Program Overview and Curriculum
The Master of Psychospiritual Studies (MPS) at Knox College explores the intersection of theology, counselling, and spiritual care. As a member college of the Toronto School of Theology (TST), Knox offers a rich, collaborative academic environment where degrees are conjointly granted with the University of Toronto.
Students in the MPS program learn alongside peers from diverse denominations, faith traditions, backgrounds, and life experiences, fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning community. The program provides a strong foundation in psychospiritual theory and practice, preparing students for meaningful work in spiritual care, counselling, and community leadership.
Applicants choose between the Spiritual Care and Social Services streams. A Jewish focus is available within the Spiritual Care stream. Students may also pursue the in-program SCP Certificate application as a pathway to registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).
To complete the MPS, students must successfully complete 20 courses, including a practicum. The program is offered in person, with some courses available online. The program may be completed in two academic years with full-time study. Some students may complete the program on a part-time basis.
Core Curriculum Across All MPS Streams
All students in the MPS program at Knox College complete a shared core curriculum that builds a strong foundation in theology, ethics, pastoral care, and interreligious engagement. This curriculum supports both academic formation and vocational readiness across all streams.
Core Requirements:
- Seven (7) Faith Foundation Courses: Theology, ethics, history, and scripture
- Interfaith Leadership Course: Exploring spiritual leadership in pluralistic contexts
- Faith Formation Course: Personal and vocational reflection
Core Themes:
- Theological Foundations: Christian and Jewish theology, ethics, and history
- Spiritual Formation: Identity, vocation, and interfaith engagement
- Pastoral Care & Human Development: Understanding growth, suffering, and resilience
- Field Education: Supervised practicum or Clinical Psychospiritual Education (CPE)
This shared curriculum ensures that all MPS graduates are equipped with the theological grounding, interpersonal skills, and ethical awareness needed to serve effectively in diverse professional contexts.
Stream-specific Emphases:
- Spiritual Care: Focus on assessment, treatment, and psychospiritual integration
- Social Service: Emphasis on social justice, advocacy, and community development
The Master of Psychospiritual Studies, Spiritual Care stream at Knox College prepares students for professional roles in spiritual direction, and psychospiritual care across diverse settings such as healthcare, education, corrections, faith-based settings, private practice, and community organizations. This stream is ideal for students who may be seeking to integrate spiritual wisdom with therapeutic practice, and to serve in roles that require both emotional insight and theological depth.
Stream Highlights
- Integration of Theology and Psychotherapy
Courses blend theological reflection with clinical and counselling theory, preparing students to offer spiritually grounded care in professional contexts. Five of these are courses in Old Testament, New Testament, Theology, Ethics, and Christian History. - Clinical Training
Students complete a supervised practicum, such as Clinical Psychospiritual Education (CPE) during the program, gaining hands-on experience. - Professional Pathways
Students may apply for the Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy Certificate (SCP Cert.) during the program. The stream meets educational requirements, supporting registration and certification for:
*With two (2) additional CPE units (Advanced), graduates may move towards certification with the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care (CASC) as psychospiritual therapists or spiritual care practitioners with focus in healthcare, prison, or community-based chaplaincy.
Ideal for students who:
- Seek to integrate theology and counselling, supporting others emotionally and spiritually through psychospiritual care.
- Plan to pursue registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
- Are faith leaders looking to retool their pastoral practice, deepen their psychospiritual care skills, or expand into clinical or community-based care.
- Value offering care that is inclusive and contextually sensitive, working across traditions, cultures, and belief systems.
- Are exploring a second career or vocational shift, bringing life experience into a new path of caregiving and spiritual support.
The Master of Psychospiritual Studies, Spiritual Care stream (Jewish Focus) at Knox College supports students who wish to integrate Jewish theological reflection with psychospiritual care practice. This pathway is designed for those seeking to serve in Jewish or interfaith environments while grounding their work in Jewish tradition and values. Students enrolled in the Jewish Focus take courses in Tanakh, Rabbinic Literature, Modern Jewish thought, Jewish spiritual practice, and Jewish History in place of Christian-oriented faith foundation courses.
Stream Highlights:
Includes all core spiritual care training, with focused coursework in:
- Jewish theology and ethics
- Integration of Jewish spiritual frameworks with psychospiritual theory, pastoral care, and spiritual support
- Practicum placements may be completed in settings where Jewish spiritual care is practiced with supervision by approved Jewish spiritual care educators
Professional Pathways
Students may apply for the Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy Certificate (SCP Cert.) during the program. The stream meets educational requirements, supporting registration and certification for:
- College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
- Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC)*
*With two (2) additional CPE units (Advanced), graduates may move towards certification with the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care (CASC) as psychospiritual therapists or spiritual care practitioners with focus in healthcare, prison, or community-based chaplaincy.
Ideal for students who:
- Seek to integrate Jewish tradition with psychospiritual care
- Want to serve in roles that support spiritual wellness in Jewish or interfaith environments
- Value theological depth alongside clinical and reflective practice
The Social Service stream of the MPS program is designed for students called to work in community leadership, advocacy, and faith-informed social justice. This stream emphasizes systemic care, equity, and service in both faith-based and secular contexts.
Stream Highlights:
- Focus on community engagement, social ethics, and faith-based service
- Practicum placements in social service agencies, congregational outreach, or advocacy organizations
- Emphasis on programmatic care, public theology, and interfaith collaboration
Curriculum Distinctives:
Courses in:
- Social Policy and Ethics
Examines the intersection of faith, justice, and public systems. - Community Development and Leadership
Equips students to lead initiatives that foster resilience and inclusion. - Faith-Based Service and Outreach
Explores models of care rooted in religious traditions and applied in diverse settings. - Trauma and Resilience in Marginalized Communities
Addresses the impact of systemic injustice and strategies for healing and empowerment.
Ideal for students who:
- Want to work in non-profits, faith-based organizations, or community advocacy
- Are passionate about social justice, equity, and public service
- Seek to integrate spiritual values with practical leadership and care
Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy Certificate (MPS, SCP Cert.)
Students in the Spiritual Care stream of the MPS program may apply for the Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy Certificate (MPS, SCP Cert.) after completing five courses and being accepted into a practicum.
This certificate is a recognized education program by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). In Summer 2023, Knox College was reapproved by CRPO as a qualifying education provider for psychotherapy training.
Certificate Requirements
To fulfill the MPS program, SCP Certificate requirements, students must complete:
- 13 designated courses aligned with CRPO and CASC standards
- 9 specialized classroom courses, including:
- Human Growth and Spiritual Journey
- Capstone Integration Course
- 4 supervised experiential learning units (e.g., Clinical Psychospiritual Education or Supervised Psychospiritual Education)
- 9 specialized classroom courses, including:
The certificate allows for limited electives in specialized areas of study, but only one open elective is typically permitted to ensure compliance with CRPO and CASC course and hour requirements.
Admission Requirements
The following provides an overview of the admission requirements for the MPS 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
NOTE:
- Meeting the admission requirements for the Master of Psychospiritual Studies (MPS) does not automatically mean the admission requirements for the SCP Certificate are met
- Applicants without an undergraduate degree or demonstrated educational equivalent (reviewed and approved by TST’s Admissions and Procedure’s Committee) cannot be admitted to the SCP Certificate
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
To apply, interested candidates must:
- Review program timelines and deadlines carefully before submission
- Ensure all supporting documents meet the stated requirements
- 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.
5.3.1 Admission without baccalaureate
In an exceptional case, a college may admit to the MPS 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.
Ready to Apply?
Master of Psychospiritual Studies Program Learning Outcomes:
Students will demonstrate:
1. Demonstrates knowledge at a basic level in various theological disciplines, in the Reformed or another tradition. [* the student may come from another tradition]
2. Demonstrates an appropriate spiritual and professional identity formation in relation to specialized practice.
3. Demonstrates knowledge and skills in spiritual care and therapy, grounded in appropriate theories, for professional practice and leadership in community and institutional settings.
4. Writes and speaks in English sufficiently well to engage in professional practice.
Wondering how your academic journey might unfold?
Use our Course Planning Tool to explore how the MPS 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 MPS program are set by the University of Toronto each year and vary depending on full-time or part-time enrollment.
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.