• What is Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy?
• Admission Requirements
• Information Sessions for Prospective Students
• Application Instructions
• Transfer Credits
• Fields & Concentrations
• Model Program of Studies

The practice of psychotherapy is the assessment and treatment of cognitive, emotional or behavioural disturbances by psychotherapeutic means, delivered through a therapeutic relationship based primarily on verbal or non-verbal communication.

Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy is a unique form of therapy which uses spiritual resources as well as psychological understanding for healing and growth. Graduates of this M.A. program can proceed to be accredited, clinical psychotherapists with the additional skill set of engaging spiritual resources for emotional and/or relational healing and change.

Drawing on spiritual and religious resources, spiritual care psychotherapists and chaplains assist persons who are struggling with depression, grief, marital and family conflict, substance abuse and other issues. They also work with those persons who are seeking something more from their lives. Listen with your heart and discover the intimate link between spirituality and emotional well-being.

This program will be in line with the membership requirements of the College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario which is launching in 2013. In as little as two academic years, you could complete the course work required to pursue counselling accreditation.  Several courses are offered in evening and intensive-model formats making this an excellent choice for commuting or part-time students.  Waterloo Lutheran Seminary offers the most extensive selection of programs in Spiritual Care, Counselling and Psychotherapy in Canada.

The requirements for admission include a Bachelor's degree with at least a B (73-76 percent) standing in the final academic year (ten 0.5-credit courses) from a recognized accredited university or university college. For students completing their final year of undergraduate study, the academic eligibility standard is the same but is determined on the basis of the last completed academic year.

For the applicants to the Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy stream, preference will be given to applicants with a minimum of four relevant courses (psychology, sociology, theology, religion & culture, etc) with grades of B or higher and one year paid or volunteer experience in human services.

Computer literacy is expected of all WLS students. 

The MA program commences in September annually.  Full and part-time applications are accepted.  The priority application deadline for both streams of the MA Theology is January 15th.  The final application deadline for the Christian Studies stream is May 1st; the final application deadline for the Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy stream is January 15th.

The next information session for the MA Th: SCP will be:

Wednesday, August 14th 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

For more information:

http://www.wlu.ca/events_detail.php?grp_id=12516&ev_id=10241

RSVP to Sarina Wheeler swheeler@wlu.ca

There will also be information sessions fall 2013, dates TBA.

To apply for this program, click here to review the application instructions, then submit your application online and forward all required documentation to the Seminary Office by the application deadline.

Application Deadline for the Master of Arts in Theology: January 15 for Fall term admissions. 

Applications are closed for Fall 2013; apply by January 15, 2014 to be considered for Fall 2014.

All application materials must arive to the Seminary Office by the deadline. 

Application decision letters are normally mailed six-eight weeks after the application deadline. 

Applicants with a Master of Theological Studies or Master of Divinity from WLS or other ATS accredited institution may request admission with transfer credits. Up to eight courses are granted as transfer credits towards the Master of Arts program. Transfer credits requests are assessed on an individual basis by the Academic Admissions Committee.

Students in the MA in Theology program will select one of two fields and select one of the areas of concentration. They must successfully complete 16 half-credit courses, including courses required for the selected concentration. See the model program below for further details.

Students with a concentration in Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy may pursue counselling accreditation with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Such persons would select specified MA in Theology courses. Final acceptability of any coursework towards the AAMFT membership requirements rests solely with the AAMFT Membership Committee. All tuition and fees for the MA in Theology program are set by, paid to, and administered by Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. Clinical and other fees charged directly to the student by Counselling Centres are in addition to academic program/course tuition owed to the Seminary. The student is responsible directly to the Counselling Centre for prompt payment of all clinical fees owing.

In order to graduate, students with a concentration in Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy must successfully complete six half-credit courses in Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy. Students in the Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy concentration are required to select their courses in consultation with the Director of the Seminary’s Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy programs. This program provides academic preparation but not professional certification.

The MA in Theology degree program normally involves two years of full-time studies or its equivalent in part-time studies. Each student is required to complete satisfactorily the following 16 half-credit courses or their equivalent: 

• 6 counselling courses 
• 8 required core courses: Spiritual Reflection and Thinking Theologically, Qualitative and Quantitative Research, Old Testament I, New Testament I, Church History I, Introduction to Theology I, Church History II or Intro  to Theology II, Old Testament II or New Testament II
• MA Research Project OR another counselling course
• One Free Elective

MA students have a maximum of 21 consecutive terms (7 years) to complete the degree, however, most part-time students complete in 3-4 years.  The program can be completed as quickly as four terms (2 years).

Courses are normally structured in three-hour segments per week for 12 weeks, mornings (9:00 - 11:50 am), early afternoons (1:00 - 3:50 pm), late afternoon (4:00 - 6:50 pm) or evenings (7:00-9:50 pm) to meet the varying needs of our students.  Some courses also run in five all-day classes, for example, Fridays from 9:00 - 3:50 pm.  In Spring term, we often run courses in five day intensives, for example, the first week of July.  We have one counselling course, Professional Studies and Ethics, which runs online once a year (normally Fall term).

 Model of Studies:
16 courses completed full or part-time

For more questions about this program, please contact the Admissions Coordinator at swheeler@wlu.ca or 519-884-0710 ext. 3498.