Editing Academic degree (section)

== Pontifical universities ==
[[Pontifical university|Pontifical universities]] around the world—such as the Pontifical University, St Patrick's College, Maynooth, in Ireland; the [[University of Santo Tomas|Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas]] in [[Manila]];<ref>The direct competence of the Holy See applies only to the Ecclesiastical Faculties of Theology, Philosophy and Canon Law. The other sciences and arts degrees are under the competence of the Department of Education of the Philippine Republic.</ref> [[Catholic University of America]], the [[Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas]], ''Angelicum'', in Rome; the [[Université catholique de Louvain|University of Louvain]] (UCLouvain) in Belgium, and the [[Pontifical Catholic University of Peru]] depend for their status as pontifical universities, and for the nature of their academic degrees, on the [[Pope]], through the [[Congregation for Catholic Education]]. The nature of academic degrees from ecclesiastical institutions of education is outlined in the [[apostolic constitution]] ''Sapientia Christiana''.<ref name="vatican.va">{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_15041979_sapientia-christiana_en.html|title=Sapientia Christiana (April 15, 1979) – John Paul II|website=Vatican.va|access-date=18 August 2017}}</ref>

In distinction to secular or Catholic universities, which are academic institutions for the study and teaching of a broad range of disciplines, ecclesiastical or [[Pontifical university|pontifical universities]] "are usually composed of three principal ecclesiastical faculties: theology, philosophy, and canon law, as well as at least one other faculty. A pontifical university specifically addresses Christian revelation and disciplines correlative to the evangelical mission of the Church as set out in ''Sapientia christiana''."<ref name="vatican.va" /><ref name="avepro.va">{{cite web|url=http://www.avepro.va/|title=AVEPRO|work=avepro.va|access-date=1 November 2012}}</ref>

The core of degrees granted by pontifical universities consists of three levels: the first is the [[bachelor's degree|baccalaureate]]; the second is the [[Licentiate (degree)|licentiate]]; the third is the [[doctorate]]. From this core pontifical universities confer specific degrees, including:

Theology
* Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology, ''Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureatus'' (S.T.B.)
* Licentiate in Sacred Theology, ''Sacrae Theologiae Licentiatus'' (S.T.L.)
* Doctorate in Sacred Theology, ''Sacrae Theologiae Doctoratus'' (S.T.D.)

Philosophy
* Baccalaureate in Philosophy, ''Philosophiae Baccalaureatus'' (Ph.B.)
* Licentiate in Philosophy, ''Philosophiae Licentiatus'' (Ph.L.)
* Doctorate in Philosophy, ''Philosophiae Doctoratus'' (Ph.D.)

Canon Law
* Baccalaureate in Canon Law, ''Juris Canonici Baccalaureatus'' (J.C.B.)
* Licentiate in Canon Law, ''Juris Canonici Licentiatus'' (J.C.L.)
* Doctorate in Canon Law, ''Juris Canonici Doctoratus'' (J.C.D.)