Duration and Focus

The duration of formation in a Catholic seminary affiliated with a local university typically extends over several years. Theology and Religious Studies usually last four years, building upon the philosophical foundation and deepening the seminarian’s grasp of divine revelation and ecclesial tradition. The focus remains holistic: academic excellence, spiritual maturity, pastoral competence, and personal discipline.

Seminarians immerse themselves in Scripture, dogmatic theology, moral theology, liturgy, Church history, and canon law, while also engaging with contemporary religious thought and interfaith dialogue. Rigorous coursework, research, and prayer are integrated with pastoral training, ensuring candidates can interpret faith in light of modern challenges.

This dual emphasis—university standards combined with ecclesial formation—ensures seminarians are prepared both intellectually and spiritually. They emerge capable of teaching, preaching, and guiding communities with wisdom, compassion, and fidelity to Catholic tradition, while also contributing meaningfully to broader academic and societal discourse.

Theology

The course is designed to cover all the facets of religious phenomena as they affect the history, tradition, economics, social, political, and ethical aspects of man. The effect of this approach is to develop man in his existential reality to produce an all-round society in realizing life objectives.

Program and Objectives

1. Acquaint students with the main contents of the major religious traditions commonly practised in Africa, namely: Christianity, Islam, and Traditional Religion. The programme does not present any religious system as a sui generis exclusivist system; hence, it also delves into other world religious phenomena such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Zoroastrianism, and Jainism.


2. Equip the products of this programme for the teaching career, administration, and social work, and offer them a solid academic background for professional degrees in Journalism and Law;


3. Orient students towards developing minds of a broad spectrum conducive to a pluralistic society such as Nigeria; and


4. prepares students for further studies in the discipline.

Graduates of this programme will possess literary and entrepreneurial skills, which include the ability to write books, the ability to be involved in film production, drama, and documentation. They would also be able to project faith and morals through their literary works. They would be able to establish, run schools, and get involved in economic activities in the different religions. Familiarity with economic activities in the different Religions.

The program would lead to the development and acquisition of the following 21st-century skills;

1. teamwork spirit;


2. digital literacy;


3. creativity;


4. communication skills; and


5. societal problem-solving skills.

At the end of the program, the students will be equipped with the religious concepts that promote creativity and the economic activities they can delve into in order to be self-employed. They would have been equipped with creative abilities and motivated to solve societal problems through Innovations and risk-taking for-profit, having been exposed to all-encompassing issues in religious studies (health, dietary rules, economy, arts-crafts, literary education). Movement and activities of religions and practitioners internationally are one of the unique features of the program. It will expose students to gender issues to enhance equality between males and females in religious practices and ensure contributions of both sexes to the overall development of society in general. Religions and their teachings on sexuality are also emphasized to provide guidance and influence attitudes and value systems positively.

Conditions of Degree Award

In a Catholic seminary affiliated with a secular university, degrees are awarded only when seminarians meet both ecclesiastical formation requirements and the academic standards of the university. This means candidates must satisfy the Church’s expectations for priestly formation while also fulfilling the university’s criteria for graduation.

Seminarians must complete the ecclesiastical curriculum (philosophy, theology, pastoral training, spiritual formation) and also meet the university’s academic regulations, such as credit hours, examinations, and research requirements.

Accreditation and Affiliation

The seminary’s affiliation is governed by Vatican norms (e.g., Veritatis Gaudium and the 2020 Instruction on Affiliation of Institutes of Higher Studies), which require proper oversight, qualified faculty, and adherence to Catholic identity.

At the same time, the secular university ensures that the seminary’s programs meet national accreditation standards (e.g., Nigeria’s National Universities Commission for affiliated institutions).

Writing Research Projects as a condition

In a Catholic seminary that partners with a local university, the research project requirement serves both academic and spiritual formation purposes.

• Academic Integration: The project aligns with university standards, ensuring seminarians meet scholarly expectations in theology, philosophy, or pastoral studies.


• Formation of Discipline: Writing a research project cultivates intellectual rigor, critical thinking, and fidelity to truth—qualities essential for priestly ministry.


• Spiritual Dimension: Research is not merely academic; it is undertaken prayerfully to deepen understanding of faith and service to the Church.


• Evaluation: Successful completion is often a condition for graduation, ordination readiness, or advancement in studies, demonstrating competence in both academic and ecclesial contexts.


• Collaboration: Affiliation with the university provides access to broader resources, faculty expertise, and recognition of the seminary’s academic credibility.

Admission Requirements

Five (5) Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) (or its equivalent) credit passes, including English Language and others from CRS/IS/BK/Arabic/Government/ and any other subject in Arts, in not more than two sittings are required.

1. A minimum of five credit passes in SSC, at least two of which must be at the Advanced Level and should include Christian Religious Studies/Islamic Studies.


2. Acceptable instead of the Advanced Level subjects are a Three-Year Diploma in Theology, Diploma in Christian Religious Studies / Islamic Studies, recognized by the University.

Students must take 120 units, and these include all the departmental core courses, faculty courses, and the general studies courses (70% of the 120 units) and the prescribed courses (30% of the 120 units) before graduation.

Lecture Period

All lectures in the seminary are compulsory, due to the formative role they play in the life of the future catholic priests. In addition to the classroom courses, every seminarian should attend and participate actively in the seminars, conferences, and symposia. The courses for the award of a degree in Philosophy are arranged to cover a four-year (8 semesters) programme. The whole academic programme must help the seminarians to manifest the ability of written and oral expressions, the capability for independent research, good use of the principles of scientific methodology, and proper motivation towards graduate studies. During the lectures, the whole atmosphere must be oriented towards a holistic formation of a future catholic priest, bearing in mind the different branches of formation exercise, viz: Human, spiritual, intellectual, pastoral, and rules of general disciplines.

Classroom Decorum

Classroom decorum in a Catholic seminary reflects reverence, discipline, and respect for sacred learning. Seminarians are expected to arrive punctually, prepared, and attentive, fostering an atmosphere of prayerful study. Silence is valued to encourage reflection, while speech should be charitable, avoiding distractions or irrelevance. Dress must be modest and appropriate, symbolizing dignity and respect for the vocation. Participation is active yet humble, with questions posed thoughtfully. Courtesy toward professors and peers is essential, recognizing the shared pursuit of truth. Above all, the classroom is a place of formation, where intellectual growth is united with spiritual maturity and obedience.

Examination

All courses taught during one semester are examined at the end of that semester, and students will be credited with the number of units assigned to the courses for which they have passed the examination. The examination timetable is arranged so that the examinations are taken. The Examination and Records Office, in liaison with the secretaries of the Head of Department, produces the final examination timetable and circulates the same to all the lecturers and classes not later than one month before the commencement of the examinations. All examinations are held in halls and rooms approved by the Academic Council. The invigilation of the examination is the responsibility of the lecturers. The Head of Department is responsible for this and, after the examination, is required to submit an appropriate report on the conduct of the examination to the Academic Council and the Quality Assurance Committee. All courses taken by a student are used in the computation of his Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). The final grade where a course that is carried over or repeated for whatever reason is the average of all grades. To compute the Grade Point Average for a candidate, the total aggregate of the Grade Points is divided by the number of semester units. A Grade Point is obtainable by multiplying the point(s) scored in each course by the number of semester units assigned to that course. Please see examples in Table 5.1 of this handbook. To compute the Cumulative Grade Point Average for a candidate at the end of the second semester, his total aggregate points for the two semesters are added and divided by the total number of semester units taken during the academic year. Other areas of examination are explained in this handbook.

1. Each invigilator shall collect the question papers and answer scripts from the office of the HOD, 30 minutes before the examination. However, the examiner should be at the examination hall 20 minutes before the examination starts.


2. Examinations are expected to start normally at the time on the timetable. The schedule for the examinations must be followed conscientiously. Examination question papers are to be opened in the presence of the candidates, who should already be seated in their respective positions fifteen minutes ahead of time.


3. No student should enter the examination hall or room with any paper. Question papers and answer scripts shall be provided by the institution.


4. No candidate is allowed to enter the examination hall 30 minutes after the commencement of a particular examination. On the other hand, no candidate may leave the hall earlier than 30 minutes before the end of the examination.


5. The invigilators shall walk around the examination room periodically, and at the expiration of the time, they collect the answer scripts.

1. STUDENT'S MALPRACTICES: Any examination Malpractice must be reported to the HOD, who will, in turn, report the matter to the Rector, and the Academic Council will eventually pronounce the punishment, which is immediate expulsion. Examination malpractices are unfair practices or falsehoods that damage the integrity of a future priest and infringe on the regulations of Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Owerri. These include, but are not limited to, copying from a fellow student, candidates bringing into the examination hall papers and books or materials relevant for cheating purposes, communication gadgets, all forms of communication between students during an examination, causing any form of disturbance: not observing the time regulation of the examination, and disobeying the invigilators.


2. Any staff involved in examination malpractice shall be referred to the seminary community of formators and subsequently the seminary commission.