The three academic cycles

The educational program in the Pontifical Faculty of Theology comprises three cycles:

1. The first cycle – known as the institutional cycle – extends over 5 years (or 10 semesters) after which the student is given a “Baccalaureate in Theology” which is equivalent to a “Bachelor Degree in Theology” in the Lebanese system.
   A minimum of 165 credits are required in order to obtain the canonical baccalaureate.
2. The second cycle normally extends over two years (or 4 semesters) after which the student is given a “Canonical Degree in Theology” which is the equivalent of the “Master’s Degree” in Theology in the Lebanese System.
   A minimum of 48 credits are required to obtain the canonical degree
3. The third cycle normally extends over three years after which the student is given a “Canonical PhD in Theology” which is equivalent to the “PhD in Theology” in the Lebanese System.
   A minimum of 60 credits are required to obtain the canonical PhD.

N.B.: In order to fulfill the growing needs of the Church and society in Lebanon and the Middle East, the Pontifical Faculty of Theology created few years ago, four departments delivering non-canonical university diplomas. These departments’ programs i.e. Sciences of the family, Religious and pastoral education, Syro-Antiochian sciences, Social teaching of the Church are all currently being restructured.

General formation courses: “Ethics and religion”

In addition to the theological formation provided in the three academic cycles (BA, Masters and PhD), and upon the request of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik’s Council, the Pontifical Faculty of Theology has been providing, since 2006, a general formation course in Ethics and Religion consisting of three credits per semester (the equivalent of 45 hours) which is mandatory to all the students. This elective course consisting of multiple themes i.e. Introduction to the Bible, the Christian presence in Lebanon and the Middle East, The Social Teaching of the Church, Church and politics, Dialogue between religions, The Church and bioethics, is attended by more than a thousand students per year, and is one of the mandatory general formation courses varying between twelve and twenty one credits according to the different Faculties and Institutes.

French and Arabic academic sections; The “School of Theology”

The theology courses in the Pontifical Faculty of Theology are given in French and in Arabic in two distinct linguistic sections. The formation provided in each of the two sections entitles the registered student to an academic degree acknowledged by both the Lebanese State and the Holy-Seat.

The Pontifical Faculty of Theology which is really concerned of providing an open and scientific theological formation, requires that its Arab speaking students learn a modern foreign language, whether it’s English or French, since this is necessary to guarantee the scientific quality of the researches required by the curriculum.

The student whose diplomas prevent him from acceding to University is accepted in the School of Theology (non-university structure in the Faculty) where he is to follow courses in one of the aforementioned sections according to his linguistic competences and to a personalized studying contract.