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Course information on this site is not reflective of offerings for the 2025–2026 academic year. Some irregularities may occur as we move operations to the incoming Course Catalogue.
Cultivating a thorough understanding of the world’s religions and the roles of religion throughout history and in contemporary society is at the heart of the School of Religious Studies’ teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The School takes a multidisciplinary approach to scholarship on a plurality of religions, and incorporates a broad range of perspectives and methods. In studying the world’s religious traditions, we emphasize the ways in which religious expression and practices are embedded in culture, politics, aesthetics, and social change.
The School of Religious Studies has enjoyed a long history at McGill providing a wide range of programs, including B.A. programs, theological programs, and several specialized graduate degree programs. The School’s expertise in world religions engages many methods and disciplines, combining the rigorous and historically-focused study of religious traditions and contexts with approaches that explore contemporary expressions of religions.
The School is affiliated with the Montreal Diocesan Theological College of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Presbyterian College Montreal, and the United Church Studies at Montreal Diocesan College (United Church of Canada). Each of these colleges is located close to campus.
The School of Religious Studies is located in the handsome William and Henry Birks Building, erected in 1931, formerly known as Divinity Hall, at 3520 University Street. Besides the usual classrooms, offices, and common rooms, this building accommodates the Birks Heritage Chapel and the Birks Reading Room.
History of the School
During the 19th century, several Theological Colleges in Montreal became affiliated with McGill. In 1912, they formed a Joint Board for the academic study of Theology, leaving each denominational College to provide its own professional training for Christian ministry. This relationship between the Colleges and the University led naturally to the creation in 1948 of a Faculty of Divinity, which assumed the academic functions of the Joint Board. In keeping with this goal the School offers the Bachelor of Theology and several graduate degree programs.
The original Faculty of Divinity taught theological courses for ordinands and also engaged in teaching undergraduates in other faculties a selection of courses of more general interest, such as philosophy and psychology of religion, and comparative religion. This selection grew over the years into the present B.A. Honours, Major, and Minor programs in Religious Studies within the Faculty of Arts. In 1970, the name of the Faculty was changed to the Faculty of Religious Studies in order to reflect the new emphasis on the academic study of religion.
By reason of its close collaboration with the Faculty of Arts, the faculty formally became the School of Religious Studies, within the Faculty of Arts, in 2016. The School offers the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) degree, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree programs, and several graduate degree programs.
The School of Religious Studies offers programs leading to the following degrees:
Prospective students seeking advice should contact an advisor from the School of Religious Studies.
An annual series was established in 1950 through the generosity of the late William M. Birks. The lectures are given by distinguished visitors, usually in late September or early October.
The first lecturer was the Right Reverend Leslie Hunter. Subsequent lecturers have included Huston Smith, Northrop Frye, Wilfred Cantwell Smith, Gregory Baum, Robert McAfee Brown, Krister Stendahl, Charles Adams, Jon Levenson, David Little, Azim Nanji, Paul Griffiths, Bernadette J. Brooten, Harvey Cox, John S. Hawley, Gabriel Vahanian, Oliver O'Donovan, Jan Assmann, Donald Lopez, Rémi Brague, David Fergusson, John J. Collins, David Shulman, Talal Asad, Robert L. Wilken, Jens Schröter, Rachel Fell McDermott, Tomoko Masuzawa, and Thomas Joseph White, O.P.
In recognition of the strong Buddhist Studies program in the School of Religious Studies, the Numata Foundation has given a 20-year grant to the School to bring a visiting scholar in Buddhist Studies to McGill each year.
The visiting professor teaches one course at the 500 level, gives a public lecture, and is available to students for conferences and consultation.
The first Numata Professor, in 1999–2000, was Dr. Mahinda Deegalle (Ph.D., Chicago), a Theravada Buddhist Sri Lankan monk. Subsequent visiting professors have included John Pettit, Robert Morrison, Thupten Jinpa, Kate Crosby, Ven. Yifa, Robert Kritzer, Andrew Skilton, Joel Tatelman, Miriam Levering, Hiroko Kawanami, Dorji Wangchuk, Martin Adam, Jin Park, Roger Jackson, Burkhard Scherer, Andre van der Braak, Rinpoche Sherpa, Gregory Samuel, Martin Seeger, Robert Rhodes, Lawrence Y.K. Lau, Martina Draszczyk, and Ann Gleig.
The visiting professor for 2024–2025 will be Pamela Winfield.
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Bachelor of Arts programs in the School of Religious Studies explore the many cultural, historical, and political issues related to both Eastern and Western religions, and to religion in comparative perspective. Major and Minor concentrations in Religious Studies are available, as well as Honours and Joint Honours programs in Religious Studies.
The B.A. program in religious studies is highly flexible, allowing you to design the selection of courses to your intellectual interests and future career objectives. The program introduces you to different theories as well as a wide variety of courses on diverse religious cultures around the world, from ancient to contemporary times. A student can also explore thematic areas across diverse religious traditions at the intersections of politics, philosophy, gender, colonialism, conflict, and transregional networks.
Many of our graduates use the degree as a foundation for careers in law, development work, human rights advocacy, research/public policy advisory, education, medicine, and social work, to name a few. A degree in religious studies can open up opportunities to work in the religious sector, a massive but often overlooked sector in terms of career opportunities. In addition to careers in specifically religious institutions (churches, mosques, retreat centres, etc.), this sector also includes careers in faith-based organizations such as the major faith-based NGOs in development and relief, human rights, healthcare, chaplaincy, and the immense array of educational institutions from primary schools to universities.
Students can add a complementary minor to their degree. Several possibilities are: International Development Studies, Indigenous Studies, African Studies, Jewish Studies, Anthropology. Students can also add a major or honours. The related joint major or honours possibilities are: Philosophy, East Asian Studies, Islamic Studies, Political Science.
The Bachelor of Theology program offers academic instruction in the disciplines of Theology, Biblical Studies, and Church History, and provides a more intensive study of Christianity than is available in the Bachelor of Arts degree programs.
Students interested in completing a Major Concentration, Minor Concentration, Honours, or Joint Honours in the broader field of Religious Studies should pursue a Bachelor of Arts program.
The Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) may be taken as a first or second baccalaureate degree.
As a first degree (90 or 120 credits), it offers a more intensive study of Christianity than is available within the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) programs, while also permitting the student to combine this specialization with other academic or professional interests, whether in Religious Studies or in other faculties and schools of the University.
As a second bachelor’s degree (60 credits), the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) program is designed primarily for those who intend to qualify for the ordained ministry in a Christian denomination, although here too, some students pursue the degree out of an interest in the academic study of theology for its own sake, or with a view to combining these studies with proficiency gained in other disciplines. The 60-credit program forms the core of the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) degree.
The Bachelor of Theology program can be pursued independently, or in affiliation with one of the three Theological Colleges affiliated with McGill University in the Montreal School of Theology. Those studying for the ordained ministry normally pursue the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) as part of the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program offered by the colleges of the Montreal School of Theology:
Tuition Fees and Funding
Information concerning current tuition fees can be found at mcgill.ca/student-accounts. Applicants for admission to one of the affiliated Colleges should contact the institution concerned for information regarding College-related fees.
ATS Accreditation
The B.Th. program offered by McGill is applicable to the M.Div. program offered by the Theological Colleges. The M.Div. is fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the U.S. and Canada (ATS).
Evaluation
Competence in a course may be determined by examinations and/or essays, or by other means chosen by the instructor and approved by the Director.
Graduation Requirements
The B.Th. program has three points of entry:
Any McGill student in Good Standing, with a minimum of 30 credits, may apply for transfer from their current degree program into the B.Th. program. B.Th. students entering the 120- or 90-credit program are free to pursue minors in other departments, schools, or faculties, in consultation with their B.Th. advisor(s).
The B.Th. program extends over three academic years of full time studies for those admitted with a Diploma of College Studies and over two academic years for those admitted with a bachelor's degree. For all other students it requires four years. The normal load consists of five 3-credits courses (15 credits) each term.
Mature Students Admissions Policy
Prerequisite courses and McGill's competitive admission process:
The Mature Student category is available to applicants who:
Applicants with regular academic studies completed during the last five years must apply under the regular high school, CEGEP, or university transfer categories.
Conditions for eligibility:
Each student is assessed individually, considering all the factors in their file.
The online application process should take about 20 minutes and a credit card is required for payment of the application fee. Once completed, the online application form may be printed for your own records.
Required Documents
After your application has been received, you will be given access to your Minerva account, where you will be able to upload your unofficial transcripts and personal statement to complete your application. You can find full instructions on how to prepare, upload, and submit relevant documents at mcgill.ca/applying/nextsteps/documents.
The two letters of recommendation can be mailed to the address below or e-mailed to studaffairs.relg [at] mcgill.ca:
If you are applying to one of the Theological Colleges, another complete set of these required documents must also be sent to the College concerned.
Please note that your file will not be considered by the Admissions Committee until all the required documents have been received.
Applicants to the B.Th. program may be accepted into the Fall or Winter term. The online application deadlines are:
| September admission (Fall term) | |
|---|---|
| Canadian and International applicants: | January 15 |
| January admission (Winter term) | |
| Canadian and International applicants: | November 1 |
Please note that all required documents listed in Application Procedures must be received by the School of Religious Studies prior to these deadlines in order for the applicant to be considered by the Admissions Committee.
An unsuccessful applicant—or a School of Religious Studies Council member acting on behalf of an unsuccessful applicant—who believes that not all factors having a bearing on the application have been fully considered, may submit a request for a review of the decision.
The request must be made in writing and directed to the Chair of the B.Th. Admissions and Awards Committee. A CAD $40 certified cheque or money order made payable to McGill University must accompany the request. The request must include information in support of reconsideration, such as a description of significant change in the applicant's circumstances since the initial consideration, correction of any missing or erroneous information in the application, or information that the applicant believes may have been overlooked when the original decision was made.
Requests for reconsideration must be received at McGill no more than two weeks after notification of refusal.
The review procedure will be carried out by the B.Th. Admissions and Awards Committee. Please note that the original admission decision will stand unless the Committee is persuaded that admissions standards have been misapplied or that an applicant’s academic record has been misapprehended.
Decisions on Special, Visiting, and Exchange applications are final; requests for reconsideration will not be considered.
All students register using Minerva, McGill's web-based registration system. Minerva provides web access to registration, class schedules, course descriptions, and address changes. Further information regarding registration is available at University Regulations & Resources > Undergraduate > Registration or mcgill.ca/accepted.
Withdrawal Procedures
Dropping or adding courses must be done via Minerva, prior to the deadline listed at University Regulations & Resources > Undergraduate > Registration > Registration Periods. Permission of the advisor is required for all changes to course selection. In case of withdrawal from the University prior to the published course withdrawal deadline, you must withdraw from all courses via Minerva. In addition, you must contact the Chair of the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) Committee and complete the necessary withdrawal form.
Course Selection
You are to seek the guidance of your advisor(s) when registering for courses. You must have your courses approved and your B.Th. Audit Sheet signed by the Chair of the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) Committee before classes begin. If you are affiliated with one of the Theological Colleges, your B.Th. Audit Sheet must first be approved and signed by your College advisor.
Satisfactory Standing
You enter the University in Satisfactory Standing and remain in this Standing unless your grade point average (GPA) or cumulative grade point average (CGPA) for any year drops below 2.00. The normal course load in any academic session is five courses per term (15 credits per term). If you have a high GPA (at least 3.00), you may take more than the normal five courses per term.
Probationary Standing
You are placed in Probationary Standing if either your CGPA or your term GPA falls between 1.50 and 1.99. If you are a part-time student, your GPA is calculated on the basis of your last 9 credits. While in Probationary Standing, you may take a minimum of 6 credits and a maximum of 12 credits per term.
While in Probationary Standing, you may return to Satisfactory Standing by completing 12 additional credits with a GPA of at least 2.50, or by completing 12 credits with a GPA and a CGPA of 2.00 or greater.
As a student in Probationary Standing, if you fail to achieve the levels of performance specified above, you will be placed in Unsatisfactory Standing, unless you obtain a GPA of 1.50–1.99 while continuing to have a CGPA of 2.00 or greater.
Unsatisfactory Standing
You are placed in Unsatisfactory Standing if you have a GPA of less than 1.50.
As a student in Unsatisfactory Standing, you will have to withdraw, or seek readmission as a probationary student with special permission from the B.Th. Committee and the Director. If you are a student who is readmitted on Probationary Standing, you may have additional restrictions or conditions to meet over and above those required of students referred to above under “Probationary Standing”.
In the event that you are placed in Unsatisfactory Standing for a second time, you must withdraw permanently.
Incomplete Standing
If, in any year, your record shows a mark of K, K*, L, L*, or &&, you will have no GPA or CGPA calculated for that year, and your record will show “Standing Incomplete”. After completing the appropriate course requirements, your GPA and CGPA will be calculated and your Standing determined as described above.
If your Standing is still “Incomplete” at the time of registration for the next academic year, you must obtain a Letter of Permission to Register from the Chair of the B.Th. Committee.
The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree is offered by the Colleges affiliated with the School of Religious Studies through the Montreal School of Theology.
Students who have completed a first degree prior to the B.Th. with a minimum CGPA of 2.7 are eligible to apply the B.Th. degree toward the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree conferred by the Theological Colleges.
The Master of Divinity Program is divided into two years of foundational studies at McGill's School of Religious Studies (i.e., the Bachelor of Theology degree) and a year of professional studies, known as the “In-Ministry Year”, offered jointly by the three affiliated theological Colleges under the auspices of the Montreal School of Theology. The program is supervised by the Academic Committee of the Montreal School of Theology, on which all three Colleges and McGill's School of Religious Studies are represented.
Students from the affiliated colleges may be eligible for bursary assistance if they are properly registered candidates for the ministry. Information about church requirements and the professional year should be sought from the principals of the appropriate colleges.
One biblical language, usually Greek, is required by some of the colleges. Ministerial candidates should consult with the College advisors regarding biblical language requirements.
Prospective candidates for ordination with a B.A. Honours or Major in Religious Studies and a CGPA of 3.3 (B+) may apply for the Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) degree upon completion of the professional In-Ministry Year (IMY).
Applicants for the M.Div. program must apply to the McGill B.Th. program, as well as to one of the Theological Colleges. College application forms should be requested from the Colleges themselves.
The B.A; Minor Concentration in Religious Studies focuses on the methodological approaches to the study of religious traditions, including the languages, teachings, and history of those traditions.
For more information, see Minor Concentration Religious Studies (18 credits).
The B.A; Major Concentration in Religious Studies focuses on the methodological approaches to the study of religious traditions, including the languages, teachings, and history of those traditions.
For more information, see Major Concentration Religious Studies (36 credits).
The B.A.; Honours in Religious Studies focuses on the methodological approaches to the study of religious traditions, including the languages, teachings, and history of those traditions. A 6-credit Honours thesis related to the student’s area of focus must be submitted. The Honours thesis topic must be approved by a Religious Studies adviser. A supervisor will...
For more information, see Honours Religious Studies (60 credits).
The B.A.; Joint Honours - Religious Studies Component focuses on the methodological approaches to the study of religious traditions, including the teachings, and history of those traditions. ...
For more information, see Joint Honours Component Religious Studies (36 credits).
The Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) degree requires 120 credits. Many students enter the program with advanced standing, and their credit requirement for the degree is adjusted accordingly. All students must discuss their course selection with their program adviser. ...
For more information, see Religious Studies (120 credits).
Students who have achieved a CGPA of 3.30 at the end of B.Th. Year 2 (U2) may apply to the B.Th. Committee for permission to enter the Honours program. They will be required to complete the normal requirements for the B.Th. degree and the honours courses RELG 494 and RELG 495 in the B.Th. Year 3 (U3) with a grade of B or better.
For more information, see Honours Religious Studies (120 credits).
