Certificate in Human Relations and Spirituality

A certificate is an independent undergraduate program comprising 30 units, leading to a diploma, or undergraduate certificate, approved by the Senate.

The only one of its kind in Ontario, this program investigates such topics as social justice, human development, acceptance of diversity, inclusiveness and humanism.

Certificate programs are part-time programs; courses cannot be taken on a full-time basis unless prerequisites can be fully respected.

Do not hesitate to contact an Academic Advisor to obtain more information.

ARMSTRONG Laura, Full Professor
BELLEHUMEUR Christian, Professor
BILODEAU Cynthia, Professor
DURAND Guillaume, Assistant Professor
GRAFANAKI Sotiria, Professor
JIANG Yuanyuan, Professor
KILREA Kelly, Assistant Professor
LYNN GALL Terry, Professor Emerita
MAISHA Buuma , Professor
MALETTE Judith, Professor
MARTÍNEZ DE PISÓN Ramón, Professor
WIEBE Stephanie, Professor
YAMIN Stéphanie , 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 units of advanced standing (transfer units).

Our transfer agreements
Saint Paul University has developed a number of transfer agreements with colleges, allowing applicants to receive upwards of 30 units in equivalencies. Find out more by consulting our articulation agreements page.

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 units of advanced standing, and those who have successfully completed more than 12 courses of general studies may obtain up to 30 units 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 units 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 units 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.

Compulsory Courses (24 units)

IPA1121 Human Behavior and Spirituality: Theoretical Foundations
IPA1122 Human Behavior and Spirituality: Empirical Observations
IPA2121 Perspectives on Psycho-Social Human Behavior
IPA2126 Developmental Psychology, Spirituality and Religiosity from Childhood to Adolescence
IPA2127 Developmental Psychology, Spirituality and Religiosity from Adulthood to Old Age
IPA3101 Psychology of Spiritual Experience
IPA3122 Cultural Diversity and Religious Pluralism
IPA3123 The Helping Relationships and Ethical Considerations

Optional Courses (6 units)

6 units from:
IPA2109 Internship I
IPA2122 Research Methods and Ethics in Human Sciences (Qualitative Approach)
IPA2123 Research Methods in Human Sciences (Quantitative Approach)
IPA2124 Special Topics in Human Relations and Spirituality I
IPA2125 Positive Psychology and Spirituality
IPA3121 Theories of Personality
IPA3124 Family and Spirituality

Some courses have specific prerequisites.

Certificate programs are part-time programs.

IPA 1122 - Human Behavior and Spirituality: Empirical Observations

Heredity, environment and human development. Intelligence. Personality. Mental health, abnormal behavior and therapeutic approaches. Social psychology. Introduction to empirical research in contemporary psychology of religion.

This course cannot be combined for credit with PSY1102.

IPA 2109 - Internship I

The practical application of acquired theoretical knowledge in a professional setting. Internship of a minimum of 120 to 150 professionally supervised hours in a Human Relations environment. Incorporates a cumulative reflective practice component to encourage the critical integration of theory and practice. Production of a detailed practicum report. Graded S/NS.

Prerequisites: Minimum of 12 IPA credits and GPA of B.

IPA 2121 - Perspectives on Psycho-Social Human Behavior

History and research methods. The self: content and process. Perceptions, cognitions and attributions. Social influence, attitudes and changes in attitudes. Communication and interpersonal skills. Aggression and helping behavior. Overview of groups and intergroup relations: A study leadership, prejudice and discrimination. Applications. Highlighted according to the themes, specific contributions of the main theories.

Prerequisites: 30 university credits (except for students in Certificate in Human Relations and Spirituality).

Prerequisite or concomitant: IPA1121 or IPA1122.

IPA 2122 - Research Methods and Ethics in Human Sciences (qualitative approach)

Introduction to the philosophy of science and epistemology. Research ethics. The creation of a research plan: questions, hypotheses, variables, and data analysis methods. Documentaries and qualitative methods: bibliographic research, historical research, interviews, case studies, and observation. Specific problems in the study of ethnic and religious conflicts and human relationships and spirituality.

Prerequisites: 30 university credits (except for students in Certificate in Human Relations and Spirituality) and IPA1121.
Prerequisite or concomitant: IPA1122.

IPA 2123 - Research Methods in Human Sciences (quantitative approach)

Project preparation and quantitative comparative research. Use of databases. Surveys and polls. Statistical analysis: correlation, regression, trends, covariance and statistical inference. Examples from the study of ethnic conflicts and religious and human relationships and spirituality.

Prerequisites: IPA1121 and IPA1122.

IPA 2124 - Special Topics in Human Relations and Spirituality I

Study of a particular topic in human relationships and spirituality. The content and format may change depending on the professor.

IPA 2124 - Special Topics in Human Relations and Spirituality I

Study of a particular topic in human relationships and spirituality. The content and format may change depending on the professor.

IPA 2125 - Positive Psychology and Spirituality

Introduction to Positive Psychology. Historical perspective. Concepts, theories and empirical data: emotional, cognitive, intrapersonal and interpersonal dimensions. Definitions and measures: happiness, well-being, optimal functioning, spirituality and religiosity. Forces of nature: Classification and Measurement. Study related topics: self-esteem, values and virtues, interests and abilities, creativity, empathy and compassion, gratitude, love and friendship, resilience, and others.

Prerequisites: IPA1121 and IPA1122.

IPA 2126 - Developmental Psychology, Spirituality and Religiosity from Childhood to Adolescence

Physical, cognitive, emotional, social, spiritual and religious development from childhood to adolescence. Theoretical and empirical approaches in psychology, psychology of religion and spirituality. Development of personal maturity, social and sexual. Development of faith, spirituality and religiosity during these stages of life and how these components influence the psychological development.

Prerequisites: IPA1121 and IPA1122.

IPA 2127 - Developmental Psychology, Spirituality and Religiosity from Adulthood to Old Age

Psychological, social, spiritual and religious development from young adult, adult and older adult. Transition and the tasks and challenges associated with them, the maturation, midlife, retirement, the normal aging process and changes in physical, cognitive, psychological and social functioning. Attitudes towards aging and pathological aging. Development of faith, spirituality and religiosity during these stages of life and how these components influence the psychological development.

Prerequisites: IPA1121 and IPA1122.

IPA 3101 - Psychology of Spiritual Experience

Main currents in the psychology of spiritual experience, with a special focus on psychodynamic, humanist and existential theories. The relationships between spirituality and mental health. The links between spirituality and psycho-pathologies.

Prerequisites: 30 university credits (except for students in Certificate in Human Relations and Spirituality).
Prerequisite or concomitant: IPA1121 or IPA1122.

This course was previously HUM2101.

IPA 3121 - Theories of Personality

Internal assessment and comparison of the many theories of personality. Design of the structure, dynamics, development, normality and abnormality of personality and its many applications in the field of human relationships and spirituality. Main approaches to the study of personality (psychodynamic, existential-humanistic, behavioral, and related types) and contributions of these approaches to the integration of the spiritual in the human person.

Prerequisites: 30 university credits (except for students in Certificate in Human Relations and Spirituality).
Prerequisite or concomitant: IPA1121 or IPA1122.

IPA 3122 - Cultural Diversity and Religious Pluralism

Notions of cultural psychology and psychology of religion. Impact of culture and religion on psychological processes (cognitive, sensation and perception, social behavior). Relations and communications interethnic and interreligious, multicultural and multi-faith society. Development of cultural identity and religious identity. Beliefs and prejudices, discrimination and acculturation. Mental health and well-being among immigrants and refugees from different cultures and religions. Adaptation of theoretical models and measurement instruments of psychology in multicultural and multi-faith context. Psychological assessment and intercultural psychotherapy. Ethical skills in the helping relationships in multicultural and multi-faith.

Prerequisites: 30 university credits (except for students in Certificate in Human Relations and Spirituality).
Prerequisite or concomitant: IPA1121 or IPA1122.

IPA 3123 - The Helping Relationships and Ethical Considerations

Ethical issues in the helping relationship and counselling. Concepts of values and ethical principles. Application of ethical theories to counselling practice and the complex processes involved in making ethical decisions. Considerations of the plurality of perspectives relevant to ethical considerations (theoretical literature, empirical and philosophical). Particular attention will be given to praxeology, the ethics of dialogue and experiential knowledge.

Prerequisites: IPA1121 and IPA1122.

Office of the Associate Vice-Rector, Strategic Enrolment Management
Room 148
Saint Paul University
223 Main Street
Ottawa, ON
K1S 1C4
CANADA

Notice to gmail address holders, be sure to check your junk mailbox regularly, as due to your server's firewalls our email response to your application may end up there.

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

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