Doctorate
Objective
The main objective of the program for the Doctorate in Theology of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is to execute scientific research that becomes a doctoral thesis, representing progress in any of the theological disciplines.
Granted Degree:
Doctor in Thelogy
Cost of the program:
Yearly tuition*: $3.826.000
Admission fee: $0
Duration of the Program:
Eight semesters
The final grade for the Ph.D. must be at least 4.0. To obtain the degree, the partial or total publication of the thesis or of an article summarizing the substance of the thesis is also required.
The graduate student will be able to place themself among the scientific community with a good mastery of the scientific research method of theology, which is to be verified by generating a thesis, that involves a command of the theology sources (mostly the Holy Writ and Tradition, with an emphasis on classical thinking), and a perspective that is historically strong, hermeneutical, and philosophically critical. With this set of skills and based on their own identity, graduate students will be able to respond to the challenges of the current world, the understanding of dogma and evangelization, as well as to communicate their knowledge to the scientific community.
The program for the Doctorate in Theology and the faculty members research and teach about the different theological disciplines. Doctoral candidates are free to choose their research topic. Nevertheless, the Faculty has favored three lines of research during the last two decades that have distinguished the institution in the Latin American context:
- Systematic or dogmatic theology Favors the study of the history of the dogma.
- Patristic theology Has transformed the Faculty into a Latin American example in this topic, thanks to its Patristic Seminars and its Master’s Degree in Theology with a major in Patristics.
- Fundamental theology The most recent emphasis favors the topics of science in religion.
The final grade for the Doctorate in Theology is calculated according to the following scale:
- Average grades from every qualified academic activity on the program: 30%.
- Written thesis grade: 60%.
- Thesis public defense grade: 10%
The final grade of the Doctorate must be at least 4.0. To obtain the Degree, it is necessary to publish, partially or completely, the thesis or an article providing a fundamental summary of it.
Admission
The Postgraduate Director will interview the applicant and will provide the requirements for admission, within the dates established for each initial season for the Doctorate program.
The selection process will be performed by the Postgraduate Committee, who will assess the information of each applicant according to academic criteria and the requirements of the program, after the personal interview with the doctorate program director.
The applicant will receive a letter informing if their application was accepted or rejected.
Accepted applicants can enroll in the doctorate program and become regular students.
Students who do not have a certificate proving mastery of English for the level required by the UC Doctoral Programs School must take an exam to assess their mastery of the language, and then enroll in the specified courses to achieve the competencies required for the doctorate level.
The requirements to apply are as follows:
a) Having a grade higher than 5.5 (or equivalent) the academic degree of Bachelor in Theology (equivalent to a Master’s degree), granted by a Faculty of Theology canonically established or equivalent, according to the decision of the Postgraduate Committee.
b) Certificates and transcripts from previous academic degrees, curriculum vitae et studiorum, and a list of scientific publications.
c) A letter from the applicant expressing their motivations to enroll in the program, and their commitment to the time dedication required to study the program.
d) Letter from a faculty member of the program supporting the application and accepting, in a first instance, to be the thesis director of the applicant.
e) Two recommendation letters from academics from any university, national or foreign.
f) As for priests and followers, a letter of a higher member of the church endorsing their application to the program.
g) Demonstrate, before the director of the program, the following linguistic competencies: a) instrumental use of biblical Latin and Greek; b) English reading comprehension; and c) understanding of any other modern language between French, German, and Italian.
Contact
Postgraduate Director, Fernando Verdugo
Sub-Director of Curriculum Management, Carla Rojas