher.

2. Coursework Requirements:

a. Completion of the Pro-Seminar for Doctoral students (TRS 799) which is to be taken in the student's first fall semester in the S.T.L. program.

b. Each S.T.L. student must successfully complete 24 credit hours of coursework at the 700 or 800 level. Eighteen of these required credits must be taken in the student's chosen academic area of concentration, and normally all twenty-four credit hours are to be taken from the course offerings of STRS. As part of coursework, some areas of concentration have specific coursework requirements. Church History students must take TRS 724, “Methods in Church History and Historical Theology.” Liturgical Studies students must take four courses their first two semesters: TRS 741A, “Liturgy, Theological and Historical Perspectives”; TRS 741B, “Liturgy and Culture”; and TRS 740, “Eucharist: A Liturgical Theology.” Students in Sacramental Theology must take TRS 740, 741A, 744 and at least one course in Christology and one course in Ecclesiology.

c. Students may take advantage of the offerings of the University in subjects useful for the student's specialization in theology by taking up to 6 credit hours in another school of the University. In each instance the written approvals of the STRS Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and of the Dean or Chair of the other school or department are required.

d. The normal course load for S.T.L. work is 9 hours per semester.

e. In addition to the 24 credit hours of coursework, each student must write a thesis. The candidate must register for S.T.L. Thesis Guidance (TRS 696A) for 3 successive semesters, beginning with the second semester of enrollment in the S.T.L. program. The purposes of thesis guidance include: (a) to direct the student to readings pertinent to the student’s chosen areas of concentration; (b) help the student prepare a thesis proposal; and (c) guide the student in the writing of the thesis. Comprehensive exams and the thesis must be completed within two years from the completion of coursework.

f. S.T.L. students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher to remain in good standing. The student must obtain a cumulative grade (derived from the combined average of coursework, thesis, and the comprehensive examination) of 3.0 or higher to earn the S.T.L. degree. To be eligible for acceptance into the S.T.D. program, a student must receive a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher for all S.T.L. work.

g. Please refer to the sections describing S.T.L. coursework requirements in individual academic area degree programs for more details.

3. Language Requirements:

a. A reading knowledge of Latin. If an admitted student needs some remedial work in Latin, this must be completed by the end of the student’s first fall semester in the program. Students in Church History must complete a minimum of two years of Latin.

b. Demonstration of proficiency in Biblical or Patristic Greek through coursework or a language exam administered by STRS. Students focusing on Biblical Theology must have completed six credits of Greek beyond elementary and intermediate Greek as well as six credits of Hebrew beyond an introductory level (ordinarily 6 credits).

c. Demonstrated reading proficiency in either French or German. Full-time students must satisfy at least two of the above language requirements by the beginning of their second year of study in the S.T.L. program. With the agreement of the student's thesis director and subject to the approval of the other faculty, a modern language other than French or German may be substituted to fulfill the modern language requirement if the student's thesis research involves that language to a significant extent.

4. Comprehensive Examination:

a. The student must successfully complete written and oral comprehensive examinations which demonstrate appropriate mastery of the student's chosen area of concentration.

b. Though the norm is for S.T.L. students to take comprehensive examinations only after their thesis is approved, S.T.L. students may take these exams earlier by agreement with their academic advisor.

c. The student must have maintained at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average to qualify to take the comprehensive examinations.

d. The student must have completed all language requirements to qualify to take the comprehensive examinations.

e. Students must have had their theses approved in writing by their director and reader before the comprehensives can be scheduled. Comprehensives may not be taken before the midpoint of the final semester of residency.

f. The written comprehensive examination is based on a prescribed list of books in the student's area of concentration. The allotted time for the written examination and the number of questions to be asked on it will be determined by the faculty of the student’s area of concentration. For Church History there are two four-hour examinations, a general exam and an exam in a specialized area. Moral Theology requires two three-hour exams. The examination will be graded by the director and reader of the thesis plus 1 additional faculty member from the area of concentration. The student must receive a passing grade (3.0) on the written comprehensives in order to proceed to the oral comprehensives.

g. The oral examination is 1 hour in duration and will take place before the same examiners who grade the written comprehensives.

h. The oral examination will be graded on a 4.0 scale. The final result will be the average of the scores given by each of the 3 examiners in a secret vote. An average grade of 3.0 is needed to pass.

i. A candidate for the S.T.L. degree may not continue in the program after two failures on the comprehensive examinations.

5. Thesis:

a. Each candidate for the S.T.L. degree must write a thesis of 75 to 100 pages (approximately 20,000 to 25,000 words) which demonstrates the ability to proceed further in scientific theological research. In Church History the thesis is normally 25,000 to 35,000 words.

b. The thesis should give evidence of training in research and make a contribution to theological knowledge involving a limited, yet significant, problem of investigation. It must give evidence of the following: (a)familiarity with basic methods and techniques of research; (b) technical mastery of a limited subject matter; and (c) ability to exercise sound theological judgment and to formulate accurate conclusions.

c. The student’s thesis proposal must be approved by the director and reader, as well as by the faculty of thestudent’s area of concentration and the E.D.C.

d. Normally, the proposal should be presented to the above parties before the end of the student’s first year of residency (i.e., the first semester of thesis guidance).

e. STL students enroll in TRS 696A STL Thesis Research beginning in the second semester of their program for a total of three semesters. This course confers full-time status and bills at the equivalent of 1 credit. Once the student deposits and passes the thesis, the student is retroactively enrolled in TRS 699CR course for their final semester, and the “grade” of DEP is posted. The 699CR course is worth 9 academic credits but carries no tuition charge (since the student would have already paid tuition through enrollment in the 696A course), the DEP grade does not factor into GPA—but the record of the DEP grade on the student’s transcript does confer the 9 credits.

f. The director and the reader signify their approval in writing on the STRS "Final Approval of Thesis" form. A student may not take the comprehensive examinations until such approval has been secured).

g. After the student has successfully passed the written and oral comprehensive examination, he or she must deposit the original exemplar of the final form of the thesis in the office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies.

6. Final Grade:

a. The 3 components of the S.T.L. degree program (course work, thesis and comprehensive examinations) are graded on a 4.0 scale.

b. The average of the grades for courses, the average of the two grades for the thesis awarded (by the director and the reader), and the combined average of the final grades for the written and oral comprehensive exams by the 3 examiners will each count as one 1/3 of the grade.

c. A student must obtain an overall 3.0 average for the above three components in order to receive the S.T.L. degree.

7. Residency Requirements: The residency requirement for the S.T.L. degree is 4 semesters of full-time enrollment or the equivalent.

Doctorate of Sacred Theology (S.T.D.)

The S.T.D. "is the academic degree which enables one to teach in a Faculty and which is therefore required for this purpose." (Sapientia Christiana, 50.1). As such, the S.T.D. is the preferred qualification for teaching theology on a Catholic university faculty or for holding certain other posts of administration and is usually required for a permanent post on the theology faculty of an ecclesiastical or pontifical university.

The S.T.D. is an academic degree conferred only after a candidate with a basic, tested theological foundation (as certified by possession of a S.T.B.) and proven competence in a given area of specialization (as certified by the possession of a S.T.L.) has shown ability for achievement in advanced scholarly research and publication.

1. Admission Requirements:

a. Possession of the S.T.L. degree from the Catholic University of America or from another ecclesiastical faculty or university, or a graduate degree in theology that demonstrates, in the judgment of the E.D.C., equivalency to the University’s S.T.L. requirements. For Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology, students should have completed coursework substantially similar to TRS 740, 741A, and 744. Additional courses for applicants who have received their S.T.L. degree elsewhere may be required of those entering the S.T.D. program.

b. A cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or better in S.T.L. or other prior graduate work which has been accepted as equivalent to the S.T.L.

c. Students whose previous graduate theological work is in an area of concentration different from the one that is their intended area of concentration for the S.T.D. will be required to take additional courses and/or pass the licentiate comprehensive examinations in their new area of study with a minimum grade of 3.3.

d. Applicants who earned their S.T.L. at another university must submit a copy of their S.T.L. thesis along with their application.

e. A letter of intent stating: (a) the proposed area of concentration; (b) previous studies in that area; and (c) anticipated outcomes of the student’s doctoral studies.

f. Demonstrated reading proficiency in Latin and Biblical Greek. The applicant should also have a demonstrated reading proficiency in either French or German. (Language Requirements may be satisfied after admission).

g. A completed online application through the Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA).

h. A Statement of Purpose: In an essay of 500 to 700 words, applicants state their purpose in undertaking graduate study in theology and religious studies. The essay also includes the applicant's academic objectives, research interests, and career plans as well as related qualifications, including: collegiate activities, professional experience, community involvement, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application form.

i. Official Transcripts: Applicants should contact the registrar of every post-secondary school previously attended and request an official transcript be sent directly to the OGA. Transcripts marked "Student Copy" or "Issued to the Student" will not be accepted. Official transcripts must either be sent in sealed envelopes with an official university stamp or signature across the seal to ensure confidentiality or sent electronically directly to the OGA. Please note: OGA provisionally accepts Unofficial Transcripts to help complete the application process; a Provisional admit hold will be placed on the applicant's record, which will prevent the applicant from obtaining a copy of their Catholic University transcript or receiving their Catholic University diploma until the provision has been lifted. Transcripts should show: (a) receipt of a S.T.L. from an accredited institution; (b) the courses completed toward the degree; and (c) the grade in each course, and (d) the basis for grading in effect at the institution. Admission to University graduate courses for students completing their final year of undergraduate or graduate degree study is contingent upon the receipt of the final transcript showing the conferral of the degree.

Note: All transcripts issued from outside the United States must be certified by a recognized evaluator of international education records (such as WES or AACRAO), even if the transcript(s) is in the English language. Education completed at institutions outside of the United States, as shown by official documents, may be accepted as equivalent to educational experience in the United States.

j. Three Letters of Recommendation: Submit three confidential letters of recommendation using the electronic form sent from the OGA. Along with the form, it is highly recommended to include a letter from the recommender. Recommendations should come from former or present college or university instructors, and/or employers or supervisors and give evidence of the applicant's personal aptitude for, as well as interest in and motivation for, the field of theology and religious studies.

k. Applicants to the degree programs of the School of Theology and Religious Studies (STRS) who are priests, deacons, or members of religious communities are required to submit a letter of endorsement from their Bishop or Religious Superior (in addition to their three letters of recommendation) with their application. All applicants who will be funded for their studies by a diocese or religious community are required to submit a separate letter from their ecclesiastical superior attesting to this financial support.

l. Standardized Test Scores: applicants must submit GRE scores dated within the last 5 years prior to the student’s application. Test scores must be submitted as part of the admission process. The Catholic University of America code for the GRE is 5104.

m. Nonrefundable Application Fee.

n. International Students: Applicants from non-English speaking nations and some from nations where English is one of the official languages whose previous education has not been at institutions of higher education in the United States are required to certify their proficiency in English by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Duolingo Exam, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum score on TOEFL of 92 (Internet- based) is required. On the IELTS an overall band score of 6.5 or higher is required.

o. Writing Sample: Students applying to the S.T.D. program must submit a sample of their academic writing.

2. Language Requirements:

a. Demonstrated reading proficiency in Latin, Biblical or Patristic Greek, and one modern language are prerequisites.

b. Any student entering the S.T.D. program without these prerequisites must satisfy them by the end of the first fall semester in the program.

c. Reading proficiency in a second modern language, i.e., French or German, must be demonstrated in accordance with the procedure prescribed by faculty in the student’s area of concentration. This is ordinarily to be done during the student’s first year of coursework. Depending on a student’s intended research, faculty may approve exceptions or substitutes for modern languages.

d. All language requirements must be satisfied before the student's dissertation proposal is submitted to the area faculty for approval.

3. Coursework Requirements:

a. Completion of the STRS Pro-Seminar for Doctoral students (TRS 799) which is to be taken in the student's first fall semester in the S.T.D. program.

b. 12 credit hours selected from doctoral seminars relevant to the student's area of concentration/proposed research topic are required for the S.T.D. Normally, these will be 800-level courses in the student's area of concentration. Students in Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology may fulfill one of these courses with a 700 level course Any course taken to fulfill the coursework requirements must require (or make provision for) a substantial research paper (approximately 25-30 pages). Students in Church History must take TRS 724, “Methods in Church History and Historical Theology” if they have not taken it before. Students in Sacramental Theology must take 2 courses in Liturgical Studies or Sacramental Theology, 1 course in Christology, and 1 course in Ecclesiology.

c. No more than 6 credit hours of coursework in the academic area plus dissertation guidance may be taken during any one of the four semesters of coursework in the S.T.D. program, for a total of 9 semester hours per semester. Dissertation guidance (TRS 996A) must be taken all four semesters.

d. 4 successive semesters of dissertation guidance over and above the 12 credit hours of doctoral seminars are required. The candidate may choose (or will be assigned) a faculty adviser from among the student’s S.T.D. area of concentration upon entering the program. The faculty adviser chosen or assigned may be changed with the approval of the faculty in the student’s area of concentration.

e. The student must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average to continue in the program.

4. Residency:

a. Four semesters of residency are required of students whose S.T.L. was not obtained at the Catholic University of America.

b. If the student did complete the S.T.L. at Catholic University of America (or at an institution whose requirements for the S.T.L. are determined to be equivalent to those of Catholic University by the E.D.C.), only two semesters of residency are required, after which the student is required to maintain continuous registration while writing the dissertation.

5. Admission to Candidacy:

a. To be eligible for admission to candidacy for the S.T.D. degree, the student must have satisfied all language requirements, completed all required coursework, and submitted the "Admit to Candidacy Request Form" found on the STRS website.

6. Dissertation:

a. Each candidate must prepare and successfully defend a dissertation written under the guidance of a director.

b. The dissertation is expected to demonstrate: (a) technical mastery of the subject; (b) the ability to engage in scholarly research; and (c) formulation of conclusions of significance to the academic theological community.

c. The format of the dissertation must conform to the guidelines found in the current version of the Dissertation/Thesis Handbook published by the Catholic University of America, which is available online from the Office of Graduate Studies.

d. The student’s dissertation proposal must be approved in first place by the director and two readers (who are ordinarily faculty members of STRS). Once their approval has been obtained, it must be approved as well by all faculty members of the student’s area of concentration, the E.D.C., the STRS Dean and the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies.

e. Upon completion of the dissertation by the student, the director and the two readers signify their approval in writing. Once this has been done, the director of the dissertation will arrange for the lectio and defense of the dissertation though the STRS office.

7. Lectio coram:

a. Prior to defense of the doctoral dissertation, the student must pass an oral examination (“lectio”) based on the origins, history and contemporary status of the entire area suggested by the topic of the dissertation.

b. The student’s director and readers will collaborate with the candidate in drafting the proposed topics for the lectio which should have a demonstrable connection with the topic of the dissertation, but not to such an extent that they make the defense of the dissertation superfluous.

c. At least one month prior to the defense of the dissertation, the candidate must present a list of five topics related to, but not identical with, the topic of the dissertation, to the director of the dissertation and the two readers who will serve as examiners for the Lectio. Upon their approval of the topics, the topics will be submitted to the Area Director and the Dean for their approval. Five days prior to the scheduled date of the lectio, the Dean will notify the members of the examining board which of the proposed topics will be the subject matter of the lectio. Twenty-four hours prior to the examination, the area director will notify the candidate about the topic for the lectio.

d. The candidate prepares and delivers a 25-minute lecture on the assigned topic. The candidate may use a one-page outline as lecture notes to guide the presentation. If the lectio presentation includes commentary on a text or texts, then the candidate may use that material in the presentation as well. 

e. The candidate’s director will serve as chair for the lectio. The time for questioning of the candidate (30 minutes in total) will be allotted among the members of the examining board, as they determine. Each examiner will give a secret grade, and the final grade for the lectio will be the average of their three grades.

f. The grading system for the lectio is as follows:

3.75 or above: Excellent
3.5 or above: Outstanding
3.25 or above: Superior
2.5 or above: Pass

g. A grade below 2.5 is a failure. A candidate who fails the lectio will not be permitted to proceed to the defense of the dissertation. The area director, in consultation with the dissertation director, will determine when the lectio may be repeated; ordinarily, a new lectio, with new topics, should not be scheduled earlier than a month after the initial lectio. A second failure means that the candidate is no longer eligible for the S.T.D. degree.

8. Defense of the Dissertation:

a. When the members of the dissertation committee have received the dissertation in final written form, the Associate Dean will ask them to submit within twenty-one class days a simple affirmative or negative judgment as to whether the dissertation is ready for defense. In signifying that the dissertation is “ready for defense,” members of the dissertation committee may still require or recommend further emendations to the dissertation.

b. The examination board for the defense shall include two faculty members from outside STRS who will serve as chair and secretary respectively for the examination. At the defense, the candidate will first present a summary of the dissertation, giving particular attention to the status quaestionis, the method and primary sources used, and the principle conclusions of the research. For this presentation, the candidate may refer to a copy of the dissertation, but may not use other notes.

c. Each member of the five-person examining board will be given time to question the candidate on the dissertation. Time will be allotted to the members as determined by the board, but the entire examination should not exceed two hours, not be shorter than one hour and thirty minutes.

d. At the end of the defense, the dissertation itself will be graded by the three members of the dissertation committee, after which the oral defense will be graded by all five members of the examining board. The votes will be taken in secret and supervised by the chair of the board. The final grade in each case is the average of the grades given by all those voting. The grading system will be the same as that used for the lectio (see g. f above)

e. A candidate who fails the defense examination must obtain the permission of the Dean to retake the examination. A candidate will not be permitted to retake the examination until at least one semester or an equivalent period of time has elapsed since the date of the failure. A candidate who fails a second time in the defense examination ceases to be a candidate for the S.T.D.

f. After the defense, the dissertation shall be returned to the candidate with the corrections that the director and/or the readers consider necessary or advisable. The candidate must incorporate the required corrections-- while the recommended corrections may be incorporated at the discretion of the student-- and submit the revised version to the director who is to ensure that all required corrections have been properly made before the student deposits the dissertation with the University.

9. Final Grade for the S.T.D. Degree:

a. To be eligible for the degree, a candidate must obtain a 3.3 average in coursework and in both the lectio and the dissertation defense.

b. The final grade for the degree will be computed as follows:

30% Course Work
50% Dissertation
10% Lectio
10% Defense