Sapientia Aeternitatis – The Wisdom of Eternity
At St. Leo the Great University, the Ph.D. in Philosophy is not merely an academic credential—it is a consecration of the intellect to the service of Truth.
Rooted in the perennial philosophy, our doctoral program forms scholars capable of engaging the highest questions of being, knowledge, nature, personhood, and the divine. With deep reverence for Aristotle, Plato, and St. Thomas Aquinas, our students also engage modern philosophical errors—not to imitate, but to refute and redeem.
This program is designed for those who seek to teach, publish, and guide the philosophical renewal of the Church and the world.
📘 Program Overview
- Credits: 60 credit hours beyond the M.A.
- Duration: 4–6 years (full-time)
- Requirements:
- Mastery in Latin and reading knowledge of Greek
- Comprehensive examinations in 5 areas
- Public oral defense of a dissertation (min. 60,000 words)
📚 Core Areas of Competence
- Ancient Philosophy (Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus)
- Medieval Philosophy (Augustine, Boethius, Aquinas, Bonaventure)
- Metaphysics and Natural Theology
- Philosophy of the Human Person
- Political and Ethical Philosophy
Electives in Phenomenology, Thomistic Epistemology, Personalism, and Neo-Scholasticism are available.
✍️ Dissertation Process
Students must propose, write, and publicly defend a dissertation contributing to the tradition of classical philosophy. Past topics include:
- “The Act of Being in Aquinas and the Ontology of Participation”
- “Political Friendship in Aristotle and the Social Teaching of the Church”
- “Leo the Great and the Logos: A Patristic Metaphysic of Unity”
✝️ Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Theology
Intellectus Fidei – The Understanding of Faith
The Ph.D. in Theology at St. Leo the Great University is a program for those called to be masters of the sacred page and defenders of the deposit of faith.
Our program is liturgically formed, patristically anchored, and scholastically rigorous. It is not beholden to fads, trends, or academic fashion—but seeks instead to renew the Church’s theological life by returning to Scripture, Tradition, and the Church Fathers as living sources.
This doctorate is ideal for future seminary professors, authors, ecclesial scholars, and theologians of the New Evangelization.
📘 Program Overview
- Credits: 60 credit hours beyond the M.A.
- Duration: 4–6 years (full-time)
- Requirements:
- Competency in Latin and either Greek or Hebrew
- Comprehensive oral and written exams in 5 theological loci
- Dissertation (min. 75,000 words) with public defense
📚 Core Loci of Theological Study
- Sacred Scripture (Historical and Theological Hermeneutics)
- Dogmatic Theology (Trinity, Christology, Mariology)
- Moral and Spiritual Theology
- Patristics and Historical Theology
- Ecclesiology and Sacramental Theology
Students are expected to attend liturgical offices and engage in regular lectio divina.
✍️ Dissertation Process
Students are assigned a faculty director and advisory committee. All dissertations must demonstrate theological mastery, fidelity to the Magisterium, and originality of insight.
Sample dissertation titles:
- “The Sacramental Body: The Church in Leo the Great and Vatican II”
- “Typology as Theological Method in the Alexandrian School”
- “The Role of Charity in the Trinitarian Missions”
🧑🏫 Teaching & Research Fellowships
Doctoral students are eligible for Royal Teaching Fellowships, which include:
- Tuition remission
- Monthly stipend from the Treasury of Eyehasseen
- Housing in the Domus Sapientiae
- Teaching assistantships and tutoring in the Trivium
✨ Admission Requirements (Both Ph.D. Tracks)
- Accredited M.A. in Philosophy or Theology (minimum 3.5 GPA)
- Language proficiency (Latin mandatory; Greek or Hebrew preferred)
- Academic writing sample (15–25 pages)
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Statement of intent: “Describe your philosophical or theological vocation.”
- Interview with Royal Graduate Council (in person or by encrypted scroll)