Doctoral study in Catholic theology runs through a system of ecclesiastical degrees used across the Catholic Church: the Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.), the Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.), and the Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.).
These degrees are granted by pontifical universities and faculties. The Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical Lateran University are located in Rome, not inside Vatican City as the original article claimed.
In the United States, the University of Saint Mary of the Lake (Mundelein Seminary) received Vatican accreditation for a hybrid S.T.L. program, letting ministerial students complete up to 60 percent of coursework online and 40 percent in person. The school notes that the S.T.L. is equivalent to the coursework for a PhD.
Students interested in an ecclesiastical doctorate should confirm that the institution is authorized to grant pontifical degrees, check the sequence of required degrees, and read the official academic bulletin.
Readers weighing doctoral study can look at our guides on the path from a master’s to a doctorate, from a master’s degree to a doctorate with a clear path, making the master’s-to-doctorate transition simple, and the journey from master’s to doctorate.

