The Master of Theological Studies (MTS) provides a firm foundation in the discipline of theology, integrating faith, practice, reason, and culture. The program combines grounding in scripture and tradition with open engagement with pressing contemporary challenges, including practicing respectful dialogue with Indigenous communities, responding to a climate in crisis, reconciling broken human relationships, and social justice.
This is a second entry undergraduate degree in theology that prepares students for graduate studies.
For information about admission deadlines, please click here.
Students registered in this program may be eligible for a number of scholarships. For more information, please click here.
This degree is conferred jointly by the Senates of Saint Paul University and the University of Ottawa.
Admission Requirements
Compulsory Courses (27 units)
THO2189 Can We Talk About God? An Introduction to Theology
THO3123 Early Christianity
THO3160 Introduction to the Old Testament
THO3161 Introduction to the New Testament
THO3162 Revelation and Christian Faith
THO3165 The Church and Salvation
THO3166 The Good Life: An Introduction to Christian Ethics
THO3168 Christian Prayer and Spiritual Life
THO3169 Liturgy and Experience: An Introduction to Christian Worship
Optional Courses (15 units)
3 Units from each category:
(a) Foundations for Dialogue with People of Other Faiths
MIS2108 Theory and Praxis of Interreligious Dialogue
THO2410 World Religions
THO4204 Christianity and Religious Plurality
(b) Contextual Issues in Church and Theology
THO3172 Faith and Contemporary Culture
THO4124 Feminist Perspectives in Theology
THO4202 World Christianity
THO4203 Christianity in a Secular Age
(c) Summative Exercise
THO4207 Summative Exercise
6 units from:
(a) Divine Self-Disclosure: The Foundation of Christian Hope
THO3163 The Christian God
THO3164 Jesus in the New Testament
THO4125 Christology
Elective Courses (18 units)
Students may choose elective courses from among those offered within the basic degree programs in theology. With the approval of the Faculty of Theology, they may also choose from among course offerings in Human Sciences (Philosophy, Conflict Studies, Social Communication, etc.) in order to pursue a theological theme from an interdisciplinary perspective. Those anticipating further theological studies in advanced degree programs are urged to consider the study of Latin, biblical Greek or biblical Hebrew in order to study texts in their original language.
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.
An exploration of the origins of Theology as a discipline, of significant moments in its historical development, of its presuppositions, methods, and the basic questions it seeks to answer.
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
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 identity, message and mission. Jesus the Messiah, Saviour, Lord, High Priest, son of Mary and Son of God. Theological interpretations of his death, resurrection and exaltation.
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.
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.
Exploring the systematic understanding of the person of Christ in two natures; the development of Christological dogmas in the early Church; history of christological teachings; modern Christologies; Christ and contemporary culture.
The interrelationship and convergence of various divisions of theology. Critical considerations concerning theological method.
Prerequisite: 30 cr. theology.
A historical exploration of the emergence of Christianity as a worldwide faith with an emphasis on the modern period. 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.
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.
The summative exercise may take the form of a research paper, approximately 40 pages in length, or a creative or community-based project accompanied by a written introduction and annotated bibliography. The summative exercise will be evaluated by both the supervisor, who must be from the student's research field, and another professor from the Faculty of Theology.
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Office of Admissions, Registrar and Student Services
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223 Main Street
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