The Thomistic Institute is pleased to announce that it will offer at least one full-ride scholarship for a student to pursue their S.T.L. or S.T.D. in Sacred Theology in Thomistic Studies at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception (Dominican House of Studies).

What does the scholarship include?

• Full tuition

• A living stipend of $20,000 per academic year

• Additional funds to cover academic fees & books

Scholarship awardees work up to eight (8) hours weekly with the Thomistic Institute staff on TI projects or with the DHS faculty on research projects.

Who is eligible to apply?

Anyone who is eligible for the degree program is eligible to apply for the scholarship. The program requires that applicants have previously obtained the Baccalaureate of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) or equivalent degree. Holders of a Masters of Divinity or of another, similar first professional degree in theology will have their previous academic record evaluated to determine if further work is required to establish equivalence to the S.T.B. degree. To learn if your degree is equivalent to the S.T.B., contact the PFIC Registrar, Mrs. Elizabeth Kimes, at registrar@dhs.edu.

When is the deadline to apply?

Applications to matriculate in Fall 2025 will be accepted on a rolling basis until the scholarship is awarded.

Application*

1.Submit a statement of intent, a Curriculum Vitae, and a writing sample through the form below.

A statement of intent: This document should describe 1) your involvement with the Thomistic Institute to date and/or how your nomination to the program would further the mission of the Thomistic Institute; 2) your reasons for pursuing the STL/STD in Sacred Theology in Thomistic Studies at the Dominican House of Studies; and 3) your qualifications for graduate study. Your statement should not exceed two pages (double-spaced, 12 point font). 

Curriculum Vitae: The CV should include your educational background and any relevant professional/volunteer experience, leadership roles, academic honors received, etc. 

Writing Sample: Submit an academic chapter, article, or essay that showcases your best work in Theology. Submissions should be double spaced and no less than 10 pages.

2. Ask your undergraduate institution (and any graduate institutions with which you’ve been affiliated) to send a digital copy of your official transcripts to: rmarisseau@dhs.edu - OR - have a physical copy mailed to:

Thomistic Institute

Attn: Dr. Rebecca Marisseau

487 Michigan Ave NE

Washington, DC 20017

*If you are nominated for the scholarship, you will still be required to submit the full application through the PFIC for the degree program. It is strongly recommended that applicants familiarize themselves with the application and requirements of the PFIC program.

Receiving a nomination for a TI scholarship will not guarantee or privilege your application to the PFIC’s STL/STD program. Conversely, your admission to the STL/STD program at the DHS is not a prerequisite for a scholarship application.

About the Thomistic Studies Program

MASTERS OF ARTS IN THOMISTIC STUDIES

The M.A. (Thomistic Studies) is a degree program offered by the Thomistic Institute of the PFIC, which specializes in the study of the theological synthesis of St. Thomas Aquinas. This 36 credit program is designed to be taken over four consecutive summers, with the possibility of a fifth summer for thesis development and defense. Students receive an intensive formation in Aquinas’s texts and ideas, and classical Thomistic thought is presented in the areas of systematic and moral theology. The course of studies also considers modern topics, highlighting the relevance of Thomistic studies for contemporary theological discourse. The degree prepares students for advanced study in the area of Thomistic thought and theology.

LICENTIATE IN SACRED THEOLOGY IN THOMISTIC STUDIES

The Thomistic Institute grants the Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) in Thomistic Studies. The S.T.L. degree includes the composition of a License thesis that prepares directly for the composition of an ecclesiastical doctorate. The program consists principally of graduate seminars. It seeks to initiate students to the study of Thomistic thought on several fronts, each of which can become the basis for thesis research:

• Major Themes in Classical Thomistic Philosophy, Dogmatic and Moral Theology

• The Modern Thomistic Tradition within the context of Post-Enlightenment Theology

• The Study of Aquinas in Historical Context

• Historical Methods for the Study of Medieval Theology

The S.T.L. is the universally required degree for advancement to doctoral studies in an ecclesiastical faculty and is a canonical degree required for professors who will teach in ecclesiastical faculties, such as any major seminary. The program requires that students have previously obtained a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.).

DOCTORATE IN SACRED THEOLOGY IN THOMISTIC STUDIES

The Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) is a specialized degree program in Thomistic studies. It offers a terminal degree (the ecclesiastical doctorate) that is granted by the authority and in the name of the Holy See. Candidates may specialize either in the domain of Thomistic systematic theology or Thomistic moral theology.

The program consists of two parts. First, the candidate must complete a specialized S.T.L. program consisting of 36 credits, a tesina, and a lectio coram. This program has specific course content that is historical and systematic in kind, and which is ordered toward doctoral research in Thomistic theology. This stage normally takes two years to complete. Second, the candidate must complete the official proposal, research and composition of the doctoral thesis, which are subject in various stages to both internal and external examination.

Questions?

For questions pertaining to the STL or STD degree, including the PFIC application process and the program course of study, please contact the PFIC Registrar, Mrs. Elizabeth Kimes: registrar@dhs.edu

Questions about the Thomistic Institute scholarship program and application may be directed to Dr. Rebecca Marisseau: rmarisseau@dhs.edu