FACULTY OF ORTHODOX THEOLOGY

Theological-Catechetical program of Undergraduate Studies – Basic Academic Studies is a four year (eight semesters) program carrying 240 ECTS credits. On the completion of these studies candidates gain the title of Bachelor of Theology-Catechiser with Honors and become qualified to continue their university education by taking up Graduate Studies - Master Academic Studies lasting two semesters (one year), and carrying 60 ECTS credits.

Students are required to attend all course lectures and seminars as proposed by Faculty regulations.

Theological-Catechetical program of Undergraduate Studies enables the students to research, communicate and advance theology, especially within the context of educational-pedagogical activities, whilst encouraging creative dialogue between theology and other complementary disciplines. The focus of study is on acquiring systematized fundamental knowledge of Biblical Theology, Systematic Theology, Patrology, Christian Philosophy, History of Religion, Church History, Liturgics, Canon Law, Methodology of Teaching, Didactics, Catechetics, Fundamentals of Orthodox Pedagogy, Pedagogical Psychology, Theology of Church Art, and biblical, patristic and liturgical languages – Hebrew, New Testament and Patristic Greek, and Church Slavonic.

Theological-Pastoral program of Undergraduate Studies – Basic Academic Studies is a four year (eight semesters) program carrying 240 ECTS credits. On the completion of these studies candidates gain the title of Bachelor of Theology with Honors and become qualified to continue their university education by taking up Graduate Academic Master Studies lasting two semesters (one year), and carrying 60 ECTS credits.

Students are required to attend all course lectures and seminars as proposed by Faculty regulations.

Theological-Pastoral program of Undergraduate Studies enables the students to research, communicate and advance theology whilst encouraging creative dialogue between theology and other complementary disciplines. The focus of study is on acquiring primarily systematized fundamental and applied knowledge in practical theological disciplines in connection with catechetical, missionary, liturgical and pastoral activities (Homiletics, Pastoral Theology, Pastoral Psychology, Church Chant, Canon Law, etc.), but also fundamental knowledge of Biblical Theology, Systematic Theology, Patrology, Fundamentals of Christian Philosophy, History of Religion, Church History, and Liturgics.

Practical Theology Program offers undergraduate practical studies lasting six semesters (three years), and carrying 180 ECTS credits. On the completion of these studies candidates gain the title of Bachelor of Theology and become qualified to continue their university education by taking up the Practical Master Program lasting four semesters (two years), and carrying 120 ECTS credits.

After completing the Practical Theology Program students will gain fundamental knowledge in the fields of: Biblical Sciences, Patrology, Dogmatic Theology, Liturgics, Canon Law, and a wide knowledge of General and local Church History, which additionally reinforces the hermeneutical-methodological segment of the curriculum. This will enable each candidate to be at ease in their encounter with various fields of Theology. Practical theological disciplines (Church Slavonic, Musicology and Church Chanting, Christian Archeology and Church Art, etc.) will allow good orientation as far as Church and Cultural-Educational life is concerned. Apart from being enabled to perform various high-level tasks, theologians will also be enabled to convey their knowledge to others in the capacity of priests, and/or divinity teachers.

NOTE: This study program is no longer available for the enrolment of new students.

Theological Master Program of Graduate Studies - Master Academic Studies is a one year (two semesters) program carrying 60 ECTS credits, and on its successful completion each prospective candidate gains the title of Master Theologian.

Students are required to attend all course lectures and seminars as proposed by Faculty regulations.

Theological Master Program enables the students to research, communicate and advance theology whilst encouraging creative dialogue between theology and other complementary disciplines on a higher level in comparison to undergraduate studies, thus satisfying superior academic requirements.

Successful completion of the Theological Master Program of Graduate Studies – Master Academic Studies, opens the perspective for candidates to engage in Doctoral Studies of Theology or similar studies in other branches of academia.

Religiological Master Program of Graduate Studies – Master Academic Studies is a one year (two semesters) program carrying 60 ECTS credits, and on its successful completion each prospective candidate gains the title of Master Religiologist.

Students are required to attend all course lectures and seminars as proposed by Faculty regulations.

Religiological Master Program enables the students to research, communicate and advance theology whilst encouraging creative dialogue between theology and other complementary disciplines on a higher level in comparison to undergraduate studies, thus satisfying superior academic requirements. Philosophical, sociological, and communicational dimensions of the religious phenomenon are taken into consideration allowing application of acquired knowledge and practical skills in the spheres of science, teaching, media, and in those all areas where theological and religiologicial knowledge is relevant.

Successful completion of the Religiological Master Program of Graduate Studies – Master Academic Studies, opens the perspective for candidates to engage in Doctoral Studies of Theology or similar studies in other branches of academia.

Privilege of enrolment into the Practical Master Program at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology is extended to those candidates who have completed the three year Basic Academic Studies - Practical Theology Program of undergraduate studies of Theology.

Practical Master Program lasts two years, carries 120 ECTS, and on its completion each prospective candidate gains the title of Graduated Theologian – Master. These studies allow each prospective candidate to develop the capability of independent scholarly research in the area of Theology and its specialized disciplines; they offer development of such knowledge and abilities as to enable the prospective candidates to engage in theoretical research, in teaching activities at various levels of education, to practice multidimensional priestly duties (liturgical, missionary, pastoral, catechetic, etc.), to engage in the institutions of culture and mass media as well as in ecclesial administration.

NOTE: This study program is no longer available for the enrolment of new students.

Program of study

Doctoral Studies of Theology at the University of Belgrade – Faculty of Orthodox Theology are organized as a single program of study leading to the title of Doctor of Theology (ThD). Doctoral studies last three years and carry 180 ECTS credits which are added to the previously achieved scope of studies carrying at least 300 ECTS credits.

Admission requirements

Candidates for admission to Doctoral studies are required:

• to have completed Master studies in Theology and obtained at least 300 ECTS credits during their previous scope of studies; to have obtained an average grade of 8 /eight/ both during their Undergraduate, and their Graduate-Master studies, or have published at least 5 theologically relevant scholarly papers in nationally and internationally acclaimed scholarly journals.
• to have obtained the degree of the Master of Theological Sciences.

Candidates who have not completed previous studies in the field of Theology may be admitted to Doctoral studies, but they will be required to pass a set of differential examinations as the necessary requirement for their admission.

Candidates for admission to Doctoral studies are required to submit a well argued written proposal of the subject or the theme of his/her doctoral research. The Doctoral study Council evaluates this proposal as well as an oral argumentation of the same. These evaluations, together with candidate’s achievements during previous studies, his/her experience in scholarly research, and a personal interview with the candidate, serve the First mentor as the basis for his/her proposal to the Doctoral study Council for the acceptance of the candidate for Doctoral studies.

Candidates with the degree of Master of Theological Sciences/Philosophy (depending on the program completed) may automatically receive 60 ECTS credits (of the 180 carried by Doctoral studies) if such a decision is made by the Doctoral study Council upon receiving such a proposal from the Commission of Mentors.

Purpose of Doctoral studies

Purpose of Doctoral studies is to support the development of Theological sciences which are fundamental to the organization of the program of studies, and for which the Faculty of Orthodox Theology is officially academically competent.

The structure and the significance of the Doctoral studies program of study contributes to the enablement of students to undertake independent scholarly research, to the development of their critical thinking, and to the acquirement of competences necessary for their inclusion in
international scholarly projects. Doctoral studies serve to contribute towards the creation of such profiled specialists who may be included in the scholarly research within the University and in the evaluation of the scholarly research of other students therein.

Goals of the Doctoral studies are the following:

• to enable Doctoral studies students to undertake independent scholarly research;
• to offer the students of Doctoral studies such knowledge and skills which are identified as necessary requirements for their scholarly research;
• to enable Doctoral studies students to perform public presentations, to participate in public discussions relating to results of scholarly research, to prepare scholarly papers, studies, articles and other forms of academic contributions, and to uphold the results of their own scholarly research.
• to enable Doctoral studies students to write and to defend their doctoral thesis thus demonstrating their ability to solve practical and theoretical problems independently and in tune with international achievements within the field of Theology;
• to encourage theological scholarly research by means of scholarly research as performed both by the students of Doctoral studies and the teachers who participate within the process of realization and evaluation of Doctoral studies, which conforms with the tasks and goals of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology.