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MTS

Master of Theological Studies

The study of Theology at Huron occurs within the context of the church and other faith traditions, as well as the secular university, making Huron a unique meeting place for exploring questions of faith and intellect.

The Master of Theological Studies will prepare you for theological engagement and leadership in a variety of settings.  You'll develop a solid academic grounding in the theological disciplines as well as knowledge and skills within a particular academic or practical concentration.



Quick Comparison of Huron's Theology Degrees

Current Timetable, Course Descriptions

  • The Quick Facts

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    • A two-year, general academic, post-baccalaureate undergraduate degree in theological studies intended primarily for lay people, with no previous theological training
    • May also be completed part time; however, maximum duration of the degree is four years
    • With the exception of the Integrative Seminar, MTS students take all of their courses with candidates for the M.Div. degree

  • What Will I Gain?

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  • As an MTS student, you will acquire:
    • Informed knowledge and interpretive skill in the theological disciplines
    • Ability to reflect critically and theologically on the church's role in public life
    • Knowledge and respect for the diverse religious traditions in Canada and the world
    • A broadened and enriched understanding of social justice and community transformation
    • Ability to collaborate across denominational and religious boundaries

  • Admission Requirements

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  • You may apply if you hold a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from a recognised university. A limited number of competitive, discretionary admissions may be available for those without a bachelor's degree (contact the Faculty for details).

    Deadline for application:  May 30 for September admission.  Occasional January admission (part-time) is possible.  Contact the Faculty for details.

    Taking Courses without the Degree, Letter of Permission, and Special Student

    You may take courses without being in a degree stream in the following ways:

    Special Students & Letter of Permission (Visiting) Students

    Special Students already hold a university degree & wish to take course(s), for audit or credit, without being in a degree program.

    Letter of Permission students are visiting students from another university.

    To apply as a Special Student or Letter of Permission Student:
    1. Download the application form.
    2. Arrange for an original academic transcript of your previous university degree to be sent to Huron (if a UWO degree, this may not be necessary).
    3. Visiting/Letter of Permission students arrange to have a Letter of Permission from their university sent to the Faculty of Theology.
    Due Date for Applications for Special Student or Letter of Permission status:   August 1 for September starts and December 1 for January starts (Call the Faculty of Theology office (519-438-7224, ext. 289) directly if this deadline has passed, for further information).

    Non-Registered Students

    If you do not already hold a Bachelor's degree, you can contact the Faculty of Theology office regarding the possibility of sitting in on courses in the Faculty.  You will not be an official Western/Huron student, no records will be kept, audit fees will be charged.

    Application form (PDF)

  • How Do I Apply?

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  • Application Steps

    • Do I qualify for admission? check above at "Admission Requirements."
    • Download MTS  application here (pdf).
    • Arrange for an original academic transcript of your previous university degree to be sent to the Faculty of Theology at Huron (if a UWO degree, this may not be necessary).
    • Upon receipt of your complete application, an interview with the admissions committee may be required.
    Application Due Date:
    May 31 of each year. (Call the Faculty of Theology office directly, 519-438-7224, ext. 289, if this deadline has passed, for further information).

    International students are advised to apply well in advance in order to give themselves extra time to apply for a student visa.

    Taking Courses without the Degree

    Special Students & Letter of Permission (Visiting) Students

    Special Students already hold a university degree & wish to take course(s) for credit, without being in a degree program.  Those wishing to audit require permission of the Dean and instructor.

    Letter of Permission students are visiting students from another university.

    To apply as a Special Student or Letter of Permission Student:
    1. Download the application form here (pdf).
    2. Arrange for an original academic transcript of your previous university degree to be sent to Huron (if a UWO degree, this may not be necessary).
    3. Visiting/Letter of Permission students arrange to have a Letter of Permission from their university sent to the Faculty of Theology.
    Due Date for Applications for Special Student or Letter of Permission status:   August 1 for September starts and December 1 for January starts (Call the Faculty of Theology office (519-438-7224, ext. 289) directly if this deadline has passed, for further information).

  • Degree Synopsis & Course Requirements

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  • General Degree or with an Area of Concentration

    The MTS is available as a general degree, or you may choose to complete it with an area of concentration in:
    • Biblical Studies
    • Islamic Studies
    • Theology and Ethics
    • Comparative Religion and Theology
    • Congregational Ministry
    • Pastoral Counselling
    • Public Service
    • Islamic Studies

    MTS Thesis Option

    You may also chose to complete your program with a thesis as a summary research exercise, intended primarily to prepare you for admission to advanced degree programs.

    MTS Degree Synopsis/Course Requirements

    Note:  If you began the MTS prior to September 2010, consult this page to see revisions to your MTS degree.

    Length:  The degree is two years of full-time studies (20 half courses), but is often completed part time.

    Choose either the General MTS Degree or the MTS with Concentration.  

    If choosing MTS with Concentration in

    Biblical Studies   Theology & Ethics Comparative Religion & Theology
    Congregational Ministry   Pastoral Advising Public Service

    complete the 13 required courses in the General Degree below, but replace 7 half-course electives with one of these concentrations.

    If choosing MTS with Concentration in Islamic Studies, please see the courses required in that concentration's description below.

    General MTS Degree Requirements

    Area I: Biblical Studies--Old Testament, New Testament, and related studies
    • Biblical Studies 5110a/b, 5116a/b, and 5120a/b 
    • One further half-course from Area I, Biblical Studies, including Greek, or Hebrew   (Those who began the degree prior to September 2014 may substitute Biblical Studie   5112a/b for 5120a/b)
    (what courses are in Area I?)

    Area II: Theological Studies--Philosophical Theology, Systematic Theology, Theological Ethics
    • Systematic Theology 5103a and Theological Ethics 5203a/b
    • One further half-course from Area II, Theological Studies
    (what courses are in Area II?)

    Area III: Historical Studies--Studies in Church History, History of Christian Thought, and other historical studies of Christianity, the Christian tradition
    • Two half-courses from Area III, Historical Studies
    (what courses are in Area III?)

    Area IV: Public Leadership and Ministry Studies--Studies in the work of the church, in particular conducting liturgy and preaching, and of the various forms of ministry, pastoral care and public leadership
    • Pastoral Theology 5213a/b
    (what courses are in Area IV?)

    Area V: Contextual and Formational Studies--Field Education and Community-Based Learning conducted alongside theological reflection on parochial, social, educational, or clinical ministries
    • One half-course from Area V, Contextual and Formational Studies
    (what courses are in Area V?)

    Area VI: Comparative and Cultural Studies--Ecumenical, Interfaith and cross-cultural studies in religion, philosophy, the arts, sociology, and anthropology
    • Two half-courses from Area VI, Comparative & Contextual Studies
    (what courses are in Area VI?)
    General Program Electives
    • 7 elective half-courses from any of the 6 areas above

    MTS Degree with Concentration in:

    Biblical Studies
    Theology & Ethics
    Comparative Religion & Theology
    Congregational Ministry
    Pastoral Advising
    Public Service

    Complete MTS General Degree as above, but replace the 7 courses of the "General Program Electives" with one of the concentrations below:

    Biblical Studies Concentration
    Theology and Ethics Concentration
    Comparative Religion and Theology Concentration
    Congregational Ministry Concentration
    • Homiletics 5204a/b, Liturgics 5204a/b, Field Education 5310a, Field Education 5110a, and Field Education 5211a
    • 1 further half-course from Area IV, Public Leadership & Ministry Studies or Area V, Contextual and Formational Studies
    • 1 elective from any Area
    Pastoral Care Concentration
    Public Service Concentration

    Islamic Studies Concentration
    Complete all 20 half-courses (10.0 full courses) in the degree from the areas and electives as indicated below:

    Area I: Biblical Studies--Sacred Texts
    Religious Studies 5310a/b or Biblical Studies 5320 a/b
    Biblical Studies 5119a/b
    Arabic 5260a/b or another half-course from Area I, if already reading Arabic at this level
    One additional half-course from Area I
    (what courses are in Area I?)

    Area II: Theological Studies--Philosophy, Systematical Theology, Theological Ethics
    Theological Ethics 5213a/b or Theological Ethics 5190a/b
    Systematic Theology 5208a/b
    Systematic Theology 5208a/b
    One further half-course from Area II, Theological Studies
    (what courses are in Area II?)

    Area III: Historical Studies
    Church History 5111a/b
    Two half-courses from Area III, Historical Studies
    (what courses are in Area III?)

    Area IV: Public Leadership and Ministry Studies
    Pastoral Theology 5213a/b (taken as one of final courses)
    Pastoral Theology 5231a/b
    One additional course in Area IV, Public Leadership & Ministry
    (what courses are in Area IV?)

    Area V: Contextual and Formational Studies--Field Education and Community-Based Learning conducted alongside theological reflection on parochial, social, educational, or clinical ministries
    One half-course from Area V, Contextual and Formational Studies
    (what courses are in Area V?)

    Area VI: Comparative and Cultural Studies--Ecumenical, Interfaith and cross-cultural studies in religion, philosophy, the arts, sociology, and anthropology
    Religious Studies 5134a/b
    One additional half-course from Area VI, Comparative & Contextual Studies
    (what courses are in Area VI?)

    Electives for MTS Concentration in Islamic Studies
    5 elective half-courses from any of the 6 areas.

    Faculty of Theology Calendar here.

  • What Might My First Year Courses Look Like?

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  • The following is a sample first-year course registration.  Keep in mind the degree requirements above.  Full-time students, intending to graduate in two years, should take five courses each term for two years.  Check course prerequisites.  You want to complete in first year courses which are prerequisites for second-year courses.

    A typical full-time schedule in the first year might be:

    First Term (Fall)
    Biblical Studies 5110a
    Systematic Theology 5103a
    Church History 5104a  (or other fulfilling Area III requirements)
    Field Education 5110a   (or other fulfilling Area V requirements)
    Elective or an area requirement

    Second Term (Winter)
    Biblical Studies 5120b (before Sept. 2014, replace with RS 2420b or BS 5112b)
    Biblical Studies 5116b
    Theological Ethics 5203b
    Church History 5106b   (or other fulfilling Area III requirements)
    Elective or other required course

  • Financial Aid & Scholarships

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  • You will find a variety of opportunities for financial assistance, from bursaries, to scholarships, employment, OSAP, and prizes and awards.  In addition, the Faculty of Theology offers bursaries/financial aid each year to qualified applicants in the M.Div. degree.

    See here  for details.

  • Accreditation & Statement of Institutional Effectiveness

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  • Accreditation

    The School is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools.

    The Commission contact information is:

    The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools
    in the United States and Canada
    10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275
    USA
    Telephone: 412/788.6505; Fax: 412.788.6510;
    Website: www.ats.edu

    The following degree programs are approved by the Commission on Accrediting: MDiv, MTS, MA (Theology).

    Student complaints in areas related to the accrediting standards of the Commission should be directed to the Dean of Theology. A record of such formal student complaints is maintained in the Office of the Dean.

    Statement of Educational Effectiveness

    In a changing church and world, completing a degree program at the Faculty of Theology is no guarantee of employment. Recent graduates of our MDiv degree program have found full- or part-time employment in parish ministry after graduation, serve the church in other fashions, and go on to further studies; Half of the recent graduates from our MTS program have gone on to further studies; graduates of our MA in theology program have been accepted into doctoral programs in theology or other graduate programs, are using their MA to teach at the secondary and post-secondary level, or are pursuing other careers that benefit from the research skills and knowledge gained as a result of completing the degree program.

    Master of Divinity
    Average time to graduation: 3.2 years
    Average at graduation (2012-2014): 81.9%
    Ratio of admissions/applications (2011-2014) 85%
    Ratio of registrations/applications (2011-2014) 74%
    Post-graduation occupation of graduates (2012-2014):  ordained ministry: 57%; 22% further studies; 21% other

    Master of Theological Studies
    Average time to graduation: 3.4 years
    Average at graduation (2012-2014): 79.7%
    Ratio of admissions/applications (2011-2014) 89%
    Ratio of registrations/applications (2011-2014) 66%
    Post-graduation occupation of graduates (2012-2014):  Further studies, 50%; 50% other/retired

    Master of Arts (Theology)
    Average time to graduation (2011-2014):  2.2 years
    Average at graduation (2011-2014):  83.5%
    Ratio of admissions to applications (2011-14): 78%
    Ratio of registrations/applications (2011-14):  66%
    Post-graduation occupation of graduates: Further studies, 43%; teaching, 7%; ministry, 29%; other, 21%