Pontifical Philosophical Institute / Faculty of Catholic Theology
The Pontifical Philosophical Institute has the authority to confer ecclesiastical academic degrees in philosophy. Admission to the Pontifical Institute of Philosophy is subject to the provisions of the University Act of 2002, as amended. Students are subject to the provisions of ecclesiastical academic legislation (Sapientia Christiana, Articles 31–35 and Ordinances 24–27).
The philosophical studies at the Pontifical Philosophical Institute comprise three sections: the baccalaureate, licentiate and doctorate studies.
- The baccalaureate studies have a standard duration of six semesters, while the licentiate studies have a standard duration of four semesters. The baccalaureate program introduces students to the study of philosophy and serves in particular to develop its historical and systematic foundations. The licentiate studies serve to deepen and specialize in philosophical research and the study of philosophy and its border areas.
- The doctoral studies is established with the minimum duration of study of 6 semesters. The workload is 180 ECTS credits (dissertation, dissertation seminar, specializing courses, special achievements). It is concluded with the public defensio dissertationis. The doctoral program in philosophy acquires the ability to contribute to the development of philosophical science through independent research (see Art. 81 lit. c Sapientia Christiana).
- The bachelor’s and licentiate programs correspond to the bachelor’s and master’s programs, the doctoral studies to the doctoral studies in philosophy at the Faculty of Catholic Theology of the University of Salzburg. The curricula for the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral studies in philosophy at the Faculty of Catholic Theology of the University of Salzburg are to be applied mutatis mutandis, whereby the success of the studies is to be assessed according to the (“ecclesiastical”) grading scale.
Graduates of the bachelor’s program are awarded the academic degree of Bachelor (Bacc. phil.), graduates of the licentiate program are awarded the academic degree of Licentiate (Lic. phil.), and graduates of the doctoral program are awarded the academic degree of Doctor (Dr. phil.).
The Pontifical Institute of Philosophy was established by a decree of the Congregation for Catholic Education dated March 14, 1978 (No. N 447/72) as a philosophical institute of pontifical right in the manner of an ecclesiastical faculty (“ad instar facultatis”) within the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Salzburg and is supported by the Benedictine “Salzburg Conference of Abbots.”
For further information, please contact the Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Catholic Theology.
