Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) in
Peace & Justice
PROGRAMS / PEACE & JUSTICE
Peacebuilding through the lens of theology & culture
St. Stephen's University offers a unique and thoroughly enriching Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) in Peace and Justice that includes accommodating online and short intensive in-person and study aboard course delivery methods to allow students to complete their program without the need to uproot their lives.
This program equips students to engage the hostile, divided, unjust, oppressive, and violent corners of our world using practical grassroots and community-based peacebuilding skills and training with a theological foundation in peace and justice and through a transfigured interior life, prophetic imagination, and contemplative basis from which to participate in God's unfolding subversive and upside-down kingdom.
The curriculum of the M.T.S. is similar to that of the M.A. in Peace & Justice, except that students complete an additional Theology & Culture short intensive in-person module, and the thesis is replaced with a summative project.
Program Description
PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND INNER TRANSFORMATION
This program is for students who want a general background in peace and justice studies, including theory and praxis, as informed by a robust background in theology and culture and rooted in the most pressing and pertinent theological considerations as they relate to peacebuilding and conflict transformation.
The curriculum of this program combines a focus on theology and culture with grassroots peacebuilding skills and training from the ground up, conflict analysis, public theology with a focus on peace and justice, trauma-healing and reconciliation, and the inner transformation of a peacemaker that engages contemplative and ascetic practices for encouraging the resilience, healing, and authenticity of a peacemaker that is then transmitted to a suffering, divided, and hostile world.
AT A GLANCE:
DURATION — 2 or 3 YEARS (FULL TIME)
CREDIT HOURS — 46
DELIVERY MODE — ONLINE COURSES, 9-DAY RESIDENCY, 7-DAY RESIDENCY, 10-DAY STUDY ABROAD TRIP, SUMMATIVE PROJECT
EMPHASES — THEOLOGY OF PEACE & JUSTICE, CONTEMPLATIVE STUDIES, RELIGIOUS PEACEBUILDING, GRASSROOTS CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION, THEOLOGY & CULTURE
Course Sequencing
PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND INNER TRANSFORMATION
In the first year of study, students complete six online courses (18 c/h total), and in the second / third years of study students travel on a study abroad trip to the island of Ireland (10 days), complete one Theology & Culture semester including a 7-day residency at St. Stephen's University, participate in a short Peace & Justice 9-day residency also at St. Stephen's University, and complete a summative project (28 c/h total).
YEAR ONE
FALL SEMESTER
RS 5481 — The Inner Transformation of a Peacemaker
RS 5380 — Theology of Peace and Justice
RS 5180 — Peace and Violence in the New Testament
9 CREDIT HOURS
YEAR ONE
SPRING SEMESTER
IS 5583 — Practical Nonviolence and Peacebuilding
IS/RS 5882 — Religion, Peace and Conflict
RS 5182 — Peace and Violence in the Old Testament
9 CREDIT HOURS
YEAR TWO
FALL SEMESTER
Study Abroad Trip to Ireland (August – 2 weeks)
Theology & Culture semester and 7-Day Residency (October)
17 CREDIT HOURS
YEAR TWO
SPRING SEMESTER
SSU Peace and Justice 9-Day Residency (April)
Summative Project*
11 CREDIT HOURS
* At SSU, a summative project can include any one of the following options: (1.) integration paper of approx. 25 pages; (2.) survey of literature of approx. 25 pages; (3.) extended research paper of approx. 25 pages; (4.) field-based project.
Tracks of the M.T.S. in Peace & Justice
Much like in the M.A. in Peace & Justice, it is possible for students to complete an M.T.S. in Peace & Justice with a concentration in Reconciling with Indigenous Peoples or Nonviolent Peacebuilding in the Palestinian Context. The adjustments to the default M.T.S. for each of these additional tracks are as follows:
PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND RECONCILING WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
To complete this track, students will replace the guided thesis research course and thesis of the M.A. in Peace & Justice with one Theology & Culture semester and a summative project.
This track is different than the default program outlined above in that students will complete three hybrid courses with a 10-day residency at SSU and the Peskotomuhkati Nation’s Camp Chiputneticook instead of travelling on the Study Abroad Trip to Ireland, and replace half of the Peace & Justice intensive residency with a learning tour.
Rather than the 46 total credit hours of the default program, this track is 51 total credit hours.
PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND THE PALESTINIAN CONTEXT
To complete this track, students will replace the guided thesis research course and thesis of the M.A. in Peace & Justice with one Theology & Culture semester and a summative project.
This track is different than the default program in that students will participate in two additional online courses on peacebuilding the Palestinian context and attend a two-week residency in Bethlehem through Bethlehem Bible College instead of travelling on the Study Abroad Trip to Scotland and N.Ireland.
Rather than the 46 total credit hours of the default program, this track is 43 total credit hours.
Delivery Methods
PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND INNER TRANSFORMATION
ONLINE COURSES
Students will complete six online courses in their first year of study. These courses explore topics related to the inner transformation of a peacemaker, theology of peace and justice, the factor of religion and peace and violence, and practical nonviolence and peacebuilding. For more on these six courses, VISIT HERE.
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IN-PERSON PEACE & JUSTICE 9-DAY RESIDENCY @ ST. STEPHEN'S UNIVERSITY (ABBOTSFORD, BC EXTENSION CAMPUS)
This short 9-day intensive residency takes place on-site at St. Stephen's University. It includes seminars, symposiums, and workshops that are led by a team of top scholars and practitioners covering such subjects as trauma healing and the inner transformation of a peacemaker; story and memory for peace & justice; multifaith hospitality through shared spiritual practices; and practical skills workshops on peacebuilding program planning.
STUDY ABROAD TRIP TO THE ISLAND OF IRELAND
This 10-day intensive study abroad trip includes academic sessions at the Trinity College Dublin, Queen's University Belfast, and Corrymeela in Ballycastle, as taught by experts and practitioners in grassroots peacebuilding and theology. This learn-study opportunity also includes a 2-day pilgrimage to Armagh along the border between N.Ireland and the Republic, a documentary screening with panelists from the film, folk show w/Tommy Sands, and learning tours in Belfast & Derry.
CLICK HERE for more info.
PEACE & JUSTICE SUMMATIVE PROJECT
Instead of a guided thesis research course and thesis, M.T.S. students must choose one of four available summative projects to complete. These options include (1.) an integration paper of approx. 25 pages; (2.) a survey of literature of approx. 25 pages; (3.) an extended research paper of approx. 25 pages; or (4.) a field-based project.
Multifaith Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care
St. Stephen's University offers a course that prepares students for multi-faith pastoral and spiritual care in a variety of chaplaincy settings. This course can be completed as an add-on to a master's degree at SSU (i.e., not included in the total credit hours of a student's degree program) or as a stand-alone credential without a program. We offer a certificate of completion for the course that can be applied to a student's resume as an academic credential for ministry rather than a CPE/CPU clinical credential.
