Bachelor of Sacred Theology
Encyclopedia
The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is a graduate-level academic degree in theology
.
The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is offered by a number of Pontifical Universities
. It is sometimes offered as a graduate degree, for students who have already completed a B.A. or other first degree. It can also be offered as an "ecclesiastical degree", granted directly by church hierarchy after one has completed requirements in addition to those necessary for a civil degree, but which are required for ordination.
Within the Catholic Church, the S.T.B. is the first of three ecclesiastical degrees in theology (the second and third are the Licentiate of Sacred Theology
and Doctor of Sacred Theology
respectively), and as such is granted by pontifical faculties under the authority of the Holy See
. It is awarded upon successful completion of the first cycle, a three-year course of studies that aims for a comprehensive competence in theology.
Despite its name, the S.T.B. is a graduate degree, at least in the United States. While acceptance to an S.T.B. programme always requires at least two prior years' undergraduate study of philosophy, as well as knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages, in the United States a completed undergraduate degree is generally required for admission to an S.T.B. programme. Thus it is roughly equivalent academically to an M.Div.
(although the S.T.B. has a more academic focus while the M.Div. has a more pastoral focus), and the two are sometimes granted together.
Faculties which offer the degree Bachelor of Sacred Theology include The Catholic University of America
, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
(Belgium), and Tilburg University (Netherlands).
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
.
The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is offered by a number of Pontifical Universities
Pontifical university
A pontifical university is a Catholic University established by and directly under the authority of the Holy See. It is licensed to grant academic degrees in sacred faculties, the most important of which are Sacred Theology, Canon Law, Sacred Scripture and...
. It is sometimes offered as a graduate degree, for students who have already completed a B.A. or other first degree. It can also be offered as an "ecclesiastical degree", granted directly by church hierarchy after one has completed requirements in addition to those necessary for a civil degree, but which are required for ordination.
Within the Catholic Church, the S.T.B. is the first of three ecclesiastical degrees in theology (the second and third are the Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
and Doctor of Sacred Theology
Doctor of Sacred Theology
The Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
respectively), and as such is granted by pontifical faculties under the authority of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. It is awarded upon successful completion of the first cycle, a three-year course of studies that aims for a comprehensive competence in theology.
Despite its name, the S.T.B. is a graduate degree, at least in the United States. While acceptance to an S.T.B. programme always requires at least two prior years' undergraduate study of philosophy, as well as knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages, in the United States a completed undergraduate degree is generally required for admission to an S.T.B. programme. Thus it is roughly equivalent academically to an M.Div.
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
(although the S.T.B. has a more academic focus while the M.Div. has a more pastoral focus), and the two are sometimes granted together.
Faculties which offer the degree Bachelor of Sacred Theology include The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
(Belgium), and Tilburg University (Netherlands).