/Institutions/Catholic-University-of-America/json/2023-2024/Graduate-Announcements-local.json

/Institutions/Catholic-University-of-America/json/2023-2024/Graduate-Announcements.json

Graduate Announcements > School of Theology and Religious Studies > Degree and Certificate Programs > Academic Areas > Church History

Church History

1. Faculty

Academic Area Director:	Dr. Susan Wessel
Ordinary Professors:	Dr. Mark Clark Dr. William Dinges Dr. Nelson Minnich Dr. Susan Wessel
Associate Professors:	Dr. Robin Darling Young
Assistant Professors:	Dr. Thomas Clemmons Dr. Maria Cecelia Ulrickson
Emeritus:	Msgr. Robert Trisco

2. Description of Academic Area:

The Church History program is focused on the history of the Church from the first to the twenty -first century. Consistent with its location within the School of Theology and Religious Studies (STRS), the program addresses the internal life of the Church, including the history of its doctrine, discipline, polity, worship, spirituality, and piety, its expansion through missionary work, and its charitable and educational activities. The development of its thought and structure is studied in the light of the ecclesiological conceptions of each period, as well as of the external conditions that affected it.

3. Degrees Offered:

1. Master of Arts (M.A.)
2. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
3. Sacred Theology Licentiate (S.T.L.)
4. Sacred Theology Doctorate (S.T.D.)

4. Master of Arts (M.A.)

The goal of the M.A. in Church History is to prepare students for careers in religious education and for advanced study at the doctoral level. Students in the M.A. program are expected to think critically about the ways in which the Church has been studied over the centuries. To do this effectively, students are expected to acquire training in the original languages and to conduct their research in the primary texts. The program allows for students to complete coursework in related fields and disciplines.

1. Admission Requirements: Please refer to the admission requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Master of Arts (M.A.)" for further information.
2. Coursework Requirements:
   1. The M.A. degree consists of a minimum of 30 credit hours of completed coursework at the 600 or 700 level.
   2. The required courses for M.A. students are as follows:
      1. TRS 722A - Ancient and Medieval Church History
      2. TRS 621C - Church History from the High Middle Ages to the Present
      3. TRS 724 - Methods in Church History and Historical Theology
   3. Two seminar courses in which research papers are required and for which at least a grade of B is received. At least one of these seminars must be in the Church History academic area.
   4. Please refer to the coursework requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Master of Arts (M.A.)" for further information.
3. Language Requirements:
   1. M.A. students must demonstrate reading competence in both French and German by the end of the second semester of coursework. Competence is demonstrated by receiving a grade of B or better in approved language courses or by passing an examination administered by the Church History area.
   2. Competence in 1 additional language may be required depending upon the student's area of concentration (e.g. Greek or Latin for early and Medieval church history). This is to be determined by passing an examination administered by the Department of Greek and Latin.
4. Comprehensive Examinations: Church History students are required to pass two written comprehensive examinations. One (four-hour) examination will be in the major area of concentration, and one (four-hour) examination will test the student's general knowledge of historiography in the fields of Early, Medieval, Renaissance, Early Modern, and American Church History. The examinations will be prepared under the direction of the student's adviser and the Church History academic area.

5. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. in Church History prepares students for careers in research, writing, and teaching on the college, university, and seminary levels. Students in the Ph.D. program are expected to think critically about the ways in which the Church has been studied over the centuries and to apply those insights to the study of their area of concentration. To do this effectively, students are expected to acquire advanced training in the original languages and to conduct their research in the primary texts. The program allows for students to complete coursework and to acquire competence in fields and disciplines relevant to their area of concentration.

1. Admission Requirements: Please refer to the admission requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)" for further information.
2. Coursework Requirements:
   1. A minimum of 36 credit hours beyond the M.A.
   2. Students are required to take TRS 724 - Methods in Church History and Historical Theology.
   3. In consultation with the academic advisor, the student is required to take 15 credit hours in Church History (12 credit hours of which will be from courses taken on the 700 and 800 levels).
   4. Four (4) seminar courses in which a research paper is required and for which at least a grade of B+ is received. At least two of these seminars must be in the Church History academic area.
   5. Please refer to the coursework requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)" for more information.
3. Language Requirements:
   1. Ph.D. students must demonstrate reading competence in French and German by passing an examination administered by the Church History area. In certain cases, another modern language may be substituted for French or German. Approval for such a substitution will be granted by the director of the academic area upon consultation with the Church History faculty.
   2. Depending on the student's area of concentration, competence in additional languages (e.g., Patristic, Medieval, and/or Ecclesiastical Latin; Patristic and/or Byzantine Greek; Syriac; Ethiopic, etc.) will be required. Competence in such additional languages will be demonstrated by passing an examination administered by the professor directing the student's research.
4. Comprehensive Examinations:

   Church History students are required to pass three written comprehensive examinations. One (four-hour) examination will be in the area of concentration, and two (four-hour) examinations will be in the two minor fields, one of which may be in another discipline (e.g., History, Philosophy, Greek and Latin, Semitics). The major examination will consist of 60 titles, and the two minor fields will consist of 30 titles for each examination, including books, book chapters, articles, and primary sources. The bibliographies will be developed in consultation with the professor responsible for each of the examinations.

5. Dissertation: Please refer to the dissertation section of the "Civil Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)" for further information

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

1. Admission Requirements: Students admitted to the S.T.L. program in Church History must have earned an S.T.B. degree from a pontifical faculty, or its academic equivalent, as determined by the Ecclesiastical Degrees Committee.
   1. Applicants must submit an application, post-secondary transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a sample of academic writing, and either GRE or MAT scores, and, as required by University guidelines, TOEFL scores, taken within the last five years.
   2. Applicants who are priests, deacons, seminarians or members of religious communities are required to submit a letter of endorsement from their Bishop or Religious Superior, as well as a separate letter from their Bishop or Superior attesting that their Diocese or Religious Community will provide funding for the applicant's studies.
   3. The Church History area faculty reserve the right to require additional coursework, as needed for the student’s course of study.
   4. Please refer to the admission requirements section of the "Ecclesiastical Degrees: Sacred Theology Licentiate (S.T.L.)" for further information.
2. Coursework Requirements:
   1. At least 24 credits of coursework are required, all of which are normally to be taken in the Church History academic area. With written permission from the Church History area director, 6 credits may be taken outside the Church History area.
   2. The courses will be normally at the 700 or 800 level, and at the 600 level, with the approval of the student’s director.
   3. Students are required to take the seminar, TRS 724, Methods in Church History and Historical Theology
   4. Students will receive an additional 6 credits upon completion and approval of the thesis.
   5. Four semesters of residence are required.
3. Language Requirements: Candidates for the S.T.L. in Church History must fulfill the following language requirements by the end of the semester before the candidate takes the comprehensive examination. Some exceptions may apply, at the discretion of the Church History academic area.
   1. Latin: The equivalent of two years of Latin, demonstrated by the successful completion of a Latin proficiency examination, administered by the Church History academic area.
   2. Greek: The student must complete a reading course in biblical or patristic Greek OR pass an examination in biblical or patristic Greek, depending on the student’s area of concentration. The exam will be administered by the Church History academic area.
   3. Modern Language: The student must demonstrate reading ability in German or a Romance language (French, Italian, Spanish) either by the successful completion of an examination administered by the Church History academic area OR by the successful completion of a reading course (e.g., TRS 501 “Theological German”).
4. Thesis: The thesis must consist of 25,000 to 35,000 words, define an original research question, analyze the relevant literature, and use sources in the original languages.
5. Comprehensive Examinations: S.T.L. students must successfully complete both written and oral comprehensive examinations.
   1. There are two four-hour written examinations, in which the student answers three out of four questions: i) a general examination based on a list of books in the field of Church History, and ii) a specialized examination in the student’s field of concentration (e.g., Patristics, Medieval, Reformation, the Latin American Church, the American Catholic Church) based on a bibliography that the student develops in consultation with the student’s director.

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

The S.T.L. is a prerequisite for the S.T.D. The requirements for the S.T.D. consist of: a limited number of seminars chosen with a dissertation topic in mind, ongoing direction from a faculty adviser, and the preparation and defense of a dissertation that i) defines an original research topic, ii) makes use of primary sources in the original languages, and iii) contributes to scholarship.

1. Prerequisites for Admission:
   1. The S.T.L. from the School of Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America, or its equivalent from another ecclesiastical faculty, as determined by the Ecclesiastical Degrees Committee.
   2. In the case of (i) an S.T.L. earned elsewhere, or (ii) deficits in the student’s preparation, additional seminars in the area of Church History and related fields may be required, as determined by the Church History area. Students whose preparation (S.T.L. or its equivalent) is in an area of concentration other than Church History will be required to take additional courses and/or pass the Licentiate comprehensive examination (with a minimum grade of 3.0) in the area of Church History
   3. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 for the S.T.L. or its equivalent.
   4. A letter of intent stating the proposed area of concentration within Church History, and detailing the student’s previous coursework, research, and language preparation.
   5. The results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), and, as required by University guidelines, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), taken within the last 5 years.
   6. Three letters of recommendation by persons who are in a position to judge the applicant's ability for doctoral studies in Church History.
   7. Applicants who are priests, deacons, seminarians or members of religious communities are required to submit a letter of endorsement from their Bishop or Religious Superior, as well as a separate letter from their Bishop or Superior attesting that their Diocese or Religious Community will provide funding for the applicant's studies.
2. Coursework Requirements:
   1. Students are required to attend the four proseminars that are offered for S.T.L and S.T.D students, if they have not already done so during their prior studies at Catholic University.
   2. Students are required to take the seminar, TRS 724, Methods in Church History and Historical Theology
   3. Students are required to take four doctoral seminars in Church History and related fields, at the 700 and 800 level, in which a research paper of approximately 8,000-10,000 words is required.
   4. Students are required to take twelve credit hours of coursework.
   5. Four semesters of residence are required. If the student has completed the S.T.L. at The Catholic University of America, only two semesters of residence are required, followed by continuous registration during the preparation of the dissertation.
3. Registration Requirements:
   1. No more than six credit hours of courses in addition to dissertation guidance may be taken during any of the student’s four semesters in the program.
   2. Students must register for dissertation guidance (997) for each of their four semesters in the S.T.D. program.
   3. Students must maintain continuous registration until completion of their requirements.
4. Language Requirements:
   1. With the approval of the area director and the student’s adviser, language examinations passed in fulfillment of the S.T.L. do not need to be repeated:
   2. Latin: Successful completion of the Latin examination, normally at the Doctorate level, administered by the Church History academic area. The Latin requirement should ordinarily be satisfied by the end of the first semester in the program.
   3. Greek: Successful completion of i) a reading course in either biblical or patristic Greek or ii) an examination in either biblical or patristic Greek, depending on the student’s area of concentration, administered by the Church History academic area.
   4. Modern Language: Reading ability in German and a Romance language (French, Italian, Spanish), demonstrated by the successful completion of an examination, administered in the Church History academic area.
   5. Some exceptions may apply, at the discretion of the Church History academic area.
5. Dissertation: The student must write a dissertation that i) defines an original research topic, ii) makes use of primary sources in the original languages, and iii) contributes to scholarship.
   1. A dissertation proposal must be approved by the director and two readers (who are ordinarily faculty members of the School of Theology and Religious Studies). After approval by the director and two readers, the proposal is circulated by email to the Church History academic area faculty for consideration. After receiving the approval of the Church History faculty, the proposal is submitted to the Ecclesiastical Degrees Committee. After receiving the approval of the Ecclesiastical Degrees Committee, the proposal is then submitted to the Dean and the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies for final approval.
   2. Upon the student’s completion of the dissertation, the director and the two readers signify their approval in writing. The director of the dissertation will then arrange for the lectio and for the defense of the dissertation through the School of Theology and Religious Studies office.
6. Lectio: Before defending the dissertation, the candidate for the S.T.D. must pass an oral examination on the historiography, historical context, and primary sources of the major area of the dissertation.