Equipping Interreligious Spiritual Leaders
Starting Sept. 2024, the Master of Pastoral Studies will be called the Master of Psychospiritual Studies.
The MPS program equips individuals with the skills to make a difference in their community, developing knowledge in the areas of ethics, spirituality, faith and inter-religious dialogue. It prepares individuals for competent leadership in their chosen area of specialization.
An MPS degree from Emmanuel College provides the theological and spiritual grounding necessary to become wiser and more effective spiritual leaders.
The Master of Psychospiritual Studies (MPS) is a professional and terminal degree, which means it does not directly lead toward doctoral studies.
Program summary
The Master of Psychospiritual Studies (MPS) program consists of 20 courses across Levels 1 and 2, featuring:
- Emmanuel College core courses
- Designated electives
- Open electives
Flexible completion options:
- Full-time: complete the program in as little as 2 years.
- Part-time: take up to 8 years to finish, allowing for a balance between studies and other commitments.
This is primarily an in-person program, with up to 6 of the 20 credits eligible for online completion. Experience the depth and connection of face-to-face learning while benefiting from limited online flexibility.
Program Streams
Spiritual Care Stream
This stream prepares students who wish to provide spiritual care and counselling in religious communities or public institutions. Graduates of the MPS who complete basic units in Supervised Psychospiritual Education (SPE) are in compliance with the criteria for associate membership with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC). Those with advanced SPE units may also meet Certified Spiritual Care Practitioners and Certified Psycho-Spiritual Therapist certification requirements with CASC.
Spiritual Care Stream: MPS, Certificate in Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy (SCP)
Students admitted to the MPS: Spiritual Care stream may choose to apply for the Certificate in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy (SCP). This certificate provides specialized training for careers in spiritual care and psychotherapy, such as serving as a spiritual care practitioner (chaplain) in public institutions like hospitals and prisons, or as a psycho-spiritual therapist (pastoral counselor) in counseling centers and similar contexts.
This program equips students for advanced training toward Specialist certification with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) and is recognized as an educational training pathway for qualifying membership with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Students are strongly encouraged to review the regulations in the province where they intend to practice psychotherapy and spiritual care.
Admission and Registration Requirements
- Pre-requisites: Students in the MPS: Spiritual Care Stream must first complete five courses and secure their Supervised Psychospiritual Education (SPE) Placement before applying to add the Certificate in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy.
- Admission to the Certificate stream is competitive, with limited spaces available. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.
- Students not enrolled in the Certificate stream may still independently apply for registration with the CRPO.
About the Certificate
The Certificate is integrated within the MPS: Spiritual Care stream and is not a standalone program. It is not issued as a physical document but appears as a notation on the student's academic transcript. This notation verifies to the CRPO that the educational requirements for psychotherapist registration have been met.
Social Service Stream
This stream equips students with comprehensive leadership training tailored for roles in religious organizations, faith-based initiatives, and secular social service agencies. It prepares graduates to lead effectively in diverse settings, including community outreach programs, non-profit organizations, and public institutions, fostering meaningful contributions to society through compassionate and informed leadership.
Faith Focus
Christian
The Christian Focus is available in these streams: Spiritual Care, Social Service
Foundational Faith Courses Include:
Old Testament I
New Testament I
History of Christianity I
Theology I
Christian Ethics in Context
Muslim
The Muslim Focus is available in the Spiritual Care stream and the Social Service Stream.
Foundational Faith Courses Include:
Surat al-Baqara (Qur’an I)
Biography and Thought: Study of the Life of Muhammad
Islamic Thought: Classical Age or Modern Age
Religious Thought and Spirituality in Islam
Law, Ethics, and Society
Buddhist
The Buddhist focus is offered in the Spiritual Care stream.
Foundational Faith Courses Include:
History of Buddhist Traditions
Foundational Tenets and Practices of Buddhism
Buddhist Meditative Traditions
Classic Buddhist Texts
Buddhist Ethics
Buddhist Contemplative Care
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master of Psychospiritual Studies program one will be able to demonstrate:
- Knowledge of sacred texts, religious history, religious-based ethics, tenets, and thought of one or more religious tradition(s) in correlation with theories of social sciences that are relevant to professional practice.
- Evidence of sustained reflection on spiritual and professional identity formation in intercultural and interfaith contexts, in relation to specialized practice.
- Development of skills, gifts, and arts of professional practice, grounded in appropriate theories, for leadership in institutional, community and other settings.