Canon Law

Doctorate Requirements

The Doctorate in Canon Law (PhD) consists of six credits of course work, a comprehensive examination, a thesis proposal and the writing and defense of a doctoral thesis.

Courses

Compulsory Courses
DCA8981 LECTURE DE SOURCES CANONIQUES LATINES / READINGS IN LATIN CANONICAL SOURCES (3cr.)
DCA9997 PROJET DE THÈSE DE DOCTORAT / PhD THESIS PROPOSAL
DCA9998 EXAMEN DE SYNTHÈSE DE DOCTORAT / PhD COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
DCA9999 THÈSE DE DOCTORAT / PhD THESIS

Elective Courses (3 cr.)
Students can select their elective course either from among the graduate courses offered by the Faculty of Canon Law, or from another faculty or university, with the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law.

Comprehensive Examination
Before the thesis is submitted, the student must pass a comprehensive examination on ten topics approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law; the list of topics will have been prepared by the student in consultation with the dissertation supervisor. A student who fails this comprehensive examination is permitted to repeat it once. A second failure leads to withdrawal from the program.

Thesis Proposal
Within the first four sessions of doctoral studies, the student must submit a thesis proposal in writing (DCA 9997). This proposal will be examined by a special committee established and chaired by the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law. The final approval of the thesis proposal, and the appointment of the supervisor, are the responsibility of the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law.

Thesis
The student must write, submit, and successfully defend a dissertation of at least 200 pages in length. This dissertation must constitute a significant contribution to knowledge, embody the results of original research and analysis, and be of such quality as to merit publication.