Honours Bachelor of Arts with Major in Theology

Program description

Theology is the study of the nature of God and religious belief based on Catholic writings and tradition. The Theology program encourages students to develop a critical approach to the problems and challenges facing modern society while upholding and respecting the Catholic intellectual tradition.

The Faculty of Theology offers civil and ecclesiastical programs suitable as a preparation both for various ministries and for graduate research in theology.

In addition to the foundational courses,* the Theology undergraduate program opens the door to a solid understanding of Christian faith and how to integrate it into daily life through courses in theology and philosophy. Students are also given an opportunity to explore specific subjects in greater depth.

*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 acquire a sound basic knowledge of a range of research areas in theology: sacred scripture, Church history, ethics, systematic theology and Church practice. You will also reflect on the major issues facing our society and the Church today.

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

Attendant for the elderly
Catechist
Community or not-for-profit organization worker
Missionary
Ordained minister
Pastoral agent in a school, hospital or prison setting
Pastoral associate
Youth development worker
Youth minister
Youth services worker

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

Other programs that may interest you

A student enrolled in the Theology (Honours Bachelor of Arts with Major) must add a complementary major or a complementary minor, according to the student’s particular interests and requirements.

BLÉE Fabrice, Associate Professor (on leave until 2024)
BLOOMQUIST Gregory, Professor Emeritus
DIONNE Christian, Associate Professor
E. CLIFFORD Catherine, Full Professor
MATHIEU Yvan, Associate Professor
R. MELCHIN Kenneth, Professor Emeritus
SLATTER Mark, Associate Professor
SPATAFORA M.S.F. Andrea, Associate 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 Theology (42 credits)

Compulsory Courses: 18 credits

THO2189 Can we talk about God?
THO2315 Ethics and the Human Person
THO3160 Introduction to the Old Testament: Pentateuch and Historical Books
THO3161 Introduction to the New Testament: Synoptic Gospels
THO3166 The Good Life: Ethics and Christian Tradition
THO3169 Liturgy Life of the Church

Optional Courses: 24 credits

6 credits from (History of the Church):

THO3123 The Medieval Church (600-1400 CE)
THO3124 The Church in the Reformation Period (1400-1648 CE)
THO3125 Contemporary Church History
THO3167 Early Christianity: The First Five Centuries (0-600 CE)

6 credits from (Systematics):

THO3162 Christian Faith: Encounter with a Self-Revealing God
THO3163 The Christian God: Speaking of the Divine Mystery
THO3164 Jesus the Christ and the Language of Christian Hope
THO3165 Ecclesiology in an Ecumenical Age
THO3168 Ways of Christian Life and Prayer – Spirituality

3 credits from (Scripture):

THO4100 Wisdom Texts and Intertestamental Literature
THO4101 The Prophetic Books
THO4102 Pauline Literature and Theology
THO4103 Johannine Literature

3 credits from (Ethics):

THO4104 The Sexual Self and Ethics
THO4105 Spirituality and Social Justice
THO4106 The Ethics of Medicine, Sickness and Health

3 credits from (Systematics):

THO4107 Humanity: Creature and Creator
THO4108 Grace and Christian Existence
THO4109 Sin and the Question of Evil

3 credits from (Practice of the Church):

MIS2108 Theory and Praxis of Interreligious Dialogue
THO4110 The Eucharist
THO4111 Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation, Anointing, Funeral Rites

Elective Courses (54 credits)

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

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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 - Approaches in the Humanities: Interpreting the Human Experience

Introduction to theoretical approaches in the Humanities and to the methods that are applied to interpret the multiple expressions of human experience, particularly those expressed in important works of art and literature.

HTP 1103 - People, Social Justice and Ecology

Social and ecological challenges facing humanity today, and related issues of social justice. These questions will be examined from a perspective of community building and efforts towards ecological and social 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 2108 - Theory and Praxis of Interreligious Dialogue

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.

PHI 2181 - Human Knowledge

Study of the traditional, universalist, approach to knowledge as well as contemporary standpoint approaches, such as feminist and postmodernist.

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 - What is 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 2189 - Can we talk about God?

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.

THO 2315 - Being Human

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 2410 - World Religions

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

THO 3123 - Early Christianity

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.

THO 3124 - Reforming the Church

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.

THO 3125 - Contemporary Church History

History of the Church from the 18th century to the present.

THO 3160 - Introduction to the Old Testament

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.

THO 3161 - Introduction to the New Testament

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.

THO 3162 - Revelation and Christian Faith

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.

THO 3164 - Who is Jesus Christ?

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.

THO 3166 - The Good Life

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.

THO 3167 - Early Christianity: The First Five Centuries (0 – 600 CE)

Exploring the relationship between history and theology, methodologies of historical research. Survey of the historical evolution of Christianity from its beginnings to the end of the fifth century, with attention to early Christological debates.

THO 3168 - Ways of Christian Life and Prayer

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.

THO 3169 - Liturgy and Experience

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.

THO 4100 - How to Search for Wisdom?

Wisdom Texts and Intertestamental Literature.

THO 4101 - How Does God Respond to Injustice?

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.

THO 4102 - Freedom, Law, and Justice: Perspectives from Paul's Writings

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.

THO 4103 - What is Truth?

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."

THO 4104 - Selfhood and Sexual Ethics

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.

THO 4105 - Spiritual Life and Social Justice

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.

THO 4106 - The Ethics of Medicine, Sickness and Health

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.

THO 4107 - Cultivating Humanity: Creation, Rationality, and Responsibility

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.

THO 4108 - Theological Thinking

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.

THO 4109 - Sin and the Question of Evil

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.

THO 4110 - The Eucharist

The origins of the eucharist and the meaning of a sacrament. History and theology of the eucharist from New Testament times through the Middle Ages to today. The eucharist as sacrifice and as memorial of the paschal mystery. Eucharist and experience of God.

Prerequisite: THO 3169.

THO 4111 - Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation, Anointing, Funeral Rites

The (Roman Catholic) Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation/Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Viaticum. Funeral rites and pastoral concerns.

Prerequisite: THO 3169.

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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