Our Master of Divinity program shapes leaders who are equipped to minister with creativity, deep knowledge, compassion, and prayerfulness.
- Creativity: Gain the tools you need to create innovative ministries for the ever-changing future church.
- Deep knowledge: Deepen your knowledge of scripture and the Christian tradition through courses at one of Canada’s leading universities.
- Compassion: Hone your skills for pastoral ministry through hands-on experience in ministry settings and courses on spiritual care.
- Prayerfulness: Develop a disciplined prayer practice through regular worship services and become spiritually enriched through dialogue and reflection with fellow-students.
More Information About the Master of Divinity
At Montreal Dio, our M.Div. students are co-enrolled in McGill University where they learn the foundations of the Christian tradition at one of Canada’s leading universities. In the final year of the program–the In Ministry Year–students continue to learn about ministry while putting it all into practice in a full-year church placement. Students leave prepared for faithful and creative leadership in churches, charting their way to a new future. The M.Div. is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and is widely accepted as preparation for ordination in the Anglican Church of Canada, the United Church of Canada, and many other churches.
Structure and Courses
At Montreal Dio, we offer three pathways toward completing the Master of Divinity to respond to the differing educational backgrounds of our students: the Master of Divinity, the Master of Divinity as a First Degree, and the Accelerated Master of Divinity.
Master of Divinity
Students enrolled full-time in the regular Master of Divinity program take 60 course credits from McGill’s Bachelor of Theology program over the course two years. The third and final year of the M. Div. is known as the In Ministry Year and involves a ministry field placement and courses at the college on subjects such as preaching and pastoral care.
The majority of the courses in the M. Div. years I and II consist of courses taken in McGill University’s 60-credit B.Th. program (courses in B.Th. years I and III). The following is a summary of the courses in the program. For more details about any of the courses listed, consult the School of Religious Studies website.
Biblical Studies
Literature of Ancient Israel 1
RELG 302
Literature of Ancient Israel 2
RELG 303
New Testament 1 (Formation of the New Testament)
RELG 311
New Testament 2 (Gospels)
RELG 312
Culture and History
Church in History 1
RELG 322
Church in History 2
RELG 323
World Religions and the Cultures they Create
RELG 309
Theology and Ethics
Principles of Theology
RELG 333
Advanced Theology
RELG 434
Theological Ethics
RELG 430
Philosophy of Religion
RELG 341
Complementary Courses
Courses offered by the McGill Faculty of Arts.
Additional Coursework and Requirements
- Ministry Seminar
- Integrative Paper I and II
- Montreal Dio’s annual College Retreat
- Participation in worship and community life
Intensive ministry formation based on an action-reflection learning model, course work, small groups, and a supervised ministry experience. All these courses (except denomination-specific courses) are taught ecumenically by faculty of the Montreal School of Theology and all courses are offered in a hybrid-online format meaning that the In Ministry Year can be completed in a low-residency format.
Courses in Practice of Ministry
Christian Mission (MST 561; 3 credits): Explores various theologies and practices of mission, and the specific cultural challenges of evangelization in our North American context.
Principles of Preaching (MST 531; 3 credits): This courses focuses on the fundamentals of sermon preparation, exegesis for preaching, developing a message, and sermon structure. This course also includes a preaching tutorial where students present sermons for feedback and reflection.
Pastoral Care (MST 511; 1.5 credits): Introduction to the basic skills of pastoral care, and exploration of the particular gifts and challenges the student brings to this ministry.
Education and Formation (MST 541; 3 credits): Examines educational theory, theology and practice, and develops skills and knowledge for ministerial leadership in faith formation and education.
Congregational Leadership (MST 562; 1.5 credits): Provides students with lenses to study the congregation, and explores the various dynamics of leadership, particularly in the context of ordained ministry.
Denominational Courses
Students preparing for ministry in a denomination other than the Anglican or United Church may meet the denominational studies requirement in a fashion other than the courses listed below.
Anglican History and Theology: An overview of the Anglican tradition, with a particular focus on contemporary expressions of Anglicanism around the world.
Anglican Liturgy and Worship: The theology and development of Anglican liturgy.
OR
United Church History and Theology
A survey of the rich history of the United Church of Canada and of the various kinds of theologies generated throughout that history and within the United Church today.
United Church Polity
Using a case-study approach, discover how the United Church makes its decisions. Explore the caring and practical dimensions of making decisions and working within church structures. Learn the information that church leaders need to be effective in their role in the church.
United Church Worship
Explore the unique character, history, and ethos of liturgical expression in the United Church of Canada. Integrate theory and theology and develop skills for worship leadership in congregational and pastoral settings.
Field Placement
Supervised Field Placement (MST 500; equivalent to 12 credits): The third year of the M.Div. has a strong component of learning through practical experience. This theological field education framework employs disciplined theological reflection in various contexts to develop skills and capacities for ministry.
Intercultural Learning Experience
The In-Ministry Year includes an intensive intercultural encounter. The encounter provides an opportunity to connect with Christians in other cultures and to be exposed to cultural, economic, socio-political, and environmental issues faced by the church in a different context. Past encounters have included trips to Cuba, Mexico, and Indigenous communities in Canada such as Waswanapi in Northern Quebec.
Additional Coursework and Requirements
- Integrative Paper III
- Non-credit Liturgical Celebration Seminar (Anglican students only)
Master of Divinity as a First Degree
This program is for mature students without a previous undergraduate degree. Typically, the Master of Divinity degree requires a previous undergraduate degree for admission, but many people who are called to ordained leadership in the church later in life never completed an undergraduate degree. At Dio, we believe these students can still engage in the kind of academic program in an ecumenical setting that is the hallmark of our work.
Students enrolled full-time in the Master of Divinity as a First Degree program take 60 course credits from McGill’s Bachelor of Theology program over the course two years. The majority of the courses in the M. Div. years I and II consist of courses taken in the 60-credit B.Th. program (courses in B.Th. years I and III). The following is a summary of the courses in the program. For more details about any of the courses listed, consult the School of Religious Studies website.
Biblical Studies
Literature of Ancient Israel 1
RELG 302
Literature of Ancient Israel 2
RELG 303
New Testament 1 (Formation of the New Testament)
RELG 311
New Testament 2 (Gospels)
RELG 312
Culture and History
Church in History 1
RELG 322
Church in History 2
RELG 323
World Religions and the Cultures they Create
RELG 309
Theology and Ethics
Principles of Theology
RELG 333
Advanced Theology
RELG 434
Theological Ethics
RELG 430
Philosophy of Religion
RELG 341
Complementary Courses
Courses offered by the McGill Faculty of Arts.
Additional Coursework and Requirements
- Ministry Seminar
- Integrative Paper I and II
- Montreal Dio’s annual College Retreat
- Participation in worship and community life
Intensive ministry formation based on an action-reflection learning model, course work, small groups, and a supervised ministry experience. All these courses (except denomination-specific courses) are taught ecumenically by faculty of the Montreal School of Theology and all courses are offered in a hybrid-online format meaning that the In Ministry Year can be completed in a low-residency format.
Courses in Practice of Ministry
Christian Mission (MST 561; 3 credits): Explores various theologies and practices of mission, and the specific cultural challenges of evangelization in our North American context.
Principles of Preaching (MST 531; 3 credits): This courses focuses on the fundamentals of sermon preparation, exegesis for preaching, developing a message, and sermon structure. This course also includes a preaching tutorial where students present sermons for feedback and reflection.
Pastoral Care (MST 511; 1.5 credits): Introduction to the basic skills of pastoral care, and exploration of the particular gifts and challenges the student brings to this ministry.
Education and Formation (MST 541; 3 credits): Examines educational theory, theology and practice, and develops skills and knowledge for ministerial leadership in faith formation and education.
Congregational Leadership (MST 562; 1.5 credits): Provides students with lenses to study the congregation, and explores the various dynamics of leadership, particularly in the context of ordained ministry.
Denominational Courses
Students preparing for ministry in a denomination other than the Anglican or United Church may meet the denominational studies requirement in a fashion other than the courses listed below.
Anglican History and Theology: An overview of the Anglican tradition, with a particular focus on contemporary expressions of Anglicanism around the world.
Anglican Liturgy and Worship: The theology and development of Anglican liturgy.
OR
United Church History and Theology
A survey of the rich history of the United Church of Canada and of the various kinds of theologies generated throughout that history and within the United Church today.
United Church Polity
Using a case-study approach, discover how the United Church makes its decisions. Explore the caring and practical dimensions of making decisions and working within church structures. Learn the information that church leaders need to be effective in their role in the church.
United Church Worship
Explore the unique character, history, and ethos of liturgical expression in the United Church of Canada. Integrate theory and theology and develop skills for worship leadership in congregational and pastoral settings.
Field Placement
Supervised Field Placement (MST 500; equivalent to 12 credits): The third year of the M.Div. has a strong component of learning through practical experience. This theological field education framework employs disciplined theological reflection in various contexts to develop skills and capacities for ministry.
Intercultural Learning Experience
The In-Ministry Year includes an intensive intercultural encounter. The encounter provides an opportunity to connect with Christians in other cultures and to be exposed to cultural, economic, socio-political, and environmental issues faced by the church in a different context. Past encounters have included trips to Cuba, Mexico, and Indigenous communities in Canada such as Waswanapi in Northern Quebec.
Additional Coursework and Requirements
- Integrative Paper III
- Non-credit Liturgical Celebration Seminar (Anglican students only)
Accelerated Master of Divinity
The majority of the courses in the first three or four years of the Accelerated M. Div. consist of courses taken in McGill University’s 120-credit B.Th. program. Students without a DEC will take 120 course credits over four years. Students with a DEC will take 90 course credits over three years. The following is a summary of the courses in the program. For more details about any of the courses listed, consult the School of Religious Studies website.
Biblical Studies
Bible and Western Culture
RELG 203
Jesus of Nazareth
RELG 210
Literature of Ancient Israel 1
RELG 302
Literature of Ancient Israel 2
RELG 303
New Testament 1 (Formation of the New Testament)
RELG 311
New Testament 2 (Gospels)
RELG 312
Culture and History
Intro to Study of Religions
RELG 207
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
RELG 204
Western Intellectual Tradition
RELG 321
Church in History 1
RELG 322
Church in History 2
RELG 323
World Religions and the Cultures they Create
RELG 309
Theology and Ethics
Principles of Theology
RELG 333
Theology of History
RELG 334
Advanced Theology
RELG 434
Theological Ethics
RELG 430
Philosophy of Religion
RELG 341
Complementary Courses
Courses offered by the McGill Faculty of Arts.
Additional Coursework and Requirements
- Ministry Seminar
- Integrative Paper I and II
- Montreal Dio’s annual College Retreat
- Participation in worship and community life
Intensive ministry formation based on an action-reflection learning model, course work, small groups, and a supervised ministry experience. All these courses (except denomination-specific courses) are taught ecumenically by faculty of the Montreal School of Theology and all courses are offered in a hybrid-online format meaning that the In Ministry Year can be completed in a low-residency format.
Courses in Practice of Ministry
Christian Mission (MST 561; 3 credits): Explores various theologies and practices of mission, and the specific cultural challenges of evangelization in our North American context.
Principles of Preaching (MST 531; 3 credits): This courses focuses on the fundamentals of sermon preparation, exegesis for preaching, developing a message, and sermon structure. This course also includes a preaching tutorial where students present sermons for feedback and reflection.
Pastoral Care (MST 511; 1.5 credits): Introduction to the basic skills of pastoral care, and exploration of the particular gifts and challenges the student brings to this ministry.
Education and Formation (MST 541; 3 credits): Examines educational theory, theology and practice, and develops skills and knowledge for ministerial leadership in faith formation and education.
Congregational Leadership (MST 562; 1.5 credits): Provides students with lenses to study the congregation, and explores the various dynamics of leadership, particularly in the context of ordained ministry.
Denominational Courses
Students preparing for ministry in a denomination other than the Anglican or United Church may meet the denominational studies requirement in a fashion other than the courses listed below.
Anglican History and Theology: An overview of the Anglican tradition, with a particular focus on contemporary expressions of Anglicanism around the world.
Anglican Liturgy and Worship: The theology and development of Anglican liturgy.
OR
United Church History and Theology
A survey of the rich history of the United Church of Canada and of the various kinds of theologies generated throughout that history and within the United Church today.
United Church Polity
Using a case-study approach, discover how the United Church makes its decisions. Explore the caring and practical dimensions of making decisions and working within church structures. Learn the information that church leaders need to be effective in their role in the church.
United Church Worship
Explore the unique character, history, and ethos of liturgical expression in the United Church of Canada. Integrate theory and theology and develop skills for worship leadership in congregational and pastoral settings.
Field Placement
Supervised Field Placement (MST 500; equivalent to 12 credits): The third year of the M.Div. has a strong component of learning through practical experience. This theological field education framework employs disciplined theological reflection in various contexts to develop skills and capacities for ministry.
Intercultural Learning Experience
The In-Ministry Year includes an intensive intercultural encounter. The encounter provides an opportunity to connect with Christians in other cultures and to be exposed to cultural, economic, socio-political, and environmental issues faced by the church in a different context. Past encounters have included trips to Cuba, Mexico, and Indigenous communities in Canada such as Waswanapi in Northern Quebec.
Additional Coursework and Requirements
- Integrative Paper III
- Non-credit Liturgical Celebration Seminar (Anglican students only)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I complete this program on a part-time basis?
Yes! This program can be completed on a part-time or full-time basis.
Can I do this program remotely?
Sort of. Students must be in person in Montreal for the first two years of the program. However, in the third year of the M. Div., students are only required to be in person three weeks per semester and can attend classes online and do their field placements outside of Montreal.
Is there financial aid available for the M. Div.?
Yes! Read our financial aid page for all the details.
Testimonials
I feel so equipped from my studies… equipped to serve outwardly to the community of faith and equipped to reflect inwardly in prayer and partnership with God. It has been thrilling to bring to life all of our studies and to begin to live the call to ministry that we as students share.
During the weekdays when I am preparing my Sunday sermon, I remember the love for preaching all the professors had. Their passion has stayed with me.
Our chapel life is intimate and dynamic. Daily worship with friends and colleagues creates a comfortable space to practice and learn. My spiritual life and rela-tionship with God have grown much deeper and broader since starting this program.
Contact Our Admissions Staff
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