The Theology program encourages students to develop a critical approach to the problems and challenges facing modern society. The Master in Divinity (MDiv) is a three year (90 cr.) second-entry program, (that is, it requires a B.A. or its equivalent for admission but no prior theological training). As such, it is a general degree in theological education whose purpose is to provide students a general theological education and a professional formation. The diploma is conferred jointly by the senates of the University of Ottawa and Saint Paul University by virtue of the federation agreement between both institutions.
The MDiv will allow students to pursue a more integrated program where theory and practice are linked more organically. Saint Paul University’s MDiv distinguishes itself from that offered by other Ontario universities in its emphasis on education for dialogue and collaboration across ecumenical and interreligious boundaries, and its exploration of theology’s engagement with issues in contemporary culture.
While the program may be completed on a part-time basis, students are required to register full-time for at least one year with a view to integrating theoretical education, supervised practical experience and personal training.
This degree is recognized by the Association of Theological Schools.
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Career opportunities
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Admission Requirements
The number of such candidates registered in the MDiv program may not exceed 15% of the total enrolment. The evaluation of criteria for admission will be made on a case by case basis by the Program Director.
Compulsory Courses (45 units)
THO2189 Can We Talk About God?
THO3160 Introduction to the Old Testament
THO3161 Introduction to the New Testament
THO3162 Revelation and Christian Faith
THO3165 Community, Conflict, Salvation: Why the Church?
THO3166 The Good Life
THO3169 Liturgy and Experience
THO3171 Introduction to Pastoral Practice I
THO4160 Pastoral Ministry and Psychology
THO4161 Sociological Perspectives on Christian Community
THO4162 Practicum in Ministry I
THO4163 Practicum in Ministry II
THO4164 Practicum in Ministry III
THO4165 Practicum in Ministry IV
THO4201 Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist
THO4205 Theology and Practice of Ministry
THO4206 Personal Integration Seminar
Optional Courses (45 units)
3 units from each category:
(a) Old Testament Sources
THO4100 How to Search for Wisdom?
THO4101 How Does God Respond to Injustice?
(b) New Testament Sources
THO4102 Freedom, Law, and Justice: Perspectives from Paul’s Writings
THO4103 What is Truth?
(c) Human Reality and Saving Mystery
THO4107 Cultivating Humanity: Creation, Rationality, and Responsibility
THO4108 Theological Thinking
THO4109 Sin and the Question of Evil
(d) Growing in Communion with Other Christians
THO2167 Catholic Commitment to Ecumenism
THO3175 Anglicans and Unity
THO3316 Ecclesiology and East-West Ecumenism
(e) Foundations for Dialogue with People of Other Faiths
MIS2108 Theory and Praxis of Interreligious Dialogue
THO2410 World Religions
THO4204 Christianity and Religious Pluralism
(f) Contextual Issues in Church and Theology
THO3172 Faith and Contemporary Culture
THO4124 Feminist Perspectives in Theology
THO4202 Global Christianity
THO4203 Christianity in a Secular Age
(g) Christian Leadership
ECS3323 Dialogue
THO4302 Leadership in Faith Formation
THO4303 Leadership in Christian Liturgy
6 units from each category:
(b) Divine Self-Disclosure: The Foundation of Christian Hope
THO3163 The Christian God
THO3164 Who is Jesus Christ?
THO4125 Christologies, Past and Present
(b) Gathered Together in Prayer and Praise
DCA3106 Sacramental Law
THO3170 Proclaiming the Word of God in the Liturgy
THO3176 Theology of Christian Marriage
THO4111 Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation, Anointing, Funeral Rites
(c) Tradition Shaped in the Crucible of History
THO3123 Early Christianity
THO3124 Reforming the Church
THO3167 Early Christianity: The First Five Centuries (0-600 CE)
THO3250 Modern and Contemporary Church History (1648 – present)
(e) Spiritual Depth and Moral Integrity
THO3168 Ways of Christian Life and Prayer
THO4104 Selfhood and and Sexual Ethics
THO4105 Spiritual Life and Social Justice
THO4106 The Ethics of Medicine, Sickness and Health
Sacraments and their celebration; legislation and rites; pastoral attitudes in the interpretation and application of law; in the case of students preparing for the priesthood, special attention given to the sacraments of penance and marriage in view of preparation for the examination for the faculty to hear confessions.
Examination of dialogue as a means of exploring hidden beliefs and the exchange of ideas between participants. Practical exercises that explore the use of dialogue as a means of resolving and transforming conflicts. Training in the use of structured dialogue in professional activities. Specificities of dialogue among ethnic and religious groups.
Dialogue as co-constitution of humans thanks to religious faith. Prerequisites and challenges involved in interreligious dialogue: in-depth dimension of faith; necessity of self-criticism; hermeneutic of religious convictions. Orthodoxy and orthopraxis. Harmony, conflict and end of religions.
Introduction to the great faith traditions of the world understood from a Christian faith perspective; the influence of demographic and cultural shifts on religious identities and diversity; interactions with other faith communities.
Survey of the historical evolution of Christianity from its beginnings to the end of the fifth century, with attention to early Christological debates. An examination of church history in the Middle Ages with attention to key figures, movements, and developments in church theology and practice.
A study of church history from 1400 to present, movements of Catholic and Protestant Reform, significant social and cultural developments and their influence on the evolution of theology and church structures.
An introduction to the writings of the Old Testament through the study of the Pentateuch and Historical Books, with particular attention to their historical and cultural context, the role of the Yahwist, Elohist, Deuteronomist and Priestly traditions, and Deuteronomist History.
An introduction to the study of the New Testament through a critical study of the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke. Attention to the cultural and religious context of the New Testament and history of the formation of the Gospels; contemporary methods of biblical interpretation.
A Christian theology of revelation: Creation as a locus for revelation; reflection on how God has spoken in the history of Israel; fulfillment of revelation in Jesus Christ; impact of divine self-disclosure in shaping early Christian communities; faith as a human response to divine self-disclosure; implications for understanding the inspiration of Sacred Scripture and the meaning of Tradition; Christian revelation and other world religions.
Understanding Jesus of Nazareth, his message and works. Theological interpretations of his death, resurrection, exaltation, and the eschatological event of salvation. Jesus as Messiah and Saviour, son of Mary and Son of God.
An 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.
Exploring the nature of Christian spirituality, its definition, foundation, diverse expressions; major periods and movements of Christian spirituality; the importance of spirituality for theological reflection and personal integration.
Exploring the dimensions of human experience in terms of the common prayer of the Christian community through a consideration of sacred time, space, symbols, language and music; Jewish origins of Christian worship; the history of the Western liturgy. The structure and dynamics of the eucharistic liturgy, the liturgy of the hours, the liturgical year, and inculturation.
Learning and growth in pastoral ministry through critical reflection in small groups and integration of academic knowledge, personal experience and the practice of ministry.
Prerequisite: 9 cr. Theology.
A study of church history from the era of confessionalisation, through the period of European revolutions, to the modern ecumenical age. Significant social and cultural shifts, in particular the changing relations of church and state, their impact on theology and ecclesial life.
Inculturation of the Gospel: the cultures of the Mediterranean basin and their Christianization. Growing diversity in the Church. Doctrinal, liturgical and politico-social issues involved in the estrangement of the East and West. Schisms and their healing. Unionistic activity. Modern ecumenism and East-West relations.
Wisdom Texts and Intertestamental Literature.
General introduction to the prophets through a comparative study, with attention to their cultural, ethical and religious contexts. The evolution of prophetic literature towards an apocalyptic form and the meaning of apocalyptic literature.
An overview of the life of Paul and his work. Exegesis of selected letters, with special attention to his understanding of law, justice, and freedom in Christ.
A study of Johannine writings, their structure, theology, and cultural setting. Exegesis of selected passages in the Gospel of John and Letters of John, and the Apocalypse. Special attention given to the meaning of "truth" and "life."
The meaning of human sexuality in social, psychological and Christian perspective. Sexuality and personal growth. Discernment of moral values in sexual behaviour.
Prerequisite: THO 3166.
The principles of Catholic social teaching and their significance for life in contemporary society and culture. The human being as personal and social being; respect for human rights; freedom in the socio-political context; society as the milieu of personal growth.
An exploration of contemporary ethical issues relating to health and the integrity of the human person: respect for human life; the right to physical integrity; genetics; abortion, euthanasia and the end of human life.
Prerequisite: THO 3166.
Christian anthropology. Responsibility and freedom of the human person as co-creator. Sin and the problem of evil. Relationship between creation and redemption. Creation and a scientific world view. Ecology and theology.
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.
Understanding the meaning of sin: personal, social, and original. Conversion, finitude, culpability. The anthropological and Christian significance of suffering, death, and evil.
Prerequisite: THO 3162.
The (Roman Catholic) Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation/Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Viaticum. Funeral rites and pastoral concerns.
Prerequisite: THO 3169.
An introduction to feminist perspectives and methods of interpretation and their application to the study of the Christian tradition. The contributions of major feminist theologians; issues in contemporary debate.
Prerequisite: THO 3166.
Interaction between theology and psychology with reference to pastoral ministry, the experience of the believer, the development of faith and of religious attitudes. The pastoral implications of psychological theories of the individual and his/her social relations: impact on cognitive processes, emotion, behaviour, competence, values. Psychological perspectives on the pastoral minister's practice, role and identity.
Interaction between theology and sociology with reference to pastoral ministry. A study of the pastoral implications of socio-historical structures, and of social and cultural change. Analysis of how the social milieu forms the way people think, feel and act, and the reflection on the importance of this formation for values and beliefs. Sociological perspectives on Christian communities' practice, role and identity.
Students are engaged in the practice of ministry while working under supervision in a local church or other ministry setting (a minimum of 8 hours per week). The student is introduced to theological research and reflection in pastoral practice & leadership enabling them to become a reflective practitioner of Christian ministry. The student will become familiar with basic resources for intentional practice: creation of a pastoral profile, learning contracts, disciplined individual and group reflection, supervisory relationships, introduction to professional ethics, race relations, Indigenous relations and interpersonal skills. Graded S/NS.
This practicum continues the experience gained in THO4162.
Graded S/NS.
Prerequisite: THO 4162.
This practicum continues the experience gained in THO4163.
Graded S/NS.
Prerequisite: THO4163.
This practicum continues the experience gained in THO4164.
Graded S/NS.
Prerequisite: THO4164.
Baptism as the foundation of Christian identity. The Rite for the Christian Initiation of Adults and its history. Infant baptism. Issues in Confirmation. Theology and contemporary questions in the celebration of the liturgy of the Eucharist.
Prerequisite: THO 3169.
An exploration of the emergence in the twentieth century of Christianity as a worldwide faith. The changing face of Christianity, with attention to the changing demographics diverse "families" of churches and the developments in differing geographic regions.
Christian faith in a world of religious pluralism; church and state; freedom of religion; differing approaches to the secularity and secularism. Dialogue between faith and science, faith and atheism.
Exploring theological approaches to the fact of religious pluralism. Historical perspectives on the question of salvation outside the church; Catholic teaching and commitment to dialogue with other faiths; exclusivist, inclusivist and pluralist approaches.
An exploration of the biblical foundation, historical evolution and modern developments in the ordering of ministries in the church, with attention to forms and practice of ordained and lay ecclesial ministries, and the vocation of the laity in the world.
Theological reflection on the experience of ministry and service in a supervised setting (5 hours per week). Development of goals for continuous learning and integration. Personal identity as a minister, including the capacities for shared leadership, pastoral effectiveness according to context.
Prerequisite: IPA4482.
Theological reflection on the practice and principles of catechesis. The development and growth of faith in current pastoral contexts. Methodologies, learning styles, growth processes and approaches tailored in view of various groups and settings.
Theological reflection on the liturgical experience and expression of Christian communities. Principles, dynamics, and actualization of liturgical celebration, including sacraments, paraliturgies and prayer services. Roles and ministries in liturgical celebrations.
Contact Us
Office of Admissions, Registrar and Student Services
Room 148
Saint Paul University
223 Main Street
Ottawa, ON
K1S 1C4
CANADA
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Telephone: 613-236-1393
Fax: 613-782-3014
admission@ustpaul.ca
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Please leave your documents in the mailbox in front of room 148 when our offices are closed.
223 Main Street
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1S 1C4
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1.800.637.6859
613-236-1393
613-782-3005
info@ustpaul.ca