Pontifical Philosophical Institute / Faculty of Catholic Theology
The Pontifical Institute of Philosophy was canonically established by Decree of the Congregation for Catholic Education of March 14, 1978 (No. N 447/72) as a philosophical institute of pontifical right in the form of an ecclesiastical faculty (“ad instar facultatis”) at the Faculty of Catholic Theology of the University of Salzburg and has the right to confer ecclesiastical academic degrees in philosophy. It is supported by the Benedictine “Salzburg Abbots’ Conference”.
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.
As a prerequisite for admission to studies at the Pontifical Institute of Philosophy, the provisions of the Universities Act 2002, as amended, apply. For students, the provisions of the ecclesiastical academic legislation (Sapientia Christiana Art. 31-35 and Ord. 24-27) apply.
Graduates of the baccalaureate program are awarded the academic degree of baccalaureate (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 doctorate (Dr. phil.).
For further information, please contact the Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Catholic Theology.
