This interdisciplinary program provides a carefully integrated course of studies in the early Christian period. Although degrees are awarded within the College 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.  Admitted students who already hold an M.A. in Early Christian Studies or in a closely related field enter directly into the Ph.D. program. Those without such background pursue the combined M.A. - Ph.D.

Program principles

  • We study the development of early Christianity in its social, political, and cultural context. We reach beyond theological ideas and religious practices (although those are central to our study), and give due attention also to Jewish and other non-Christian influences.
  • We emphasize the importance of language skills: in Greek (required), and in Latin, Syriac, Coptic, and other languages of the Christian Near East.
  • We are enthusiastically interdisciplinary. Our required courses are taught in the Faculties of Greek and Latin and of Semitics (both within the College of Arts and Sciences), and in the Schools of Theology and Religious Studies and of Philosophy. Our aim is to develop within each student the skills proper to a range of disciplines and methodologies, so that our students can contribute to contemporary debate and religious practice and to research and teaching in history, religion, and language and literature.
  • We hold that a detailed knowledge of early Christianity (1st to 7th centuries) strengthens understanding of contemporary religion and its links with politics and culture, including the diversity and mutual relations of contemporary Christian communities; the shared history and relations of Christianity with Judaism and Islam; and the importance of language in the expression and development of religious ideas.

  • List of Degree Requirements: M.A.

    M.A. courses (30 cr / 10 courses total)

    • ECST 600, Introduction to Early Christian Studies (3 cr)
    • CLAS 572, The Mediterranean World of Late Antiquity (3 cr)
    • SEM 703, History of the Christian Near East (3 cr)
    • ECST 650, History of Early Christian Thought (3 cr)
    • Six other graduate courses approved by the advisor that must as a whole:
      + 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 faculty
      + require (in at least four of the courses) a paper or papers based on research that demands the linguistic ability implied above
      + represent at least two of the following academic disciplines and methods: historical, linguistic, literary, philosophical, and theological


    M.A. examinations

    • Modern language examination in French or German
    • M.A. comprehensive examinations (reading list + sight-translation in 2 ancient languages)

    Additional M.A. requirements

    • Submission of 2 approved research papers

  • List of Degree Requirements: Ph.D.

    M.A. degree as prerequisite (30 cr / 10 courses total)

    • The M.A. program in Early Christian Studies (30 cr) or
    • An approved M.A. from another institution (this transfers up to 24 cr, with the remaining 6 or more cr to be taken here at Catholic University in addition to the courses listed below)

    NOTE: The 4 compulsory courses listed by name in the previous section 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 advisor


    Ph.D. courses (24 cr / 8 courses total)

    • Eight graduate courses approved by the advisor that must as a whole:
      + 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 implied above
      + represent at least two of the following academic disciplines and methods: historical, linguistic, literary, philosophical, and theological


    Ph.D. examinations

    • Modern language examination in French or Italian and German ( + any other relevant languages)
    • Doctoral comprehensive examinations (reading list + sight-translation in Greek and in one other ancient language)


    Dissertation

    • Dissertation proposal
    • Doctoral dissertation