Pontificia Università della Santa Croce

What you'll study

Study combines courses and seminars in historical theology and related disciplines; students follow a structured two-year curriculum worth 90 ECTS and must write a licentiate thesis. The curriculum prepares candidates to teach:

• History of the Church
• Patrology
• Christian Archaeology
• History of Theology

In addition to the Licentiate, the department offers Diploma paths that follow the same study programme but do not require a thesis: one-year Diplomas (36 ECTS) with themes such as "Dal Mediterraneo all'Europa: il cristianesimo antico e medievale" and "Oltre l'Europa: il cristianesimo nel mondo moderno e contemporaneo," and a two-year Diploma (72 ECTS) covering the whole history of Christianity.

Entry requirements

Admission to the Licentiate requires completion of the institutional cycle of philosophy and theology. For the Doctorate (Dottorato) in Theology with the same specialisation, possession of the Licentiate is required; doctoral studies last a minimum of two years and include specialist coursework and a supervised thesis to be publicly defended and at least partially published. For the Diplomas in Church History the minimum admission is a three-year bachelor degree in humanities or an equivalent title from a Pontifical University or an Institute of Religious Sciences.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared principally for academic and ecclesial roles: teaching Church History, Patrology, History of Theology and Christian Archaeology in seminaries or equivalent institutions; serving dioceses as archivists or historical researchers; conducting studies on local saints and diocesan history. The Licentiate is explicitly the academic degree that authorises teaching in a major seminary or equivalent institution per ecclesiastical norms.

Scholarships & funding angle

The source text does not specify scholarships or fees. Prospective applicants should consult the university's academic or financial offices and the Department of Church History for information on available funding, bursaries, or external supports such as diocesan sponsorships and research grants.