This interdiciplinary program provides a carefully integrated course of studies in the early Christian period. Although degrees are awarded within the School of Arts and Sciences, students take courses in a range of schools and departments, drawing upon historical, linguistic, literary, philosophical, and theological disciplines and methods.

There is a strong emphasis on equipping students with the languages and technical skills necessary for their programs of study. Among the ancient Christian languages, Greek, Latin, Coptic, and Syriac are of particular importance. Before being accepted into the program, students are expected to have completed graded courses in Greek through the intermediate level and at least one year of another ancient Christian language. German, French, and other modern languages are also important, and ideally students will have studied one or more of these at the B.A. level. Progress in languages both ancient and modern is regularly tested.

Successful applicants are admitted into one of two programs. Those who already hold an M.A. in Early Christian Studies or in a closely related field are admitted directly into the Ph.D. program. Those without an M.A. in Early Christian Studies or in a closely related field are admitted into the combined M.A./Ph.D. program. Students who complete only the M.A. portion of the combined program receive the degree of M.A. Otherwise, a terminal M.A. degree is not offered.

The M.A. Degree in Early Christian Studies (30 credit-hours)

I. Four compulsory courses:

  • ECST 600 Introduction to Early Christian Studies
  • CLAS 572 The Mediterranean World of Late Antiquity
  • SEM 703 History of the Christian Near East
  • ECST 650 History of Early Christian Thought (for 2018 description, click here)

These courses are generally offered on a two-year cycle. They do not have to be taken at the beginning of a student's career. If they are unavailable prior to a student's comprehensive examination, either the requirement will be waived and another course substituted, or another course will be specified as compulsory, at the discretion of the director.

II. Six other graduate courses approved by the director.

The six courses (taken as a whole) must
  • be drawn from at least two schools or departments,
  • involve substantial reading of Patristic texts in at least two of the original languages,
  • include at least one course, in each of those languages, taught in a language department,
  • require (in at least four of the courses) a paper or papers based on research that demands the linguistic ability implied in b) and c), and
  • represent at least two of the academic disciplines listed in the preamble to this curriculum.

III. A modern language requirement: demonstrated reading knowledge of either 1) German or 2) French or Italian. The student must pass an examination administered or approved by the center, prior to taking the Comprehensive Examination.

IV. A written comprehensive examination based on the M.A. reading list, and including sight translations from two ancient languages.

V. Two substantial research papers, graded by the faculty member(s) for whom they were originally written, and reviewed by one other faculty member designated by the director.

Up to six hours of graduate credit may be transferred from another M.A. program with the approval of the director.

The Ph.D. Degree in Early Christian Studies (24 credit-hours)

I. Before their admission to the degree, students must have completed an M.A. at CUA - in either Early Christian Studies, or the Department of Greek and Latin, or the Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures - or (subject to the discretion of the Director) an equivalent M.A. at some other accredited institution.

II. Eight graduate courses approved by the director.
These courses (taken as a whole) must

  • be drawn from at least two schools or departments,
  • involve substantial reading of Patristic texts in at least two of the original languages,
  • require (in at least four of the courses) a paper or papers based on research that demands the linguistic ability mentioned in b), and
  • represent at least two of the academic disciplines listed in the preamble to this curriculum.

The compulsory courses listed above for the M.A. in Early Christian Studies, if not taken previously, must be taken in addition to the eight courses required for the Ph.D. unless equivalent courses taken elsewhere have been approved by the director.

III. A modern language requirement: demonstrated reading knowledge of German and of either French or Italian. The student must pass an examination administered or approved by the Center, prior to taking the comprehensive examination.

IV. A written comprehensive examination, including sight translations from both Greek (obligatory) and at least one other ancient language as approved (in each student's case) by the director. (This last requirement will be modified in the case of students with M.A. degrees in the relevant ancient languages.) The examination will be based on wide reading in a field chosen by the student in collaboration with the expected supervisor of his or her dissertation and with the director.

V. A doctoral dissertation.