Program Overview and Curriculum

Are you curious about theology, ministry, or deepening your understanding of Christian faith? Knox College’s Certificate in Theological Studies (CTS) is a welcoming entry point for exploring these interests in an academic setting.

This post-baccalaureate certificate offers a university-level foundation in Christian studies and is awarded conjointly with the University of Toronto. As a member college of the Toronto School of Theology, Knox provides a supportive learning environment rooted in the Reformed tradition.

The CTS program can be a standalone experience or a stepping stone. Students who complete the certificate may apply to Basic Degree programs at Knox, or the Master of Arts (MA) in Theological Studies. Whether you’re preparing for future theological studies, discerning a call to ministry, or simply seeking personal enrichment, the CTS program introduces you to core theological disciplines through either online or in-person study depending on the pathway.

To complete the Certificate in Theological Studies, students must successfully complete seven courses. The program is designed with flexibility in mind:

  • It can be completed in one academic year through full-time study
  • Or pursued on a part-time basis to as some students accommodate work, ministry, and personal commitments

Knox College offers two distinct pathways within the Certificate in Theological Studies (CTS), each with its own delivery format and curricular focus.

Theological Foundations Studies

💻 Study Online

Our Theological Foundations pathway can be completed entirely online. No in-person courses required.

Delivery Format: Online (Effective Fall 2025)
This stream provides a broad introduction to Christian theology within the Reformed tradition. It is ideal for students seeking personal enrichment, preparation for ministry, or entry into further theological study.

Course Requirements:

  • Minimum of five online courses out of the seven required
  • Five foundational (1000-level) courses selected from the following areas:
    • Old Testament / Hebrew Scriptures
    • New Testament
    • Theology (systematic, historical, dogmatic)
    • History of Christianity
    • One additional area (e.g., theological ethics, philosophy of religion, comparative theology, apologetics, pastoral/practical theology, spirituality, liturgics), chosen in consultation with an academic advisor
  • Two advanced courses (2000- or 3000-level TST courses)
Presbyterian Leadership Studies

Delivery Format: In-person
This stream is designed for religiously engaged individuals, clergy, or professional religious leaders seeking a deeper understanding of the Presbyterian tradition.

Course Requirements:

  • Minimum of five in-person courses out of the seven required
  • Knox may designate up to two courses to be taken online
  • Curriculum includes studies in:
    • Presbyterian polity and worship
    • Reformed theology and leadership
    • Historical and contemporary Presbyterian thought
    • Practical ministry applications

Academic Advising & Flexibility:
Students with prior coursework in theological or religious studies may be eligible for substitutions. Academic advisors will work with students to tailor their course selection to meet both program requirements and individual goals.

Admission Requirements

The following provides an overview of the admission requirements for the CTS program. For full details, please refer to Basic Degree Admissions and the Basic Conjoint Degree Program Handbook for comprehensive admission and program information.

Minimum Requirements

  • Hold an appropriate baccalaureate degree or equivalent degree recognized by the University of Toronto
  • Achieve a minimum standing of at least B- or greater for the entire degree with particular emphasis on the final year (CGPA of 2.7/4.0 or 70%)
  • Demonstrate English-language proficiency
  • Confirm equivalent academic standing if educated outside North America or at an institution using a different grading scale
  • Provide one academic or employer reference and one pastoral reference
  • Provide a Notice of Certification by the Presbytery Letter (if applicable)
  • Provide an Education and Reception (E&R) Letter (if applicable)

Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

📣For CTS (Presbyterian Leadership Studies) applicants

If you are applying to fulfill requirements set by The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Committee on Education and Reception (E&R):

  • A letter from the PCC E&R Committee recommending a course of study

To apply, interested candidates must:

  1. Review program timelines and deadlines carefully before submission
  2. Ensure all supporting documents meet the stated requirements
  3. Submit a complete Basic Degree Program Application package

Baccalaureate requirement
Applicants to a conjoint basic degree program must hold an appropriate baccalaureate degree with adequate standing (normally at least B- standing in their final year) from an institution approved by a Canadian provincial quality assurance agency, or accredited by a US agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or demonstrated educational equivalent of a North American baccalaureate degree as judged by the Admissions and Procedures Committee (A&P Committee), which may make reference to information provided by the School of Graduate Studies of the University of Toronto.

In cases where an institution is not from an institution approved by a Canadian provincial quality assurance agency, or accredited by a US agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, the TST member college must submit a transcript, brief information about the institution, including faculty and their academic credentials, and an accompanying letter indicating its desire to admit the student to the TST Registrar, who serves as Secretary to the A&P Committee, for consideration by the Committee. The College representative on Basic Degree Committee (BDC) will present the case to the A&P Committee at its meeting. The A&P Committee has the authority to make decisions on non-standard credentials. In cases where precedents have been set by the A&P Committee, TST colleges may admit graduates from such institutions without submitting a request for consideration. A college may appeal the decision of the A&P Committee in respect of equivalent credentials to the BDC.

Admissions and Procedures Committee Notice

The Admissions and Procedures Committee process is coordinated and managed by TST, and as a result, may take additional time to render an admissions decision. This process may impact an applicant’s opportunity to begin program studies in a semester. Application files that are delayed by the A&P process will be considered for the next semester admission. No programs offer program start in summer semester.

Applicants Without an Undergraduate Degree

5.3.1 Admission without baccalaureate

In an exceptional case, a college may admit to the CTS program a student without a baccalaureate degree or equivalent (see §5.7).

All of the following restrictions apply:

5.3.1.1 Post-secondary requirement

Such applicants must present evidence of successful completion of the equivalence of 10 X 0.5 FCEs of Arts and Science study from an accredited institution (or the equivalent as assessed by the Admissions and Procedures Committee of TST).

5.3.1.2 Prior theological study

For degree programs, such applicants must have successfully completed at least the equivalent of 10 X 0.5 FCEs theological study, or the successful completion of the TST CTS or CTIE which may be counted towards the degree as advanced standing subject to Section 6.3.

No prior theological study is required for admission to the CTS or CTIE (Category 1 Certificates).

5.3.1.3 Life experience

Such applicants must have life experience that has helped them prepare for theological study at the SEUG level.

5.3.1.4 Consistency with college standards

Admission of such applicants must be consonant with the mission statement and stated academic policies of the college.

Certificate in Theological Studies Program Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate:

  1. General knowledge and understanding of key concepts, methodologies, theoretical approaches and assumptions in Theological Studies.
  2. Broad understanding of some of the major fields in Theological Studies.
  3. Analyze methodologies applied in relevant scholarship in a course and adopt or reject those methodologies in the student’s own writing.
  4. Ability to review, present, and interpret information, and construct theological knowledge, in the light of some of the significant theories, concepts and methods of representative sub-fields of Theological Studies.
  5. Convey and support their own views clearly both verbally and writing.
  6. Appreciation of the differing views of others.
  7. Recognition of the ways in which varied expressions of Christian belief and practice are shaped by cultural contexts.
  8. Ability to bring to their Theological Studies the insights of the humanities, the social sciences, the arts, and the natural sciences.

Course Planning Tool

Wondering how your academic journey might unfold?
Use our Course Planning Tool to explore how the CTS program is structured and how you might organize your studies.

This downloadable tracker helps you:

  • Explore the program’s structure and requirements
  • Visualize how core and elective courses fit together
  • Understand the exciting course options available

💬 Why it matters: Whether you’re discerning your calling or preparing to apply, this tool offers clarity and confidence.

Tuition, Financial Information, and Student Resources

Tuition Overview

Studying at Knox College means accessing high-quality theological education within the University of Toronto. Tuition fees for the CTS program are set by the University of Toronto each year and vary depending on full-time or part-time enrollment.

📌View current tuition rates

Financial Information

Knox College offers a range of financial supports to help make theological education accessible:

  • Knox College Basic Degree Bursary
  • External funding opportunities

📌 View available financial supports

Student Resources

As a Knox student, you’ll benefit from:

  • Access to U of T’s libraries, research databases, and writing centres
  • Academic advising and program planning support
  • Spiritual care and chapel services
  • Community events and student-led initiatives

Explore Knox and discover how we support your academic and spiritual journey.