Master of Arts in Theology

The Master of Arts (MA) in Theology is designed for students interested in a faith-based, graduate-level approach to spiritual care and psychotherapy, academic work in theology, and/or professional development related to theology. 

There are two fields to this program:

Public Faith and Spirituality
The Public Faith and Spirituality field offers a flexible and wide-ranging program of study that includes sacred texts, systematic theology, historical theology, ethics and practical theology. Graduates of this field of study may be able to pursue further academic work or a career or vocation in theology. 

Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy
The Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy field is a unique form of therapy that integrates spiritual/religious resources as well as counselling theory into clinical practice. Graduates of this field of study may be able to pursue professional accreditation with external accrediting bodies once both academic and other criteria required by the accrediting bodies are completed. The Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy field is accredited by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. The student is responsible to manage their course selection and application for accreditation. This program provides academic preparation but not professional certification. 

Additional Information
 
Admission Requirements

The MA program commences in September annually. Applicants are assessed on the basis of the application materials submitted (including official transcripts, references, writing sample and a personal statement). These materials will not be returned to the applicant. The applicant may be invited for a personal interview.

The requirements for admission include a bachelor's degree (normally with a minimum grade point average of B) from a recognized accredited university or university college. All applicants will be required to complete a computer-based test (CASPerTM) as part of the selection process. There is a fee to the student for taking this test.


 
Program Requirements

The program has two fields: Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy (SCP) and Public Faith and Spirituality (PFS). Both fields provide students with extensive skills in research. Further to this, the SCP field prepares students for careers in psychotherapy or spiritual care, while the PFS field allows students to explore areas of interest in preparation for either further graduate studies or leadership within faith-based organizations.

The MA degree program normally involves two years of full-time studies or its equivalent in part-time studies. Each student is required to complete satisfactorily 16 half-credit courses or their equivalent.

Public Faith and Spirituality

Students take 9 required core courses and 7 theology electives.

Required courses:
TH530A - Introduction to God and Theological Reflection
TH530B - Introduction to Jesus and Salvation
TH530C - Introduction to the Spirit and Community
TH644A - Indigenous Wisdom and Methodologies
TH645A - Intersectionality: Interfaith and Intercultural Perspectives 

One of the following research courses:
TH502A - Critical Analysis of Biblical Texts: Introduction
TH664I - Qualitative Research
TH680A - Literature-based Research in Public Faith and Spirituality

One of the following clusters:

Biblical Studies
TH503A - Survey of the Hebrew Scriptures
TH503C - Survey of the New Testament
TH503G - Jewish and Christian Bible Themes

Survey of Abrahamic Faiths
TH503A - Survey of the Hebrew Scriptures
TH503C - Survey of the New Testament
TH503E - Reading and Interpreting the Qur'an (in translation) 

Seven electives selected in consultation with the program advisor.

In consultation with their program advisor, students may also pursue a major research project (TH698*) or the thesis option (TH699), which reduces their seven electives to five (with TH698*) or three (with TH699).

Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy

Students take 14 required courses and 2 counselling elective courses.

Sacred Scriptures - take two:
TH503A - Survey of the Hebrew Scriptures
TH503C - Survey of the New Testament
TH503E - Reading and Interpreting the Qur'an (in translation)

Theology/Wisdom Traditions - take all:
TH530A - Introduction to God and Theological Reflection
TH644A - Indigenous Wisdom and Methodologies
TH645A - Intersectionality: Interfaith and Intercultural Perspectives

plus one of:
TH530B - Introduction to Jesus and Salvation
TH530C - Introduction to the Spirit and Community
TH503F - Survey of Sources in Asian Wisdom Traditions

Counselling Theory - take one:
TH663M - Family Therapy Overview
TH663Z - Theory of Change
TH664O - The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy

Take all of:

TH663V - Human Development
TH663Y - Assessment
TH664H - Professional Studies and Ethics
TH664L - Pre-Practicum, and one of:
TH664M* - Practicum (Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy) or TH652A* - Supervised Pastoral Education I: Theory and Practice of Spiritual Care (both 1.0 credit)

Counselling Theory - take one:

TH663C - Cognitive and Dialectic Behaviour Therapy
TH663E - Individual Theories
TH663F - Couple and Family Dynamics
TH663I - Family of Origin
TH663K - Group Process and Leadership
TH663L - Clinical Applications of Queer Theory: Working with LGBTQQIP2SAA
TH663M - Family Therapy Overview
TH663O - Therapeutic Modalities for Working with Children
TH663P - Peace Within, Peace Between, Peace Among
TH663R - Core Skills in Emotionally Focused Therapy
TH663S - Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy
TH663W - Couple Therapy: Intervention from an Emotionally Focused Perspective
TH663Z - Theory of Change
TH664A - Introduction to Art Therapy
TH664D - Post-Modern Family Therapy
TH664O - The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy 

Counselling Electives - take two (can include any of the other courses listed above not taken as a required course):

_TH663A
TH663D - The Aging Process
TH663F - Couple and Family Dynamics
TH663U - Unique Healing Alternatives For Adolescents
TH663X - Addiction, Mental Health and Spirituality: Clinical Approaches
TH664B - Islamic Spirituality (Sufism) and Psychotherapy
TH664I - Qualitative Research
TH664P - Mindfulness and Psychotherapy
TH664T - Trauma and Theodicy
TH761G - Therapeutic Relationships