Doctor of Sacred Theology

Sacrae Theologiae Doctor (S.T.D.) (Doctor of Sacred Theology) (formerly Sacrae Theologiae Professor (S.T.P.), Professor of Sacred Theology), is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church.

The degree builds upon the work of the Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) and the Licentiate of Sacred Theology (S.T.L.). Normally, the S.T.B. is earned in three years, provided the candidate has at least two years of undergraduate study of philosophy before entering an S.T.B. program (if not, the S.T.B. will take five years; Sapientia Christiana assumes this to be the normal situation). The S.T.L. is normally earned in an additional two years, and the S.T.D. is earned after the writing, defense and publication of the doctoral dissertation (an additional 2–3 years). At institutions that offer both civil and church doctorates, the requirements of the S.T.D. will usually—although not always—be shaped so that those reading for the award can receive a Th.D. or Ph.D. in the process of meeting the requirements of the S.T.D.