Program Overview
The Master of Pastoral Studies program equips persons for leadership in helping professions. At Knox College, MPS students choose one of two foci:
- Spiritual Care – Provide spiritual care and therapy in faith communities, private practice offices, social service agencies, or public institutions such as healthcare institutions, long-term care facilities, hospices, prisons, and educational institutions.
- Social Services – Provide leadership in faith-based organizations, non-profits, or secular social agencies.
All MPS students are required to do core courses in Old Testament, New Testament, Theology, Ethics, Theology of Religions/Interfaith Leadership, and the History of Christianity. Each of the two foci then focus in a particular aspect of pastoral care. Students need to work with their faculty advisor to ensure they move efficiently through the program.
Students within the Spiritual Care stream may apply for the MPS, Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy Certificate (MPS, SCP Cert.) after completing five courses and being accepted into a practicum.
This is a recognized education program for the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). In Summer 2023 we were reapproved by CRPO as an education program training in psychotherapy. Graduates with the Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy certificate are eligible to move toward registration in the College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario. With two additional CPE units (Advanced), graduates may move towards certification with the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care (CASC) as psycho-spiritual therapists or spiritual care practitioners with focus in healthcare, prison, or community-based chaplaincy.
SCP Cert. Requirements:
Students who wish to fulfill requirements for the Certificate in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy as part of the MPS degree program are required to complete the 13 courses in designated areas as prescribed by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care (CASC). In these courses students go into greater depth with specialized objectives.
Within the 13 courses, students are normally required to complete nine specialized classroom courses (including Human Growth and Spiritual Journey and the Capstone Course) and four supervised experiential learning (CPS/SPE). The Certificate in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy permits designated electives within specialized areas of study but few open electives (normally only one course) in order to meet the courses and hours required by CRPO and CASC. The SCP Certificate has been approved as a recognized education program by the CRPO.
Admission Requirements
- An undergraduate degree 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
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.
- English-Language Proficiency
- Academic or professional reference and pastoral reference
Program Structure
The MPS program requires 20 semester-long courses. It is 2 academic years of full-time study.
Learning Outcomes
Master of Pastoral Studies program learning outcomes:
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.
Tuition Basics
See Tuition/Financial Aid for helpful information on tuition estimates, bursaries, and scholarships.