Knox College, Canada

The Master of Divinity prepares students for ordained ministry and for the responsibilities of general pastoral and religious leadership in congregations and other settings. Students of any denomination are welcome to study in the MDiv program at Knox College.

Knox College believes strongly in the importance of relevant and contemporary theological curriculum that will meet the dynamic and complex needs of the multicultural and inter-generational congregations that comprise the Church and in the future. The MDiv program was fully revised in 2024 to incorporate the following themes across the curriculum:

• Ministry in the post-Christendom context
• Ecumenism
• Ecology and theology
• Reconciliation and Indigenous-settler relations
• Gender and sexuality

As well as enhancing traditional expectations concerning biblical and theological knowledge, our outcomes-based education measures competencies in: Christian living; cultural and theological understanding; professional knowledge relating to problem solving and conflict resolution; and moral and spiritual growth.

Students must meet all outcomes to graduate. Consultation with faculty advisors is required so that students take the correct prerequisites and courses. The Master of Divinity degree does not include a biblical language, although there are electives which allow students to take a biblical language.

• An undergraduate degree (some exceptions apply) or equivalent degree from a university, college, or Indigenous Institute recognized by the University of Toronto
• CGPA 2.7/4.0 or greater (70%; B-) for the entire degree
• English-Language Proficiency
• Academic or employer reference and pastoral reference
• Education and Reception Letter (if applicable)
• Notice of Certification by the Presbytery Letter (if applicable)

NOTE: If your undergraduate degree was conferred by a post-secondary institution that uses a grading scale other than the 4.0 GPA scale, please review your transcripts to confirm CGPA equivalency before applying to Knox College.

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 recognised 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, 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 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 Admissions and Procedures Committee, TST colleges may admit graduates from such institutions without submitting a request for consideration. A college may appeal the decision of the Admissions and Procedures Committee in respect of equivalent credentials to the Basic Degree Council.

The Master of Divinity requires the successful completion of thirty courses, which can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis.

This program can be completed through a hybrid pathway that combines required online courses with required in-person courses:

• full-time in three academic years
• part-time in up to eight years

Approximately half of the program will be taken online and half in-person, with the in-person courses clustered towards the end of the program.

Courses are divided into Introductory and Advanced courses. Introductory courses are offered online, and most are shared with students in the MPS and MTS programs. Courses that are specific to the MDiv program are usually offered only every second year, so students must plan their programs carefully.

The individual courses are outlined in the MDiv Program Tracker.

Master of Divinity program learning outcomes:

1. Demonstrate skills in creative, faith-centred, adaptive, and innovative leadership for current and emerging communities of faith.
2. Interpret Scripture and Christian tradition (Reformed), using a variety of methods, sources, and norms, to preach, teach, write, and to provide care and witness.
3. Analyze and evaluate social, cultural, and community contexts to enable communities of faith to participate in God’s work and justice in a diverse and changing world.
4. Enhance the vocational and spiritual development, practices, and well-being of self and others.

Master of Divinity program professional and critical competencies:

To progress through the program and be granted the degree Master of Divinity, a student shall demonstrate the following Professional and Critical Competencies. Students are assessed in their courses and in Theological Field Education in how they demonstrate the competencies.

Christian Living

• The ability and willingness to conduct one’s life in community out of confessed Christian faith.
• The ability and willingness to take personal responsibility for actions and learning, conscientiousness, dependability, honesty, and personal integrity.
• The ability and willingness to act in the best interest of others, and in a principled, ethical fashion.

Attitudes

• The ability and willingness to learn and understand one’s culture, and the cultures and religions of peoples different from oneself.
• The ability and willingness to demonstrate interpersonal and team skills sufficient to take on a variety of roles (including leadership) in a ministerial context.
• The ability and willingness to guide others of diverse backgrounds in various ministry situations.

Critical Knowledge (Use of Knowledge)

• The ability and willingness to think, problem solve and make decisions at a critical level of operation.
• The ability and willingness to use knowledge sufficient for professional levels of interaction.
• The ability and willingness to use thinking, problem solving and decision making to achieve personal, ecclesial, and societal goals.
• The ability and willingness to adapt to change and manage conflict arising from change in socially constructive and professional ways.
• The ability and willingness to identify pastoral boundaries that raise ethical and pastoral questions and to formulate appropriate responses to such boundary issues.

Self-Growth

• The ability and willingness to self-assess and act to improve.
• The ability and willingness to give and take constructive criticism and, if necessary, act on that criticism.
• The ability and commitment for life-long learning.

Knox College is pleased to offer the Master of Divinity Fellowship each year for up to two entering MDiv students who are certified PCC candidates for ministry. Each fellowship recipient receives $27,000 per annum for six semesters over three years to allow full attention to studies.

Stipend Structure:

* This total is subject to the recipient meeting the terms and conditions

Eligibility Requirements:

• Students must be certified PCC candidates for ministry
• The funding requires students to register full-time in fall and winter term (6 semesters)
• Recipients must devote full attention to studies
• Students are required to agree to work for 10 hours or less per week during the fall and winter terms
• Fellowship recipients may find full-time summer employment and do not have to enrol in the summer term. Students are not required to take courses during the summer term. Therefore, any courses taken in summer term are not eligible for tuition remission.
• Through Year 1 and Year 2 students must achieve academic progress with the successful completion of ten courses in each year and be on track for timely degree completion in three academic years

Should a fellowship recipient not meet academic success and progress through the MDiv program as outlined, the fellowship will not be renewed for the subsequent academic year(s). A student may petition for an exception if there is compelling extenuating circumstances to the Academic Dean.

If a recipient is granted a Leave of Absence, the fellowship funds will not be disbursed for the duration of the leave. The funding period will be extended by the length of the leave, the student is eligible for six semesters of fellowship funding during their degree provided the conditions are met.

All applicants to the MDiv program at Knox College who are certified candidates for ministry with the PCC will be considered. Application to the MDiv program must be made to Knox College’s Basic Degree Program Application. Only complete applications will be considered for eligibility at the time of admission. Fellowship recipients will be notified by Knox College directly following an Offer of Admission.

See Tuition/Financial Aid for helpful information on tuition estimates, bursaries, and scholarships.