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Christianity, Interfaith Dialogue and Community Engagement (BA)
As a student in this program, you will learn to think critically about your faith, the world, and your place within it. Throughout your studies, you will gain a greater sense of social responsibility and spiritual awareness, develop an appreciation for diversity, and accumulate experience in serving the community. Whether you’re working one-on-one with clients or building foundational relationships in communities in your future career, we’ll provide you with the necessary tools to prepare you for your exciting and impactful journey forward.
The BA in Christianity, Interfaith Dialogue, and Community Engagement program allows you to develop critical skills in self-reflection that are essential for personal and professional growth, while providing you with tangible skills for community leadership, listening, and authentic presence. Our classes specialize in areas like theology, care and counselling, intersectionality, eco-consciousness, expressive arts, and more. The program is designed to provide students with flexibility to shape their educational path to meet future career goals.
Degree Highlights
- Small class sizes with a discussion and assignment-based format; you will gain practical knowledge, rather than placing emphasis on memorization or tests
- Learn from community organizations and guest speakers
- Many of our classes incorporate placement opportunities for upper-year students for campus and community volunteer roles
- Complete your Senior Project and Integration Seminar (GC401) on a topic you care about, using the knowledge and skills you will gain throughout your degree
Skills You'll Learn
- Critical discussion techniques (thoughtful articulation, leadership, discussion facilitation techniques)
- Basics of care and counselling
- Ethical and practical knowledge for working with and engaging diverse communities
- An understanding of public ethics and civic engagement
- Knowledge of inter-religious contexts
- Compassion, open-mindedness and respect within human relationships
- Critical thinking and self-reflexivity
- Awareness of how your vocational goals align with ecological sustainability and social justice
Courses
Get a glimpse of what you will study throughout your degree. See what your first-year classes will look like through sample courses and start exploring what your upper academic years can offer.
- GC101 Christianity and Global Citizenship
- GC102 Loving God, Self, and the World
- GC201 Public Faith and Public Theology
- GC205 Why am I Here?
- GC234 Eco-consciousness and Spirituality
- GC236 Art as Therapy
- GC304 Faith and/in the Margins
Program Options
Specializations
There are two specializations available to Luther students:
Required (0.5 credit):
- GC230 Introduction to Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy
Three of the following (1.5 credits):
- GC231 Restorative Contemplative Arts
- GC232 Introduction to Couples and Families
- GC233 Identity Formation and the Family
- GC234 Eco-consciousness and Spirituality
- GC235 Questioning Ability
- GC330 Neuroscience, Social Relationships, and Spirituality
Required (0.5 credit):
- GC352 Inshallah: Worship and Global Song
Three of the following (1.5 credits):
- GC231 Restorative Contemplative Arts
- GC345 Faith and Fiction
- GC351 Lift Up Your Voice: Leading the People's Song in Worship
- GC353 Sing Fires of Justice: Music Towards the Common Good
- GC354 Sounds of the Sacred
Planning for Further Education
Students in this program, who meet qualifying requirements, have preferred acceptance when applying to Luther’s graduate level psychotherapy program.
Luther offers undergraduate counseling courses and a specialization to help prepare students for this program and a career in counselling.
Graduates of this field of study may be able to pursue further academic work or a career in community sectors influenced by theological, spiritual and religious visions.
"The professors were incredibly supportive and created space for honest connection, respectful dialogue, and compassionate discussions about meaning, culture, and care."
Brenda Linares, BA'23
Admissions
- Start: Fall (September)
- Format: Full-time (in-person)
- Duration: 4 years
How to Apply on OUAC
- UZ: Honours Arts
- UZA: Honours Arts and Co-op
- UAI: Honours Arts and Master of Business Administration
- UZB: Honours Arts and Master of Arts
- UZC: Honours Arts and Master's Degree (Cardiff University)
- Open the OUAC website and find "Wilfrid Laurier University."
- This program is offered on our Waterloo campus. Scroll to the program list titled "Laurier Waterloo."
- Select your program using the OUAC code from Laurier's program list.
- Select "Communication Studies" as your subject of major interest.
- Select your desired option from the available program enhancements.
- January 15, 2026: The application deadline for Ontario high school students.
- April 1, 2026: The application deadline for all other applicant types.
- April 25, 2026: Deadline to submit your Applicant Background Summary form.
- April 25, 2026: Deadline to submit your personal statement, if applicable, letting us know about your special case or extenuating circumstances.
- May 12, 2026: Deadline to submit your required documents electronically.
- June 1, 2026: Accept your offer of admission by June 1 at 11:59 p.m., unless a different date is noted on your official Offer of Admission letter.
- June 1, 2026: The last day to apply for residence is June 1, at 11:59 p.m.
- Mid-June 2026: Course registration opens for first-year students.
- July 15, 2026: Deadline to submit your final official documents.
- Late July 2026: Entrance scholarhsips are finalized.
- Minimum admission range of low 70s.
- Competitive admission range of low 80s.
- English at 60%.
Visit our admission requirements section to find specific requirements for other Canadian curriculums, international curriculums, transfer students and more.
Your Career Awaits
It's not only about the journey; it's about the destination. Let us help you get to where you're going. Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations.
Sample Career Options
Note: Additional training and education may be required.
- public health administrator
- psychotherapist
- community or volunteer coordinator
- government roles (policy development, law enforcement, etc.)
- chaplain
- clergy/pastor/minister
Sample Class Projects
GC380J Living Inter-faithfully
In this project, students hosted an Interfaith Friendship Iftar Dinner that involved collectively planning and executing all the moving parts of an event that invited guests from across Luther and Laurier’s campus, along with public figures from the Waterloo community. The event featured keynote speakers and student reflections on what the work of living inter-faithfully really means and how it’s achieved within diverse communities.
GC231 Restorative Contemplative Arts
Restorative Contemplative Arts combines the disciplines of contemplative arts, expressive arts, and restorative practices within a framework of self-compassion and communal restoration. Students engaged in a wide range of expressive mediums (music, art, poetry) and support mindfulness practices to develop compassion. This course focuses on restorative practices to strengthen relationships between individuals as well as social connections within communities.
Connect with the Program Coordinator
Connect with our undergraduate Program Coordinator, Hilla Lahtinen, to ask questions and learn more about how the program might be a good fit for you.
Tuition, Scholarships and Bursaries
Tuition and Fees
For information about tuition and fees, please see the Tuition Fees Breakdown.
Scholarhsips and Bursaries
Full-time students, in addition to being eligible for financial assistance from Laurier, may be eligible for the following bursaries from Luther.
For information about scholarships and bursaries, please see our Financial Resources.