Pontifical universities in Rome

Pontifical universities divide studies into 3 cycles: the first cycle of varying duration, after which is obtained a Bachelor (Baccalaureato), the second cycle, which leads to the conferment of a License degree (Licenza), and finally the third cycle, which grant a Graduate degree (Dottorato).[2][3] The duration of courses varies from university to university.

In Italy "degrees in Sacred Theology and other specific ecclesiastical disciplines (Sacred Scriptures, Canon Law, Spirituality, Sacred Liturgy, Missiology, and Religious Sciences),[4] conferred by a Faculty approved by the Holy See are recognized by the State" pursuant to art. 10/II of the 25 March 1985 n.21 Law (OJ No 28, April 10, 1985). However, no measures were taken designed to establish a priori the equivalence with the titles conferred by Italian universities. It is therefore not possible to predetermine a mandatory equivalence for qualifications issued by pontifical universities with those issued by state universities. Indeed, in Italy, constant changes make it very complex to unify a university curriculum with the problem of equality that must be resolved, at their request, from time to time by the relevant Ministry of Education, University and Research.[5]

Generally, Pontifical universities are composed of the three traditional ecclesiastical faculties of Theology, Philosophy, and Canon Law. Additionally, they might include the ecclesiastical faculties of Sacred Scriptures, Sacred Liturgy, Spirituality, Missiology, and Religious Sciences. However, after approval from the Holy See, faculties for other ecclesiastical and non-ecclesiastical degrees have also being erected in Pontifical institutions. The Apostolic Constitution Veritatis Gaudium (in its Appendix II)[6] lists the following: Christian Archeology, Bioethics, Social communications, Civil Law (and Utriusque iuris),[7] Christian and Classical Letters, Holistic Ecology Studies, Judaic Studies and Jewish-Christian Relations, Sacred Music, Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Psychology, Educational Sciences, Social Sciences (which include the Social Doctrine of the Church),[8] Church History (which includes the Cultural Heritage of the Church),[9] Arab and Islamic Studies, Oriental Studies, Studies on Marriage and Family, and Studies in Peace Sciences. Although not included in the list, the studies of Patristic Sciences should be mentioned as well, since the Augustinian Patristic Institute was specifically founded for the study of both Western Patristics (Theology of the Church Fathers) and Western Patrology (Lives and Writings of Church Fathers), while its Eastern counterparts are studied at the Pontifical Oriental Institute.

The Pontifical Gregorian University.

In Rome, we find twenty-two pontifical institutions associated among themselves for common collaboration.[10] They are organized as pontifical universities (with respect to can. 815), and pontifical athenaea, institutes of higher education, and faculties (these with respect to can. 814). (The Religious Order or other ecclesiastical body responsible for the administration of the university is listed in parentheses.)