Departmental MA Handbook (pdf format)

Master of/Magisteriate in Arts (Theological Studies)

Why you should consider doing your MA in Theology at Concordia:

The Theological Studies Departmental identity consists of the following key areas:
1) Scholarly Research into the Formation, Reception and Interpretation of the Bible
2) Interdisciplinary Scholarly Research in Ethics, Religion and Sciences, Interreligious Dialogue, as well as Religion and Politics

At Concordia University:

• we offer comparatively low out-of-province tuition rates for Master's students (check our university's rates by following this link)
• eligibility of graduate students for Faculty funds to support conference travel
• eligibility of graduate students for Faculty funds to support conference organization
• full time graduate students in Quebec register for 3 not 2 semesters per year

The School of Graduate Studies website contains a plethora of useful information about graduate studies regulations, financial information, deadlines, etc. You should bookmark it.

Financial Aid

The university offers a number of scholarships and grants for which every applicant is considered when completing the application for admission. For them, check the Funding section on the School of Graduate Studies website.

In recent years, however, the department has proudly been able to offer one or two more sizeable financial packages per year for outstanding students applying to enter the MA in Theology full-time in the Fall. Each package consisted of one Faculty of Arts and Science Graduate Fellowship (valued at $7,000) plus additional funds in the form of one Teaching Assistantship and Faculty Funds, for a total of up to $9,500. To be considered for such a package, a prospective outstanding applicant should have his/her complete application into the system by January 15 of each year.

University policies on graduate funding evolve each year, but in general students who bring external funding (usually from SSHRC or FQRSC) to the program, qualify automatically for a top-up of their grant (in recent years, that amount was set at $6,000). The applicant who receives external funding should promptly inform the Graduate Program Director about that achievement. We strongly encourage prospective applicants to our MA program to apply for external funding (SSHRC or FQRSC) in the Fall prior to considering admission to Concordia.

Limited financial aid is also available every year to our students who are interested in being Teaching Assistants for various courses taught in the department. Interested students should inform the Graduate Program Director about that.

Moreover, a large number of faculty members in the department holding research grants and they hire as Research Assistants some of the best MA students. Students at any stage in their MA program should indicate to their professors (especially supervisors) their interest in reasearch assistantships.

The Department is also offering some financial help to students presenting papers at conferences. Please consult with the GPD about that when your paper is accepted for presentation.

Faculty

Professors: Pamela Bright, Lucian Turcescu (Chair); Associate Professors: Paul Allen, Marie-France Dion (Graduate Programme Director), André Gagné, Christine Jamieson; Assistant Professor: Jean-Michel Roessli.

Faculty Research Interests

Faculty members have taken an interest in interpretation theory and theological methodology, and they can offer students access to special competence in the biblical periods, the patristic age, Gnostic and apocryphal literature, Medieval and Reformation periods, religion and politics, fundamental and applied ethics, spirituality, and contemporary theologians.

Programs

The Department of Theology offers the degree of Master of/Magisteriate in Arts. There are two program options in the master's degree: Master of/ Magisteriate in Arts with thesis and Master of/Magisteriate in Arts with research papers. The Department has strong links with, and active participation in the Special Individualized Program (SIP) Ph.D. and the Humanities Ph.D. programs. For more information, you can also consult the online Theological Studies Graduate Calendar.

Program Objectives

The program is structured to enable students to apply contemporary methods of research to theological questions so as to arrive at valid personal knowledge.

Option A: the program is centred on the preparation of a substantial thesis. It will be most useful to students who already have a rich background in Theological Studies, and who already have developed an area of special interest in Theology, perhaps with a view to eventual doctoral studies.

Option B: is intended to provide students with an opportunity to widen their knowledge of theological areas (i.e. Scripture, History, Systematic Theology, Ethics), while at the same time learning the discipline of research in two shorter research projects.

Admission to the MA Theological Studies Program:

Application Requirements: A solid undergraduate preparation with a range of competence similar to that demanded of Major students at Concordia, and a B average in the Theology segment of their undergraduate studies. Qualified applicants requiring prerequisite courses may be required to take up to 12 undergraduate credits in addition to and as a part of the regular graduate program. Admission into the program is on recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee.

Application Deadlines: Detailed program information may be obtained from the Department of Theological Studies, Concordia University, 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal, Quebec H3G 1M8, Canada. Applicants should apply online. The deadline for completed applications for all programs is March 15 for those intending to take courses in the Summer, May 15 for the Fall (however, if an applicant would like to be considered for a Faculty of Arts and Science Fellowship for the Fall, he/she should apply by January 15), and November 1 for those intending to start in January.

Language Requirements: Thesis proposals which depend on special linguistic skills will be accepted only from students competent in the appropriate languages.

Requirements for the Degree:

1. Credits. A fully-qualified candidate is required to complete a minimum of 45 credits.
2. Residence. The minimum residence requirement is one year (3 terms) of full-time graduate study, or the equivalent in part-time study.
3. Students may enter one of the two options, A or B, outlined below.

Option A: MA with Thesis (45 credits)

12 credits - Required Courses:

THEO 603 - Method in Theology (3 credits)
THEO 604 - Seminar in Ecclesiology (3 credits)
THEO 685 Reading Course (6 credits)

9 credits - Elective Courses

Chosen from amongst graduate course offerings THEO 620 through to 685

24 credits - Thesis:

THEO 695 - Thesis Proposal (3 credits)
THEO 697 - Thesis (21 credits)

Option B: MA with Applied Project in Theology (45 credits)

6 credits - Required Courses:

THEO 603 - Method in Theology (3 credits)
THEO 604 - Seminar in Ecclesiology (3 credits)

18 credits - Elective Courses:

Chosen from amongst graduate course offerings THEO 620 through to 684

21 credits - Research:

THEO 691 - Research Paper (12 credits)
THEO 692 - Applied Project in Theology (9 credits)