Ethics (Theology) (Honours Bachelor of Arts with Major)

Program description

Ethics is the branch of study that deals with human behaviour, values and standards. In Theology, ethics explores these issues in a faith-based context in accordance with Christian and Catholic tradition.

Offered by the Faculty of Theology, the Ethics (Theology) undergraduate program fosters basic ethical reflection and a theological approach to various fields, including bioethics, sexual ethics, public ethics, business ethics and labour ethics. The program allows students to address current ethical issues using core theological values and considerations.

In addition to the foundational courses,* the program provides students with basic knowledge through courses in theology, philosophy and ethics. Students are also given an opportunity to explore specific areas in greater depth.

A student enrolled in the Ethics (Theology) program (Honours Bachelor of Arts with Major) must declare a major or a minor. A student may declare a major in either Social Communication or Human Relations and Spirituality, or a minor in Social Communication, Human Relations and Spirituality, Conflict Studies or Group Intervention and Leadership, according to the student’s particular interests and requirements.

*The foundational courses are a compulsory part of every bachelor’s degree program offered at Saint Paul University.

What you’ll learn

During your studies you will explore the major fields and themes of theology and ethics and their related issues, in order to define, explain and clarify an ethical problem from a Christian perspective.

You will also learn to communicate your knowledge effectively (in writing and orally), and to take a position on an ethical dilemma and suggest possible solutions.

Why choose Saint Paul University?

For its small class sizes and close student-teacher ratio
For its safe, secure and friendly campus with personalized services
For its bilingual setting in the heart of the national capital
For its diverse student population and international vision
For its solid reputation, experience, history and Catholic tradition

Career opportunities

Aboriginal affairs officer
Columnist
Development officer
Ethics advisor in the private and public sector, in a hospital or business setting
Journalist who specializes in this area
Liaison officer for immigrant settlement
Policy analyst
Policy officer
Press secretary
Public programs officer
Researcher

Click here to find out more about Admission Scholarships at Saint Paul University.

Other programs that may interest you

A student enrolled in this Honours Bachelor's Program with major must add a complementary major or a complementary minor.

BLÉE Fabrice, Associate Professor
BONNEAU Normand, Full Professor
CHIROVSKY Andriy, Full Professor
CLIFFORD Catherine, Full Professor / Director of the Graduate Studies
DESROCHERS Denise, Assistant Professor
DIONNE Christian, Associate Professor
FLYNN Kevin, Assistant Professor; Director of Anglican Studies
GALADZA Peter, Full Professor
JILLIONS John Alexander, Associate Professor
MARTÍNEZ DE PISÓN Ramón, Full Professor
MARTIN PBVM Miriam K, Associate Professor
MATHIEU Yvan, Associate Professor
MELCHIN Kenneth, Full Professor
MOOREN Thomas, Full Professor
PAMBRUN James, Full professor
PEELMAN Achiel, Full Professor
POWER Myrtle, Associate Professor
ROLL Susan, Associate Professor
SHARP Carolyn, Associate Professor
SLATTER Mark, Assistant Professor
SPATAFORA M.S.F. Andrea, Associate Professor
YOUNG Ronald W., Assistant Professor

Applications: A step-by-step guide

STEP 1: Choose a program of study
STEP 2: Learn about admission requirements
STEP 3: Submit your application
STEP 4: Gather the documents needed for the assessment of your application
STEP 5: Assessment of your application
STEP 6: Accept your offer of admission
STEP 7: Choose your courses

STEP 1: CHOOSE A PROGRAM OF STUDY

Undergraduate programs:

STEP 2: LEARN ABOUT ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Ontario applicants

From secondary school
Have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with at least six 4U or 4M level courses, including one 4U level course in English or français.

From Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT)

After one year of studies
You are eligible if you have completed one year of a college program and have obtained the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with one language course (English or français) at the college or 4U level.
After a two- or three-year program
If you have completed a two- or three-year college program, you can obtain up to 30 credits of advanced standing (transfer credits).

Our transfer agreements
Saint Paul University has developed a number of transfer agreements with colleges, allowing applicants to receive up to 30 equivalency credits. Find out more by consulting the tab entitled College Credit Transfer.

Quebec applicants

From secondary school
Have a Secondary School Diploma with an average of 84%, including one course in English or français at the Secondary V level.

From Cégep
Have completed 12 courses of general studies (not including physical education and refresher courses), including English (603) or français (601). Applicants who have successfully completed 12 courses of general studies may obtain up to 15 credits of advanced standing, and those who have successfully completed more than 12 courses of general studies may obtain up to 30 credits of advanced standing.

Applicants from the Atlantic and Western provinces

Have a Secondary School Diploma, including one course in English or français at the Grade 12 level.

Applicants from other universities

Applications from other Canadian or international universities will be assessed based on the applicant’s previous secondary and post-secondary studies. University equivalency credits may be granted depending on the studies completed and the program into which the person is admitted.

International applicants

Have a diploma attesting to 12 years of education equivalent to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Persons who have completed a secondary diploma attesting to 13 years of education, such as the Baccalauréat de l’enseignement secondaire français, can receive up to 30 credits of advanced standing.

Mature applicants

When the applicant’s academic record does not meet normal conditions for admission, it is possible to apply as a mature applicant, provided that the person has not been enrolled in full-time studies for at least two consecutive years. In order to be considered for admission, applicants must have experience that can be considered sufficient preparation for pursuing undergraduate studies.

STEP 3: SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

You have two options

OPTION 1

If you are applying for admission to an undergraduate program at more than one Ontario university, including Saint Paul University:

Complete the application form available at the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Because Saint Paul University is federated with the University of Ottawa, you will find programs offered by Saint Paul University listed under the University of Ottawa.

OPTION 2

If you are applying for an undergraduate program at Saint Paul University only, or if you are applying for a master’s or doctoral program:

Complete the following form.

STEP 4: GATHER THE DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF YOUR APPLICATION

In order for us to assess your application, you must submit official transcripts for all of your previous studies (secondary, college and university). These transcripts must be sent directly from your academic institution to the following address:

Saint Paul University
Office of Admissions and Student Services
223 Main Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1S 1C4
CANADA

However, to expedite the assessment process for your application, you can scan your documents and e-mail them to the Office of Admissions at admission@ustpaul.ca and then send your official documents through the mail.

STEP 5: ASSESSMENT OF YOUR APPLICATION

Once the Office of Admissions receives all the required documents, it will begin to assess your application. One of the following decisions will be sent to you at the email address you gave us, as well as to your postal address.

Possible decisions

Offer of admission
The Office of Admissions will send you an offer of admission (unconditional).
Conditional offer of admission
The Office of Admissions will make you a conditional offer of admission, with specific conditions that you must meet by a certain deadline. You can still proceed to registration (course selection).
Deferred decision
The Office of Admissions can inform you that some information is missing and therefore the University is unable to make a decision regarding your eligibility. If applicable, the Office will tell you which documents to send and by what date.
Refusal
The Office of Admissions will inform you of the reasons for the refusal.

STEP 6: ACCEPT YOUR OFFER OF ADMISSION

To accept an offer of admission and a scholarship offer, if applicable, you must sign the form entitled Admission acceptance form that accompanies your offer of admission and send it to Saint Paul University by email, before the deadline, to the following address admission@ustpaul.ca or mail it to:

Saint Paul University
Office of Admissions and Student Services
223 Main Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1S 1C4
CANADA

STEP 7: CHOOSE YOUR COURSES

With your offer of admission, you will receive all the information you will need to choose your courses. You will also receive the contact information for our academic advisors; you can meet with them one on one or during information sessions for guidance and to help you finalize your course selection.

Foundational Courses (24 credits)

Compulsory Courses: 21 credits

HTP1101 Trends in Western Thought
HTP1102 Artistic and Literary Imagination: Expressions of the Human Experience
HTP1103 People, Politics and the Planet
HTP1104 Faith, Justice and the Common Good
ISC2309 English Composition
ISC2314 Public Speaking
PHI2181 Human Knowledge

Optional Courses: 3 credits from

MIS2103 World Religions
THO1306 Exploring the Sacred
THO1307 Understanding the Bible (This course is a prerequisite to many THO courses)

Major in Ethics (42 credits)

Compulsory Courses: 12 credits

PHI2154 Moral Philosophy
THO2189 Introduction to Theology
THO2315 Ethics and the Human Person
THO3166 Moral Existence

Optional Courses: 30 credits (at least six 4000 level credits) from

PHI2182 Human Existence
THO2147 Selected Topics in Ethics I
THO3155 Selected Topics in Ethics II
THO3168 Christian Spirituality
THO4104 Sexual Ethics
THO4105 Social and Political Ethics
THO4106 Bioethics
THO4107 Humanity: Creature and Creator
THO4108 Grace and Christian Existence
THO4109 Sin and the Question of Evil
THO4124 Feminist Ethics
THO4127 Economics and Ethics
Or any PHI or THO 3000 level course approved by the Faculty of Theology

Elective Courses (54 credits)

Students complete a second major (42 credits) and 12 credits or a minor (30 credits) and 24 credits.

HTP 1101 - Trends in Western Thought

This course addresses multiple aspects of the evolution of western thought, from Antiquity to current times, and the impact of major events and thinkers, and the influence of other civilizations on the contemporary understanding of human nature, culture and society.

HTP 1102 - Artistic and Literary Imagination: Expressions of the Human Experience

This course addresses the following themes: the notion of aesthetics and its application in art; the study of important works of art and literature with emphasis on the understanding of ‘Self’ in relation to the ‘Other’; the power of symbolic expression in the quest for meaning in a globalized and interconnected world.

HTP 1103 - People, Politics and the Planet

This course addresses personal, social and ecological challenges facing humanity today. We will examine issues at three levels – personal, political and planetary- in terms of community building and efforts towards global transformations for a hopeful future.

HTP 1104 - Faith, Justice and the Common Good

This course investigates faith, justice and the common good from religious, philosophical and human science perspectives. The course draws on classic and contemporary resources, in particular those from the Christian intellectual traditions.

ISC 2309 - English Composition

This course is dedicated to the improvement of writing skills in order to become an effective communicator in several contexts.

ISC 2314 - Public Speaking

Learning the techniques of efficient public speaking. Introduction and training to personal impression making in electronic media. Development of a professional attitude and self-confidence.

MIS 2103 - World Religions

Introduction to the world religions with an emphasis on Christian faith in interaction with other living faiths.

PHI 2154 - Moral Philosophy

Survey of the major ethical systems in the Western world. Relationship between philosophical and religious thinking in ethical matters. Fundamental questions facing contemporary moral consciousness. PHI 2154 and PHI2174 are mutually exclusive. PHI 2154 was previously under course code PHI 3183.

PHI 2181 - Human Knowledge

From Lascaux’s cave paintings to mythology, history, philosophy, and the experimental sciences, human knowledge is the product of diverse approaches. The course aims to show the diversity of human knowledge, its evolution and transmission, as well as the central role philosophy plays in the structuring of this knowledge in different types of discourse.

PHI 2182 - Human Existence

Essential dimensions of human existence. Its specificity with regard to the world around it. Openness to the religious realm, self awareness, reason, political life, relation to others, relationship to the world of nature.

THO 1306 - Exploring the Sacred

The human effort to express the experience of the sacred and to name our sense of the “Beyond”. The different forms such expressions have taken: cosmic wonder and its symbols, foundations stories, ritual life. The meaning of this effort for understanding the quest of the human spirit and its attempts to build order in society and community.

THO 1307 - Understanding the Bible

The Bible: book or library, history or story? History of the Jewish people and of the culture in which the Bible was written. The Bible and its content. Interpreting the text. The Jesus event. The influence of the Bible on history and on contemporary culture.

THO 2147 - Selected Topics in Ethics I

Study of a particular area of ethics.

THO 2189 - Introduction to Theology

An introduction to basic questions and fields of inquiry in Christian theology.

THO 2315 - Ethics and the Human Person

What is ethics? Introduction to the key ethical ideas that shape our lives. Ethical riches of the Christian tradition to understand ourselves and our responsibilities to other persons.

THO 3155 - Selected Topics in Ethics II

Study of a particular area of ethics.

Prerequisite: THO 3166

THO 3166 - Moral Existence

Introduction to the field of ethics within theology. Historical development of ethical approaches within theology. Constitutive elements of moral existence. Moral existence and Christian faith.

THO 3168 - Christian Spirituality

Nature of Christian spirituality, its definition and its foundations. Major periods and movements of Christian spirituality. Importance of spirituality for theological reflection.

THO 4104 - Sexual Ethics

Meaning of human sexuality. Sexuality understood in terms of personal growth. Discernment of moral values in sexual behaviour.

Prerequisite: THO 3166

THO 4105 - Social and Political Ethics

Human being as personal and social being. Respect for human rights. Freedom in the socio-political context. Society as the milieu of personal growth.

Prerequisite: THO 3166

THO 4106 - Bioethics

Respect for human life. Right to physical integrity. Genetics. Abortion. Euthanasia.

Prerequisite: THO 3166

THO 4107 - Humanity: Creature and Creator

Christian anthropology. Responsibility and freedom of the human person as co-creator. Relationship between creation and redemption. Creation and a scientific world view. Ecology and theology.

Prerequisite: THO 3162

THO 4108 - Grace and Christian Existence

Divine grace and human freedom. Historical development of the theology of grace. Christian existence as faith, hope, and love. God’s presence in the world and in the human person. Contemporary challenges.

Prerequisite: THO 3162

THO 4109 - Sin and the Question of Evil

Sin: personal, social, and original. Conversion. Finitude, culpability. The anthropological and Christian significance of suffering, death, and evil.

Prerequisite: THO 3166

THO 4124 - Feminist Ethics

An introduction to ethics from feminist perspectives. Historical background to feminist approaches to ethics; introduction to feminist analysis; approaches within feminist ethics; Christianity and feminist ethics; Christian praxis as foundational to ethics; the social, cultural, and political dimensions of ethics; specific issues arising in contemporary discussions.

Prerequisite: THO 3166

THO 4127 - Economics and Ethics

Destination of goods. Welfare and the promotion of the individual. Types of alienated and alienating economies. Proposal for a humanistic economy.

Prerequisite: THO 3166

Print the Course Sequence

	Bachelor Components (120 credits)
	Foundational 8 courses (24 credits)	Main Program 14 courses (42 credits)	Elective Courses* 18 courses (54 credits)
1st Year	HTP1101 + ISC2309	PHI2154	2 courses
1st Year	HTP1102 + ISC2314	THO2189	2 courses
2nd Year	HTP1103 + PHI2181	THO 2315 + THO 3166	1 course
2nd Year	HTP1104 + THO1307	PHI 2182 + THO 2147	1 course
3rd Year		THO 3168 + THO 3155	3 courses
3rd Year		THO 4104 OU THO 4124 + THO 4106 OU THO 4127	3 courses
4th Year		THO 4108 + THO 4109	3 courses
4th Year		THO 4105 + THO 4107	3 courses
*A complementary major or a complementary minor must be added to this program.

Office of Admissions and Student Services
Room 154
Saint Paul University
223 Main Street
Ottawa, ON
K1S 1C4
CANADA

Telephone: 613-236-1393
Fax: 613-782-3014
admission@ustpaul.ca

Hours of Operation

August 15 to May 31

Monday to Thursday	8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday	8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Friday	1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

June 1 to August 14

Monday to Friday	8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
	1 p.m. to 4 p.m.