Licentiate in sacred theology

Licentiate of Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) is the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by pontifical universities or Ecclesiastical Faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized, and the Doctorate. The Licentiate is a graduate degree with canonical effects in the Roman Catholic Church. STL is the abbreviation of the Latin, sacrae theologiae licentiatus, which translates as licentiate of sacred theology. "The academic degrees conferred by an Ecclesiastical Faculty are: Baccalaureate, Licentiate, and Doctorate." (Cf. Apostolic Constitution Sapientia Christiana (SapC) OF Pope John Paul II, 47.1)

The programme for a licentiate's degree is equivalent to a total of two years or four semesters of full-time study after receiving a college degree and the Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree [S.T.B.] (SapC 72b). The S.T.B., or first cycle, requires five years or ten semesters (SapC 72a). " In this cycle the special disciplines are taught corresponding to the nature of the diverse specializations being undertaken. Also seminars and practical exercises are conducted for the acquisition of the ability to do scientific research." (SapC 72b) The licentiate program develops research skills and treats theological questions in greater depth.

Students may pursue the license as either a transitional or a terminal degree. As a transitional degree, the S.T.L. program introduces students to a more scientific study of theology in pursuing Doctoral studies. " Nobody can be admitted to the doctorate unless first having obtained the licentiate." (SapC 49.2). As a terminal degree, the license prepares students to be teachers and resource persons.

A graduate of the S.T.L. program is prepared to teach theology in a college, seminary, or university, to function as a chaplain to various professional groups, and to act as a theological resource for a diocese and diocesan agencies. "The doctorate is the academic degree which enables one to teach in a Faculty and which is therefore required for this purpose, the licentiate is the academic degree which enables one to teach in a major seminary or equivalent school and which is therefore required for this purpose." (SapC 50.1). In several European countries, the master level degree is referred to as a license – from its original meaning as a "license to incept", i.e., that is, permission from the local bishop to actually take the degree of master or doctor, an event which took place through the ceremony of inception.

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