Master of Arts (M.A.) in
Theology & Culture
EARN A MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THEOLOGY AND CULTURE THROUGH AN ANCIENT-FUTURE PARADIGM THAT ADDRESSES THE MOST RELEVANT CULTURAL ISSUES TODAY.
PROGRAMS / THEOLOGY & CULTURE
Meeting at the intersection of theology and culture.
At St. Stephen's University, we recognize the critical need for the intersection of theology and culture, where education becomes the meeting place of research and practice. In our small, interactive cohorts, students and professors engage in pressing questions and real-life issues in a caring way, inviting students to become the message they hope to convey.
We dip into many fountains, both ancient and contemporary, from Christianity and beyond, to prepare healthy and authentic leaders for the future. We have designed our M.A. in Theology & Culture to prepare for further study and professional development.
Semester and Course Sequencing
The successful completion of the M.A. in Theology & Culture requires a total of 45 credit hours. The default course sequencing and requirements of the program are provided below.
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Semesters are 11-credit hours and include courses in church history & theology, biblical studies, Christian counselling & spiritual formation, and philosophy & culture. The three semesters rotate between the fall and spring during the academic year. The fall and spring semesters are offered through a hybrid-distance delivery method, wherein courses run online throughout the semester (Sept. – Dec. & Jan. – Apr.), with a short 7-day in-person residency and retreat on-site at SSU to give students the opportunity for face-to-face interactions with their fellow students and professors. The study abroad trip takes place mostly in Northern Ireland and focuses on the intersection of public theology and peace and justice, including many of its attendant cultural questions and expressions. The Guided Thesis Research course and thesis write-up are completed by distance.
Students may start with any semester and may choose to complete the courses of each semester at a slower pace and in any order. Click on the tabs below to view all components of the program.
11 CREDIT HOURS
BIB 5120
CUL 5172
SF 5150
HIST 5141
CUL 5170
Advanced Hermeneutics (3 c/h)
DR. BRADLEY JERSAK
Justice for All: Race and Gender Issues Today (2 c/h)
DR. DAVID MOORE & DR. L.A. HENRY
Contemplative Spiritual Formation I (1 c/h)
RACHAEL BARHAM
Ancient Insights for Today I (4 c/h)
DR. PETER FITCH
Beyond Spectrum Ideology and the Culture Wars (1 c/h)
LAURENS VAN ESCH
THE MATC AT A GLANCE
DURATION — 2 YEARS (FULL TIME)
CREDIT HOURS — 45
DELIVERY MODE — ONLINE COURSES, SHORT 7-DAY RESIDENCY, 2-WEEK STUDY ABROAD TRIP, ONLINE RESEARCH METHODS COURSE, THESIS
EMPHASES — THEOLOGY & CULTURE, SPIRITUAL FORMATION, COUNSELLING, HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY, MINISTRY PREPARATION
While the tabs above show the default course sequencing and requirements of the program, students have the option of replacing one semester with any combination of directed studies, Open Table online courses, Abbotsford Cohort courses, or Jim Forest Institute online courses with the permission of the Director of the School of Theology & Culture, but these must total at least 11 c/h.
UPCOMING ROTATION OF SEMESTERS
FALL 2023
Semester 1
SPRING 2024
Semester 2
FALL 2024
Semester 3
SPRING 2025
Semester 1
FALL 2025
Semester 2
SPRING 2026
Semester 3
FALL 2026
Semester 1
SPRING 2027
Semester 2
FALL 2027
Semester 3
Peace Studies Track
M.A. in Theology & Culture students have the opportunity to complete a Peace Studies Track as part of their degree program by replacing one Theology & Culture semester with four of the online courses that form part of the Certificate in Religion, Peace and Justice. More info below.
How does it work?
If you are enrolled in the Master of Arts in Theology & Culture degree program at SSU, you may replace one Theology & Culture semester (11 credit hours) with four online courses from the Certificate in Religion, Peace & Justice (course code PJST) offered through SSU's Jim Forest Institute to receive the Peace Studies Track as part of your degree.
While replacing one Theology & Culture semester is the most straightforward way to complete the Peace Studies Track, we allow for flexibility so that students can replace single courses in different semesters as they progress through their program as long as these Theology & Culture courses add up to no more than 12 credit hours.
Students may also take fewer than four PJST courses as part of their M.A. in Theology & Culture if they wish, but once the number of these courses reaches four (12 credit hours), the student will automatically receive the Peace Studies Track.
Online Peace Studies Track Courses
To receive the Peace Studies Track, students can take any four of the online courses listed below and replace a maximum of 12 credit hours of the courses in the M.A. in Theology & Culture.
FALL SEMESTER (SEPT. – DEC.)
PJST/SF 5482: THE INNER TRANSFORMATION OF A PEACEMAKER
3 credit hours
Professor: Dr. Andrew Phillip Klager
PJST/THEO 5380: THEOLOGY OF PEACE & JUSTICE
3 credit hours
Professor: Dr. Andrew Phillip Klager
PJST/BIB 5180: PEACE & VIOLENCE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
3 credit hours
Professor: Dr. Bradley Jersak
SPRING SEMESTER (JAN. – APR.)
PJST 5583: PRACTICAL NONVIOLENCE AND PEACEBUILDING
3 credit hours
Professor: Dr. Andrew Phillip Klager
PJST 5584: FAITH-ROOTED COMMUNITY-BASED PEACEBUILDING
3 credit hours
Professor: Lisa Sharon Harper, PhD (ABD)
PJST/THEO 5882: RELIGION, PEACE AND CONFLICT
3 credit hours
Professor: Dr. Andrew Phillip Klager
PJST/BIB 5182: PEACE & VIOLENCE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
3 credit hours
Professor: Dr. Bradley Jersak
Reconciliation Studies Track
Receive a Reconciliation Studies Track as part of your M.A. in Theology & Culture with an emphasis on truth-telling and reconciling with Indigenous Peoples.
PROGRAMS / THEOLOGY & CULTURE / RECONCILIATION STUDIES
Truth-Telling and Reconciling with Indigenous Peoples
Students in the M.A. in Theology & Culture program have the opportunity to complete a Reconciliation Studies Track as part of your degree. SSU's Theology & Culture programs are designed to help students think theologically about cultural issues, challenges, and opportunities for the purpose of bridge-building across historic divides. The Reconciliation Studies Track equips students for this vocation by learning about the history, culture, and worldview of our Indigenous friends and neighbours; taking an honest look at how diverse peoples encountered each other on Turtle Island as Europeans began to land and settle here; becoming informed about the histories of treaties and our responsibilities; gaining an understanding of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its Calls to Action; and responding by investigating the possibilities and challenges of reconciliation as we head toward the future together.
How does it work?
If a student is enrolled in the Master of Arts in Theology & Culture program at SSU, you can receive the Reconciliation Studies Track as part of your degree if you replace 11 credit hours of regular Theology & Culture courses (or one full semester) with two out of the three fall semester Reconciliation Studies courses and the spring Reconciliation Studies Learning Tour, for a total of 12 credit hours.
Students must also complete a thesis with a Reconciliation Studies focus.
Students may also take fewer than 12 credit hours of Reconciliation Studies courses as part of their M.A. in Theology & Culture if they wish, but once the number of these credit hours reaches 12 and the additional requirements of this Track have been met, the student will automatically receive the Reconciliation Studies Track.
At a glance.
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COMPLETE TWO OF THE FOLLOWING THREE FALL COURSES:
RST 5445: INDIGENOUS SOVEREIGNTY & THE COLONIAL LEGACY
3 credit hours
Professor: Dr. Laurens van Esch
RST 5145: WABANAKI NATIONS, DECOLONIZATION, RECONCILIATION
3 credit hours
Professor: Dr. Imelda Perley & Dr. David Perley
RST 5645: CULTURALLY SAFE & TRAUMA-INFORMED RELATIONSHIP
3 credit hours
Professor: Dr. Walter Thiessen
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PARTICIPATE IN THE SPRING RECONCILIATION STUDIES LEARNING TOUR
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COMPLETE A THESIS WITH A RECONCILIATION STUDIES FOCUS
Classical Studies Track
Receive a Classical Studies Track as part of your M.A. in Theology & Culture by drilling down deeper into the ancient half of our ancient-future paradigm.
PROGRAMS / THEOLOGY & CULTURE / CLASSICAL STUDIES
Standing on the shoulders of giants.
Students in the M.A. in Theology & Culture program have the opportunity to complete a Classical Studies Track as part of your degree. SSU's Theology & Culture programs have an 'ancient-future' focus that is deeply rooted in historic Christian theology as well as creative and contemporary voices that help us navigate a life-giving engagement with today's diverse cultures. The Classical Studies Track exposes students to more of the ancient anchors of the Christian faith to provide a robust foundation on which to stand when navigating today's cultural issues and challenges.
How does it work?
If a student is enrolled in the Master of Arts in Theology & Culture program at SSU, you can receive the Classical Studies Track as part of your degree if you replace 9 credit hours of regular Theology & Culture courses (except for 'Ancient Insights for Today I, II, or III') with 'Faith Classics for the Post-Modern Soul I, II, and III' as taught by Dr. Ron Dart.
Further, students must complete a thesis with a Classical Studies focus.
Students may also take fewer than the three Faith Classics for the Post-Modern Soul courses as part of their M.A. in Theology & Culture if they wish, but once the number of these courses reaches three (9 credit hours) and the additional requirements of this Track have been met, the student will automatically receive the Classical Studies Track.
At a glance.
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COMPLETE 'FAITH CLASSICS FOR THE POST-MODERN SOUL I, II, & III'
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COMPLETE 'ANCIENT INSIGHTS FOR TODAY I, II, & III'
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COMPLETE A THESIS WITH A CLASSICAL STUDIES FOCUS
LIT/SF 5153, 5253, 5353
FAITH CLASSICS FOR THE POST-MODERN SOUL I, II, & III
DR. RON DART
3 c/h ea. — BC COHORT
In 'Faith Classics for the Post-Modern Soul', Ron S. Dart guides students through a close reading of classical writings by history's literary and spiritual giants. The course seeks to engage these works at their deepest level (myth and meaning, contemplation and action) and facilitate discussion around their potential impact for hungry souls in the post-modern world.
Subjects for this course have included 'Dante, T.S. Eliot, and Soul Formation,' 'Thomas Merton: Contemplative Prophet,' and 'Lilith Reclaimed: George MacDonald and Dante.'
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.
