ECCLESIASTICAL AWARDS PDF Print E-mail

ECCLESIASTICAL AWARDS

Baccalaureate of Sacred Theology (STB)

Licence in Sacred Theology (STL)

Doctorate in Sacred Theology (STD)

 

INTRODUCTION

The Catholic Institute of Sydney as an ecclesiastical faculty confers academic degrees by the authority of the Holy See. These degrees are the Baccalaureate, the Licence and the Doctorate in Sacred Theology. The canonical norms for these awards are governed by the Apostolic Constitution of Pope John Paul II, Sapientia Christiana.

Although these canonical degrees are recognised in their own right outside of Australia, and in particular by pontifical and ecclesiastical universities and faculties, within Australia all recognised tertiary awards must be accredited through the appropriate State government body. In NSW this body is the Department of Education and Training.

An ecclesiastical award may only be conferred in conjunction with the conferral of a civilly recognised award of the SCD. It is possible for students wishing to fulfil the requirements of an ecclesiastical award to do so in conjunction with one or more distinct SCD awards. The standard correlation of awards is STB = BA (Phil)/BTh; STL = MTh or MTh (Hons), STD = ThD. In each case, however, the ecclesiastical degree has specific requirements over and above the corresponding SCD degree.

Where a student, in the course of fulfilling the requirements of an SCD award, also fulfils the requirements of an ecclesiastical degree, this will be noted on the graduate’s testamur. Both the testamur and the academic transcript will be signed and sealed according to SCD Policy and Procedures and will also bear the seal of CIS and, for the Baccalaureate, the signatures of the President and Academic Registrar at CIS; for the Licence and Doctorate, the signatures of the Chancellor, the President and the Academic Registrar. In this arrangement, the one course of studies leads, not to two awards, but to a single award which is recognised in two jurisdictions.

The requirements for the ecclesiastical awards are set out below. Students intending to take out an ecclesiastical degree should register their intention with the Academic Registrar, and should ensure that they undertake such courses as are required for the ecclesiastical degree they are seeking. When a candidate for an ecclesiastical award becomes eligible to graduate with an appropriate SCD degree, he or she should apply for the recognition of the relevant ecclesiastical degree on their testamur.


GUIDELINES

1. In keeping with NSW Higher Education legislation, an ecclesiastical award may only be awarded in conjunction with a civilly accredited award. Hence students must fulfil both the civil and the canonical requirements in respect of admission criteria, pre-requisites, demand hours and assessment demands.

2. A student enrolls in an ecclesiastical award, the Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology or the Licence in Sacred Theology, by enrolling in an appropriate civil award.
a) For the STB, this would normally be the joint civil award BA(Phil)/BTh at CIS
b) For the STL, this would normally be the MTh coursework at CIS plus the comprehensive examination and a 20,000 word thesis supervised through CIS, or the MTh coursework followed by the comprehensive examination, and a thesis following the regulations of the MTh(Hons). The STB is a pre-requisite for the STL.

3. Upon enrolling in the appropriate civil award, the student is to give the Academic Registrar notification that the enrollment is being undertaken with the intention of an ecclesiastical award.

4. This notification will be noted both on the enrolment application and on subsequent semester registration sheets.

5. The Academic Registrar shall validate that the student meets the requirements of entry into the ecclesiastical award as well as the civil award.

6. The student is to be advised by the Academic Registrar of the particular requirements of the ecclesiastical award and the manner in which these requirements influence the choice of course units in the corresponding civil award.

7. A student who, though not enrolled in an ecclesiastical award, is completing or has completed the requirements for a civil SCD award (e.g. the BA/BTh) and who wishes to receive a corresponding ecclesiastical award (e.g. the STB), must apply to the Academic Registrar and submit his or her SCD transcript. The Academic Secretary will advise the student about his or her eligibility for the ecclesiastical award in accordance with the procedures outlined in this document.

8. An essential component or the STB is an oral or written comprehensive examination, or the Integrative Research Essay. Only students who have maintained an average of at least 75% may apply to do the essay. This examination or essay is to be conducted under the supervision of the Academic Dean.

9. An essential component of the STL is the oral comprehensive examination. This is to be conducted under the supervision of the Academic Dean.

10. The Registry will maintain a register of all those who have enrolled in a civil award with the intention of an ecclesiastical award. The register will detail:
a) The name of the student
b) The ecclesiastical award enrolled
c) The semester/year of enrolment
d) A list of course units completed annually with their mark
e) The date of completion of the award or the date of withdrawal from the ecclesiastical award. If the student withdraws from the ecclesiastical award, but continues with the requirements of the corresponding civil award, a note is to be made to this effect
f) The final marks in the award
g) The qualification of the award.

11. The ecclesiastical award is granted with the civil award in the following manner
a) Application for graduation is made for the civil award in the usual manner
b) With such application, notice is given by the student that they wish also to graduate with the ecclesiastical award
c) At the civil graduation, the student is granted two transcripts
i) The official SCD transcript according to the civil award, signed by the Academic Registrar of CIS and the Registrar of the SCD
ii) An official CIS transcript according to the ecclesiastical award, signed by the CIS Academic Registrar. The CIS transcript shall note the qualification given with the award:
1. summa cum laude probatus 90-100
2. magna cum laude probatus 80-89
3. cum laude probatus 70-79
4. bene probatus 65-69
5. probatus 50-64
This qualification is determined in the following manner: For the STB 80% Course Work 20% Comprehensive Examination. For the STL 40% Course Work 30% Comprehensive Examination 30% Thesis.
d) The student is granted one testamur which is received at the civil graduation.
i) The BA (Phil)/BTh testamur shall have the additional wording:
1. and having fulfilled the requirements prescribed by the Statutes of the Catholic Institute of Sydney has been admitted by the Institute Senate to the degree Baccalaureate of Sacred Theology.
2. In addition to the SCD signatures, the testamur is also signed by the CIS President and the CIS Academic Registrar.
ii) The MTh or the MTh (Hons) testamur, whichever is applicable, shall have the additional wording:
1. and having fulfilled the requirements prescribed by the Statutes of the Catholic Institute of Sydney has been admitted by the Institute Senate to the degree Licence in Sacred Theology.
2. In addition to the SCD signatures, the testamur is also signed by the CIS Chancellor, the CIS President and the CIS Academic Registrar.

12. For both the STB and the STL, the CIS Academic Dean will take a motion from the CIS Academic Board to the CIS Senate that the student, having fulfilled the requirements of the degree be awarded the degree. The Academic Dean will then move a motion that the Chancellor confers the award.
It is understood that these recommendations may be made consequent to the civil graduation but should be made at the earliest opportunity subsequent to the civil graduation.

13. The Academic Registrar shall maintain, on an annual basis, the official CIS Register of Ecclesiastical Awards that have been so granted.

BACCALAUREATE OF SACRED THEOLOGY (STB)

PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS

The STB comprises five years full-time or part-time equivalent. It includes two years study of philosophy and humanities and three years study of theology and related disciplines. It is the foundational ecclesiastical award in theology and preparation for further studies.

This programme of studies ensures that “students obtain an integral and systematic formation in theology, philosophy and the associated sciences. Each subject is taught in accordance with the scientific method proper to it, and in accordance with the principles of accepted tertiary pedagogy” (CIS Statutes Art 36). Students will be introduced progressively to theological, scientific methodology. They will develop the capacity to reflect in a theologically coherent fashion and to apply their theological knowledge to the various pastoral situations they may encounter in their future ministry. Only course units in Pastoral Theology and Practice with a theological content may be credited towards the STB. Accordingly, candidates for ordinat ion undertaking the STB will need to complete additional course units in the area of Pastoral Theology and Practice in order to complete the requirements for ordination. Candidates for the STB with previous studies in the arts and humanities, may be granted advanced standing towards the STB. If a student already has a previous degree with majors in philosophy and the humanities, the requirements for the ecclesiastical baccalaureate would be fulfilled by completing requirements for the BTh, as specified above (excluding the requirements in Humanities and Philosophy). Where it is considered, on the advice of the Philosophy Department, that additional course units in Philosophy are required, these may form part of the BTh studies. If a student’s previous degree does not include the study of Philosophy then that student will be required to complete at least 72 credit points in Philosophy as additional work to the BTh.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
40 course units (360 credit points) extending over not less than five years and (normally) not more than ten years
10 course units (90 credit points) in Philosophy, including the BA major
8 course units (72 credit points) in Theology, including the BTh major
6 course units (54 credit points) in Biblical Studies, being the BTh major
4 course units (36 credit points) in Christian Ethics, being the BTh sub-major
4 course units (36 credit points), a BTh sub-major, in one of the following subject areas: Church History, Liturgy or Spirituality
3 course units (27 credit points) in ancient languages: AL132 Ecclesiastical Latin I, and either AL111 OT Hebrew I & AL212 OT Hebrew II, or AL121 NT Greek I & AL222 NT Greek II
5 elective course units, available from the following subject areas: Biblical Studies, Christian Ethics, Christian Spirituality, Church History, Humanities, Liturgical Studies, Missiology, Pastoral Theology and Practice (up to 2 course units as specified below), Philosophy, Theology
up to 2 course units (18 credit points) may be included from the following course units in Pastoral Theology and Practice:

  • PT101 Introduction to Pastoral Theology
  • PT205 Contextual Theology for Ministry
  • PT367 Canon Law and the Sacraments
  • PT368 Selected Themes in Canon Law

The comprehensive examination is in addition to the 40 course units

The Comprehensive Examination
The regulations for the comprehensive exam are as follows:

  • The comprehensive examination will normally be conducted by written examination. A student may apply to take the exam orally. Students who have maintained an average of 75% or higher may apply to the CIS Academic Board to write an integrative essay of 5000 words in lieu of the examination.
  • The comprehensive exam can only be taken during or after the student's final semester of studies.
  • The comprehensive exam will be held at the end of each semester. Students must register for it with the Academic Dean at the beginning of the semester. The Academic Dean will publish at the beginning of the semester the date on which the examination will be held and the essay is due.
  • In the case of the written or oral exam, the Academic Dean will give students a list of topics for the exam upon registration. The list will include thirty topics from the major areas of study.
  • The written examination will be of three hours duration. Students will be expected to answer four questions from ten that will appear on the examination paper.
  • A students may opt to take an oral exam for forty-five minutes with three teachers in lieu of taking the written exam. Application for an oral exam should be made by week 10 of the semester.
  • In the case of the essay, the Academic Dean will publish the essay topic at the beginning of the semester. The essay should attempt to synthesise the studies undertaken and give the student an opportunity to demonstrate their capacity to reflect in a theological way. The essay will be marked by three examiners.

LICENCE IN SACRED THEOLOGY (STL)

This ecclesiastical award is an advanced cycle of studies designed to develop the student’s skills in scientific research, to qualify them to teach theology in seminaries, theological colleges or faculties or equivalent institutions, or assume leadership roles in the apostolate. (CIS Statues, Art 45)

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
STB at the level of 70% or above
AL132 Ecclesiastical Latin I & AL233 Ecclesiastical Latin II or equivalent
Either AL111 OT Hebrew I & AL212 OT Hebrew II or equivalent

or AL121 NT Greek I & AL222 NT Greek II or equivalent
Demonstrate reading knowledge in two modern languages, including English

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
The programme shall extend over not less than two years, and normally not more than five years.
8 course units (72 credit points) at 600 or 700 level,
6 course units (54 credit points) in the subject area of specialisation.
Up to 2 course units (18 credit points) may be undertaken in other subject areas.
A dissertation of at least 20,000 words, or for the MTh(Hons) 40-50,000 words.
A comprehensive oral examination based on previous course work.

NOTES
Dissertation

The CIS Board of Graduate Studies approves the topic and supervisor. Before an MTh(Hons) dissertation is submitted for examination to the SCD, the supervisor recommends to the CIS Board of Graduate Studies that the dissertation is worthy to be approved for the STL. The CIS Board of Graduate Studies will provide the SCD with a list of possible examiners. The dissertation is then examined by the SCD in the normal way.
Oral Examination

A student who has maintained an average of 80% may apply to the CIS Academic Board for permission to substitute a comprehensive essay of 5,000 words on a topic approved by the Board of Graduate Studies with a subsequent oral interview.

 

DOCTORATE IN SACRED THEOLOGY (STD)


This award is designed to bring the student’s scientific formation to completion, to develop in the student a matured and proven ability to engage in theological research and teaching, especially in ecclesiastical faculties and similar institutions, and to fit him or her for the exercise of pastoral ministries that require specialisation. (CIS Statutes Art 50) The STD is awarded, in conjunction with the ThD, to those candidates who have fulfilled the requirements of the CIS Statutes. In addition to the requirements for the ThD, candidates for the STD will work under the direction of a supervisor who is a permanent teacher of the Institute in preparing a dissertation which makes a real contribution to the progress of theological science.

The topic of the dissertation must be approved by the CIS Academic Board. The dissertation must be defended publicly before a jury of three examiners including the supervisor. The ecclesiastical doctorate is awarded on the publication of the dissertation or of a substantial part thereof. Admission to the STD is on the basis of the STL (or equivalent). Candidates are also required to demonstrate a reading knowledge in three modern languages, including English.