Theology (MA) and Divinity (MDiv): Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy

Within your first term, you can choose between the contextual and coursework options, and between two specific fields of study: Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy or Public Faith and Spirituality.

The Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy field of study allows you to undertake advanced studies in spiritual care. This field is particularly suited to those considering careers in chaplaincy or counselling, or seeking accreditation with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).

Contextual Option

The contextual option is for those preparing for congregational ministry. This option includes congregational placements, community placements and a full-year internship.

Coursework Option

The coursework option is for those who are either already working in a ministerial setting or are preparing for non-congregational ministry. This choice allows students to take additional electives – in place of the internship and seminars being taken by those in the contextual option – and focus on coursework in areas of particular interest.

The MA/MDiv double-degree program normally involves three years of full-time studies, or the equivalent in part-time studies. Each student is required to complete a minimum of 31 half-credit courses or their equivalent.

If you are a graduate student taking a full-time course load, you will automatically receive a bursary of about $600 per term (or $150 per term for students receiving the senior’s tuition rate). The exact amount varies slightly from year to year. There’s no need to apply for this bursary. We award it based on your registration after the last day to add courses for the term. It may take several weeks to appear on your student account, so don’t worry if you don’t see it right away.

In addition to the full-time bursary, annual bursaries to a maximum of $1,500 are available based on financial need (typically applied to accounts in the fall term).

• A bachelor's degree (normally with a minimum grade point average of B) from a recognized accredited university or university college.

Test dates available:

• January 26, 2023 (Thursday), 5:00 PM EST
• February 21, 2023 (Tuesday), 8:00 PM EST

Please choose one of the above dates even though the second date is after the application deadline.

Application Deadline

Feb. 15 for a fall term start (full-time or part-time studies).

Visit our Graduate Admissions Toolkit for more information about applying.

Application Checklist

After you have submitted your OUAC application, paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from gradadmissions@wlu.ca advising you to upload the additional required documentation to Laurier’s Online Registration & Information System (LORIS).

An application for admission to our Master of Arts in Theology and Master of Divinity program must include:

• The Application Summary, which is generated after you complete your OUAC application (log back in to OUAC to retrieve it).
• Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Applicants must upload a digital unofficial copy of each transcript (including graduation certificates where applicable) for every postsecondary educational institution (college or university) they have attended, including those at which a degree or diploma was not completed.
• A completed statement of intent.
• A resume of your academic and work experience. Include a history of your publication and scholarly paper activity and any other information you feel will interest the admissions committee.
• A sample of your scholarly writing (10-20 pages in length). This may be a chapter of your thesis or a paper written as an assignment at undergraduate level.
• Completed two reference forms. Two academic reference letters are required. If you are no longer a student or have been out of school for a few years, one of the reference letters or both of them could be professional reference letters instead. Please note that the academic referee must be your instructor or supervisor at university and the professional referee must be someone who has supervised you at work or a volunteer position. It cannot be a friend or a relative. Note: Reference forms are electronically submitted to Laurier by the referee and do not need to be uploaded.
• Completion of the CASPer Test. Note: You must take the CASPer Test on a date available to Wilfrid Laurier University applicants.

Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. If applicable, results from accepted testing services must be uploaded to LORIS.

• ordained minister/pastor
• chaplain
• registered psychotherapist
• religious educator
• teacher of theology
• Christian writer/journalist
• community developer
• international voluntary organization member
• addictions counsellor
• mental health worker