Study at ICS
Welcome to the
Institute for Christian Studies
ICS provides a rich learning experience for students (Junior Members) earning their Master and Doctoral degrees. An affiliate of the Toronto School of Theology at the University of Toronto, ICS is, first and foremost, a community of scholars dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of philosophy. Junior Members are mentored in an atmosphere of academic rigour and deep engagement with philosophical ideas and arguments. Small classes and seminars create an open and participatory environment where Junior Members learn from, and contribute to, the work of Senior Members and one another.
Click on one of the degree programs we offer for a more detailed description of each:
Doctoral Degree in Philosophy (PhD)
Balanced
Time is well distributed between coursework, research, and writing
Curricular structure is built around a variety of fields of study, offering great freedom of course and research options
Guided
PhD candidates work closely with a mentor in their discipline who guides them through the program from admission to dissertation defense
Doctoral students are given a solid foundation of coursework from which they are able to launch their dissertation research
Respected
PhD graduates from ICS have consistent success in finding placement in their field of study
With the option to complete the degree through the provincially accredited ICS standalone PhD or conjointly with the Free University of Amsterdam (VU), candidates are able to make the best strategic decision for their educational goals
Master of Arts in Philosophy (MA)
Rigorous
Consists of ten courses, a guided reading in thesis area, and concludes with a written thesis and oral defense
Designed for those who wish to pursue doctoral studies or who desire a firm grounding in the core issues of a chosen area of study
Recognized
Well recognized by a wide range of institutions as evidenced by the success of our MA graduates
The Institute for Christian Studies operates under a charter granted by the Ontario Legislature
Community-Oriented
Shared calling to explore the potential of the Reformational tradition within a close-knit academic community
Significant, intentional relationship with a senior member in the research field who serves as a mentor and supervisor of degree program and thesis completion
MA (Phil) in Educational Leadership (MA-EL)
Flexible
Students may complete the program in multiple ways as fits their schedules and needs, with three options for pace of study and a combination of in-person and distance learning modes available
Features opportunities for both written reflection (and self-reflection) and a variety of inquiry-based learning projects
Deeply Rooted
Stemming from and focused on MA-EL students' own professional practices as educators and school administrators
Attentive to a wide variety of community contexts, student needs, and learning goals—all from a deep value for the image of God in the learner
Professional
Structured to foster active collaboration among MA-EL students, their peers and communities, and other leaders in the Christian school movement
Engaging contemporary pedagogical research and current discussions among educators
Master of Worldview Studies (MWS)
Flexible
Choose to study full-time on campus or part-time via distance education
Current concentration in Art, Religion and Theology, with more paths of study in development
Culturally Engaged
Fosters a personal and communal "philosophy of life" rather than an academic philosophical understanding
Supports inquiry that takes underlying religious convictions into account
Action-Oriented
One-year degree program if taken full-time, on-campus, able to be completed in two years at a part-time rate via distance education
Designed for individuals who have already begun professional careers
