Course Catalogue 2026-2027

This course will focus on the translation of a variety of types of Hellenistic texts (e.g., decrees, sacred laws, magical papyri, aretalogies, Philo, hermeneutic corpus) and on their grammatical and syntactical analysis. Prerequisite: a semester of Greek.

This course will provide an opportunity for students to discuss and reflect on the contemporary realities of medical practice which challenge some basic assumptions as to when death occurs and when is a person "dead". In addition, students will examine contemporary efforts to rediscover old wisdoms concerning care for dying patients and ways in which communities of faith might reclaim some of the ancient practices of ars moriendi, the "art of dying." Students examine the phenomena of chronic illness, suffering and dying from a variety of historical, biblical, theological, pastoral care, medical-physiological, psychosocial from a cross cultural perspective. Students also examine contemporary modalities of care for persons at the end of life, including tertiary palliative care, the hospice movement and ancillary "death with dignity" organizations. Course goals include developing the student's ability to care for persons with chronic and terminal illness in ways that are shaped by a variety of theological and religion-cultural understandings of suffering, dying and death. To do so with integrity, students will also explore dimensions of what constitutes health and wholeness, as well as grief and mourning and burial rituals from various religion-cultural perspectives.

This course offers a close and critical examination of the life and theology of the 20th century German Lutheran theologian and churchman Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The goal of the course is to understand Bonhoeffer's writings and life within the context of his resistance to Nazi ideology and its accompanying theological milieu, as well as to imagine ways in which his work might be received and engaged in our contemporary context.

This course offers a close and critical examination of the life and theology of the 20th century German Lutheran theologian and churchman Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The goal of the course is to understand Bonhoeffer's writings and life within the context of his resistance to Nazi ideology and its accompanying theological milieu, as well as to imagine ways in which his work might be received and engaged in our contemporary context.

This course provides an overview of the essential models of psychotherapy in use today, including psychodynamic, existential, humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, family systems, postmodern, social constructivist, somatic, and creative arts therapies. Techniques and skills associated with each modality will be explored, with an emphasis on how to sensitively and responsibly integrate theory with the practice of spiritual care and psychospiritual therapy. The course provides students with a foundation for ongoing study of specific psychotherapeutic models, and for the ongoing integration of concepts into clinical practice within a supervised learning process. Knowledge of various modalities will also help students make appropriate referrals when a client's needs lie outside their scope of practice. The course supports the competencies of the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) and the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and will also benefit students of theology who wish to augment their spiritual care skills.

This course will introduce central theoretical concepts in psychoanalytic psychotherapy and their importance in effective clinical work. An underlying premise of the course is that therapeutic action occurs within the relationship between therapist and patient, two individuals who struggle together to reclaim and deepen their shared humanity. While theory is essential to the task of providing responsible clinical care, it is understood that it always follows deeply attentive, empathic observation, not only of the patient, but of the psychodynamic processes that occur between the therapist and patient. Theory helps to "hold" and "contain" the therapist as she enters the unique, often strange and at times disturbing inner world of the person who seeks her help. Theory must always be held lightly while it is actively operative in the mind of the therapist as he navigates his way through the world that emerges within the analytic setting. A solid grounding in psychodynamic theory helps the therapist maintain a calm receptivity to the patient in the midst of unknowing, which most often characterizes the immediacy of clinical work. It also helps the therapist cultivate and sustain a reflective use of herself that establishes a safe and supportive professional framework that holds and protects both parties in the clinical dyad.

Postmodern-Constructivism continues to exert a powerful beneficial effect in the world of psychotherapy assessment and treatment by challenging traditional, modernist models of care. This intensive survey course is inspired by postmodern philosophical perspectives (J. Derrida, M. Foucault), Personal Construct Psychology (G. Kelly), and Social Constructivism (K. Gergen). We will examine and compare the major postmodern perspectives from the standpoint of integrative psychological and spiritual care, with introductory exposure to Narrative Therapy (M. White, D. Epston); Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (S. de Shazer, I. Kim Berg); Collaborative Language Systems Therapy (H. Goolishian, H. Anderson); Meaning-Based Therapies (V. Frankl, T. Wong); Strengths-Based Therapies (M. Seligman, Y. J. Wong); Constructivist Ethics (J. Guterman, J. Raskin); and Integrative Models (B. Zinnbauer, K. Pargament).

Postmodern-Constructivism continues to exert a powerful beneficial effect in the world of psychotherapy assessment and treatment by challenging traditional, modernist models of care. This intensive survey course is inspired by postmodern philosophical perspectives (J. Derrida, M. Foucault), Personal Construct Psychology (G. Kelly), and Social Constructivism (K. Gergen). We will examine and compare the major postmodern perspectives from the standpoint of integrative psychological and spiritual care, with introductory exposure to Narrative Therapy (M. White, D. Epston); Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (S. de Shazer, I. Kim Berg); Collaborative Language Systems Therapy (H. Goolishian, H. Anderson); Meaning-Based Therapies (V. Frankl, T. Wong); Strengths-Based Therapies (M. Seligman, Y. J. Wong); Constructivist Ethics (J. Guterman, J. Raskin); and Integrative Models (B. Zinnbauer, K. Pargament).

This entry-level-to-practice, interdisciplinary course will examine the phenomenology of trauma as it impinges on human beings (individuals, families, cultural groups) from a bio-psycho-social-spiritual model of care. Special consideration given to contemporary, evidence-based treatments from a range social science disciplines, as well a credible intervention practices from religious and spiritual traditions- such as mindfulness, hoping-building, meaning-making, and forgiveness protocols- and their potential roles in healing of both direct and vicarious forms of trauma. The following major areas will be explored: 1) Trauma in Childhood, Adolescence, and the Family; 2) Trauma and Disrupted Attachment Relationships; 3) Trauma as Health Crisis {Physical and Mental); 4} Trauma and Women; 5) Trauma as Socio-Historical Events, such as: a) Natural Disasters, b) Terrorism and War Conflicts; c) Cultural Genocide, Religious Persecution and Refugees, d) Cultural Oppression and Victimization of First Nations Peoples; 6) Trauma and Resiliency. Throughout the course will be the pervasive themes of the self-care of the clinician, and the fostering of client resource through spiritual, family and community resources, leading to healing and posttraumatic growth

The course will begin with a discussion of the relationship between psychology and religion. It will then explore the relationship between religion and psychology -- history, methodology, research and application. It will review psychological theories and research on personality and their relationship to spirituality, religious behaviour, individual differences and abnormality, and review research on religious development. These findings will then be applied within the context of the social and organizational psychology of the church.

A treatment of the biography of Augustine as Latin-speaking African in a commercial family in late fourth century Western Roman Empire. His selective academic brilliance and despising of the Christianity of his family and the emerging imperial cult. His successful promotion to a high position in the imperial household through pagan patronage. His consideration of and adherence to various philosophical positions in opposition to Catholic Christianity. The collapse of this anti-Catholic rhetoric and retirement from the public sphere. His recruitment by the African church and his prolonged leadership in addressing the challenges of obstacles to a Catholic system. The literature that emerged from these controversies, and his church correspondence and sermons.

A treatment of the biography of Augustine as Latin-speaking African in a commercial family in late fourth century Western Roman Empire. His selective academic brilliance and despising of the Christianity of his family and the emerging imperial cult. His successful promotion to a high position in the imperial household through pagan patronage. His consideration of and adherence to various philosophical positions in opposition to Catholic Christianity. The collapse of this anti-Catholic rhetoric and retirement from the public sphere. His recruitment by the African church and his prolonged leadership in addressing the challenges of obstacles to a Catholic system. The literature that emerged from these controversies, and his church correspondence and sermons.