Undergraduate Programmes.
B. Divinity, validated by the Faculty de Notre Dame, Paris
As an Ecclesiastical Institute, Maryvale offers a first degree in Divinity (B Div) that provides a systematic and comprehensive treatment of the Catholic faith. For those workng in catechetics and pastoral ministry the Congregation for Catholic Education has made the same theology curriculum available at Maryvale in a unique way, adapted in line with the catechetical and pastoral documents of the universal Church. This degree is being used by many dioceses in the United Kingdom, and further afield in the English-speaking world, for the academic formation needs of permanent deacons, catechetical co-ordinators and those in leadership positions in pastoral ministry.
BPh Pontifical Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy, validated by Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University Rome.
Since Bl. John Paul II’s great encyclical letter on faith and philosophy, Fides et Ratio, and Pope Benedict XVI’s profound speeches on faith and reason, there has been a growing awareness that study of philosophy is essential as part of the new evangelization. This is because philosophy helps us to make a case for the faith in dialogue with non-believers, without presupposing faith on the part of the men and women with whom we dialogue. The study of philosophy in the Catholic tradition is also vitally important for understanding Catholic Theology. It is also vitally important if we wish to offer answers to those in our society who would banish Christianity as anti-reason and fundamentalist.
The Pontifical Philosophy Degree also provides the basis for those wishing to go on to study Theology in the Pontifical system. In addition to the Maryvale Certificate and Diploma in Philosophy and the Catholic Faith, individual modules are available. These certifications include official transcripts itemizing modules studies and ECTS (European Transfer System Degree Credits).
In 2011 the Holy See established Maryvale Institute as an Ecclesiastical Institute, working in conjunction with L’École Cathédral, Paris. Maryvale Institute has already been offering a very successful B.A. in Philosophy and the Catholic Tradition, validated until now by the UK Open University. Students on this degree have been based in the UK and in other countries such as US, Italy, Spain, Nigeria and Estonia. Now through Maryvale’s academic links with Regina Apostolorum University, Rome, the Philosophy Degree has been successfully developed into a Pontifical Bachelors Degree in Philosophy.
In 2011 the Holy See decreed the reform of Ecclesiastical studies in philosophy in order to meet the call of the recent Popes for such a renewal. This has lead to the reestablishment of a full-time three year Pontifical Degree in Philosophy. The Holy See is also a signatory to the 2010 Bologna Agreement, to which the UK is also a signatory, which establishes parity to all Bachelors Degrees across Europe in terms of ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).
Maryvale collaborates with St. Malachy's Seminary, Belfast, to provide a two year course in Philosophy for seminarians prior to theology studies. This philosophy course lays stress on such areas as metaphysics and logics and thus accords with the Vatican Document on philosophy studies.
Certificate in Art, Beauty and Inspiration, Maryvale Certificate
This one-year course responds to the message of Pope John Paul II given in his Letter to Artists, 1999:
"12. In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art. Art must make perceptible, and as far as possible attractive, the world of the spirit, of the invisible, of God. It must therefore translate into meaningful terms that which is in itself ineffable. ...
The Church has need especially of those who can do this on the literary and figurative level, using the endless possibilities of images and their symbolic force. Christ himself made extensive use of images in his preaching, fully in keeping with his willingness to become, in the Incarnation, the icon of the unseen God." .
