HISTORY

The Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) was founded in 1941, by Cardinal Sebastião Leme and by Fr. Leonel Franca, SJ, and recognized by Brazilian government agencies by Decree 8.681, on January, 15, 1946. By decree of the Congregation of Seminars, on January, 20, 1947, PUC-Rio became also linked to the Holy See, receiving the title of Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro.

In 1968, the Department of Theology was erected and integrated into the newly created Centro de Teologia e Ciências Humanas – CTCH (Center of Theology and Human Sciences) at PUC-Rio. In 1972, the Postgraduate Program (master’s and doctorate) recognized by the Holy See, through the Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, was created. In 1977, the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, Capes, (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) which had the function of inducing, supervising and promoting the system, began a process of systematizing Program evaluation. PUC-Rio sent the data from Theology, which receives, in the first two years, the qualification “SC” (without concept), while it had not completed its defenses. In 1979, Theology received the “A” concept, which was the best at the time, indicating the recognition of the excellence of the activities of research and production of theological knowledge.

When, in 1995, Capes undergoes a restructuring and strengthens itself as an institution responsible for monitoring and evaluating the stricto sensu Postgraduate courses that already exist in Brazil, among more than a thousand master’s and six hundred doctoral courses, the doctoral and master’s courses in theology remain at PUC-Rio. Such monitoring and evaluation carried out by Capes is formalized on November, 29, 1995, through ordinance 1,461, published in the Official Diary on December, 11, 1995.

The Program was part of the Philosophy / Theology area, having always been evaluated in the strata of excellence. In 2016, CAPES Area 44 was created: Sciences of Religion and Theology, with Capes Ordinance No. 174/2016, published in the Official Diary on October 13, 2016, redesigned by Resolution No. 01, on April, 4, 2017, published in the Service Bulletin / CAPES – Special Edition nº 1 – April 2017. From then on, the graduate program in Theology at PUC-Rio became part of its proper area.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAM

Contribute to the progress of academic theological reflection, observing the characteristics and methodological rigor provided for postgraduate studies. The graduate program aims to be a center of academic excellence, through research and advanced studies that it conducts, always seeking to respond to today’s challenges.

In its academic contribution, the GP is organized into two areas of concentration: Biblical Theology and Systematic-Pastoral Theology. The areas relate and interact with each other, each having its own profile, but acting relationally within the GP itself. Regarding the specificities of the general performance of the GP, and applying to both areas of concentration, some specific objectives unfold, as we can indicate here on the GP website itself.

Biblical Theology and Systematic-Pastoral Theology are traditional areas in the history of the Theology course at PUC-Rio, in which it comes to understand, through the appreciation of CAPES assessment processes, that its curriculum structure is consolidated, enabling the GP to have an outstanding role in the national and international academic theological scenario. There are more than fifty (50) years of research. The starting point of this research work is the relationship between the positive and consolidated statements of Theology and the different human realities that question and interact with it.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAM

a) as to openness to dialogue and interdisciplinarity:

1. conduct research with a strong ecumenical and interreligious openness.
2. dialogue with the current historical-socio-cultural scenario in Brazil, Latin America and other parts of the world.
3. pay special attention to interdisciplinarity, multidisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity.

b) regarding the methodology and the search for interaction and formation of networks:

1. Methodological explanation: the GP seeks to value research of high scientific rigor, both in terms of general scientific methodology and in terms of methodologies that are specific to theological science, especially those that are more suitable for carrying out investigations and obtaining the results of each of its areas of concentration.
2. Explanation of the search for new insights, interactions and network formation: the GP aims to contribute to the consolidation, deepening and development of quality theological knowledge, both nationally and internationally, in dialogue with other research centers, in the in order to train researchers, higher education teachers, religious leaders, pastoralists and advisers in the various areas of knowledge production in Area 44.