The Licentiate is a two-year program of four semesters. This second-cycle degree is offered in three areas of study, including Sociology, Social Communication, and Catholic Social Teaching and Public Ethics. This program offers the opportunity to acquire more knowledge as well as to improve research skills. By combining theoretical aspects of social sciences and fieldwork practices, the student learns to collect, process, analyze, and interpret research data. In order to be awarded the degree, students need to meet all the programme requirements, including final oral exams. Each student benefits from the supervision of a thesis moderator with regard to the writing of the thesis.
THE CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING AND PUBLIC ETHICS
Starting from the Catholic Church’s principles, teachings, and directives, this specialization emphasizes contemporary social challenges and problems such as: economic imbalances between countries, the so-called development challenges, integral education of the human person, issues related to social justice and solidarity proposals, promotion of the common good, the global peace, and the safeguarding of creation.
Taking into account the social sciences’ epistemology and method, the approach used for this specialization relies on the Church's interpretative method of seeing-judging-acting (Paul VI, Octogesima adveniens, 4) to offer the tools for ethical evaluation of social phenomena.
This educational path provides students with the skills and the tools necessary for carrying out the following activities:
teaching the Church’s Social Doctrine;
institutional research activities, especially in the Third Sector;
pastoral analysis and planning.
ADMISSION
Candidates to this program are requierd to have a certain level of kowledge of the Italian language and the Baccalaureato (Bachelors degree) in Social Sciences or an equivalent degree with at least a cum laude. The School of Social Sciences reserves the right to validate degrees awarded by other institutions.
PROGRAM
The Licentiate degree is a two-year program of four semesters that amounts to 120 ECTS credits subdivided as follows: 46 ECTS of required courses; 50 ECTS of specialization courses; 12 ECTS of various sorts of training including one annual conference, guided reading, and two intensive courses; 12 ECTS of Licentiate examination, including a thesis presentation (8ECTS) and comprehensive oral exams (4ECTS). Final exams are taken only after having passed all the scheduled exams.
Afer completing all the tests, the student is awarded a Licentiate in Social Sciences with the mention of the student’s area of specialization.
