History and Purpose

109.     Pursuant to the action of the Holy See in chartering The Catholic University of America, a School of Sacred Sciences was organized for graduate study in various branches of theology. The School began offering courses in November, 1889. In 1927, the Board of Trustees authorized the establishment of a course for the education of clerics in preparation for ordination to the priesthood. From 1931 to 1936, this Seminary Department had its own separate organization. In 1937, the School of Sacred Sciences and Seminary Department were reorganized under the new Statutes of the University. The theology section of the Seminary Department was incorporated into the School of Sacred Theology and the philosophy section into the School of Philosophy. In 1964, with the approval of the Sacred Congregation of Seminaries and Universities, registration in the School of Sacred Theology was opened to qualified laymen and laywomen who wished to earn the theological degrees offered. Since the Second Vatican Council new programs in theological and ministerial studies have been developed. In 1973 the former School of Sacred Theology was incorporated into the newly formed School of Religious Studies.

110.     The School of Religious Studies includes five departments: Biblical Studies, Canon Law, Church History, Religion and Religious Education, and Theology.

111.     In keeping with the aims of The Catholic University of. America, the Department of Theology seeks to serve the Christian community and the American public by providing academic and ministerial programs rooted in the Catholic ­Christian tradition and experience. It is committed to Catholic teaching, found in Scripture and Tradition and served by the living Magisterium in its faithful and authentic interpretation. In order to fulfill this responsibility, the Department of Theology has as its twofold purpose: (1) the pursuit of graduate theological study and research in the Roman Catholic tradition and (2) the professional training for the ministry in the Roman Catholic Church.

The Department envisions these two purposes as mutually advantageous since students from a number of confessional backgrounds come from different regions of North America and from different parts of the world to prepare themselves for various careers.

112.     In general, all students are expected to achieve a broad familiarity with Roman Catholic theology in its historical development and its current thematization. In practice, students lay greater or less stress on one goal in preference to another in light of their previous experience and in view of their future plans.

113.     In accord with its twofold purpose, the Department offers several different degree programs (M.A., M.Div., D.Min., Ph.D., S.T.B., S.T.L., S.T.D.) as well as a wide variety of courses so that students will have the opportunity to develop theologically in view of their personal goals. Of these programs, the S.T.B., S.T.L., and S.T.D. are ecclesiastical or pontifical in nature and are governed by these Statutes.

114.     The Department of Theology as a part of the School of Religious Studies, in conjunction with the other schools of the University and the schools of the Washington Theological Consortium, provides students with extensive resources and opportunities for their study of theology in an ecumenical context.

115.     The ecclesiastical degree programs of the Department, besides being subject to the approval of the Holy See, are subject to accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools.