St. Albert's Institute

St. Albert’s Institute is proud to offer the Baccalaureate of Theology degree (STB). This page will answer a few basic questions about the degree commonly asked by prospective students.

What is St. Albert's Institute?

St. Albert’s Institute (SAI) is located on the grounds of Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology (DSPT) in Berkeley, CA. SAI was established by Dicastery of Culture and Education (DCE) which granted an affiliation of SAI with the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (PUST, also known as The Angelicum, in Rome). This affiliation allows the us to make the STB degree available to students enrolled at DSPT.

What is the STB?

The STB is an ecclesiastical degree[1], accredited by the DCE in Rome. The STB is a bachelor’s degree which is conferred on those who have completed the first cycle of theological studies. Though it is a first cycle (baccalaureate) degree, the level of instruction is comparable to an American master’s degree. Within the ecclesiastical degree system, the STB is a pre-requisite to enter into the second cycle of theology, the Licentiate (STL) which may be followed by the third cycle of theology, the Doctorate (STD).

The STB curriculum offered by SAI through affiliation with the Angelicum provides students with a comprehensive, faithful, and rigorous program of theological formation grounded in the tradition of the Catholic Church and rooted upon the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas. In keeping with DSPT's firm commitment to probing the intersection between philosophy & theology SAI’s STB program has both a strong philosophical & theological component. The program consists of two years of philosophical formation (biennium) followed by three years of theological formation (triennium) together comprising a five-year curriculum. Students who earn this degree will be well prepared for ministry and fully equipped for further studies, especially in theology within the ecclesiastical degree system at the STL and STD levels.

What is an Ecclesiastical Degree?

An ecclesiastical degree can only be conferred by an ecclesiastical faculty, which is canonically erected or approved by the Holy See. As an ecclesiastical degree, the STB offered at the St. Albert’s Institute is accredited by the Roman Curia’s Dicastery of Culture and Education (DCE), through SAI’s affiliation with the Angelicum in Rome. An ecclesiastical degree has canonical effects, satisfying educational requirements pursuant to canon law.

SAI’s STB is distinct from the DSPT’s other master's degree programs, which are accredited through the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). However, there is substantial overlap between these two-degree tracks, and many students pursue the STB simultaneously with the Master of Divinity degree.

What is the Affiliation with the Angelicum?

Affiliation was obtained through a rigorous application process. The Angelicum reviews the faculty and curricula both for canonical requirements, quality of instruction, and consonance with orthodoxy, and, once satisfied, submits an application to the DCE. After careful review by the DCE ensuring satisfaction of all canonical requirements, the DCE canonically erected SAI as an affiliate of the Angelicum. This means that SAI is an Institute through which the Angelicum can offer the STB to students. Thus, the degree awarded to students who complete the STB at SAI is granted by the Angelicum.

What is St. Albert's Institute's (SAI) relationship with DSPT?

Although SAI and DSPT are distinct in their governance and administration, SAI operates in connection with the DSPT. Both DSPT and SAI are part of the studium of the Western Dominican Province and share certain resources, such as professors and a campus, in their common purposes and activities. Many of the courses that are offered may be applied towards both a secular degree and the STB.

Can Lay Students earn the STB?

Yes. Lay students can earn the STB offered through SAI. Although the STB curriculum offers many courses tailored to priestly ministry and clerical service in the Church, SAI has the ability to customize its program to offer it to lay and other non-clerical students who are not undergoing priestly formation.

Why should a Student earn the STB?

Earning the STB degree at SAI will open a vast array of professional pastoral and ministerial possibilities within the Catholic Church. As an ecclesiastical degree, the STB provides the Catholic faithful with the skills to serve the Church at both the parish and diocesan levels and render them highly valuable as future leaders in the Church. In addition to this, The STB’s rigorous program of philosophical and theological studies will equip students for further theological studies in the ecclesiastical system.

Who are the Faculty of SAI?

The faculty of SAI is a community of philosophers and theologians formed in the Catholic intellectual tradition dedicated to passing on the theological patrimony of the Catholic Church. While some of our professors teach exclusively in either the biennia or triennia programs, many of our professors teach in both. Below is a list of faculty members for each program along with the courses they offer. Click any name to learn more about that professor or their courses.