The STM is meant for those who intend to enter the ministry of the Christian Church or another religious institution, or proceed to a teaching career or to some form of social work. The STM program is fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the U.S. and Canada.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must possess a B.A., normally with at least a good second class standing (B+ or CGPA 3.3/4.0), in a major or honours program in religious studies or theology from an accredited university or college. Those who have a McGill B.Th. or an equivalent degree in addition to a B.A. degree with a second class standing may be admitted to the second year of the S.T.M. program.
Language Requirements
The STM program has no language requirement.
Residency Requirements
Refers to the number of terms (or years) students must be registered on a full-time basis to complete their program. Students are not permitted to graduate until they have fulfilled the residence requirement (or paid the corresponding fees) in their program.
The normal residence requirement is two years (of two terms each) of full-time study (or one year of full-time study for those admitted with advanced standing into STM 2), but the degree may, by permission, be taken on a part-time basis.
Note: Ordination requirements for STM graduates will normally involve a further year of professional pastoral studies (the In-Ministry Year) provided by the Montreal School of Theology, affiliated with the Faculty of Religious Studies.
Course Requirements
(48 credit program)
Candidates are required to complete satisfactorily twelve 3-credit courses (36 credits) and pass (with Pass) four Area Studies courses (12 credits) chosen from the following areas:
RELG 520 Biblical Theology
RELG 530 Church History
RELG 531 Christian Theology
RELG 540 Philosophy of Religion
RELG 541 Theological Ethics
RELG 550 Comparative Religion
Normally, six 3-credit courses and two Area Studies courses are taken in each academic year. The pass mark in courses is (B-) for STM students. Normally graduate courses should be chosen from at least four different specialty areas in Religious Studies. Applicants who are admitted directly into STM 2 are required to complete six one-term courses (18 credits) and two Area Studies (6 credits).
Advising
Students who take the STM as part of their ordination requirements are to choose their courses in consultation with the Principal of the Theological College with which they are associated. Course selection for all STM students needs the approval of the Chair of the Religious Studies Graduate Committee.
Leave of absence status
A leave of absence may be granted by the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office for maternity or parenting reasons or for health reasons (see § 6.1.10 of the Graduate Calendar). Such a leave must be requested on a term by term basis and may be granted for a period of up to 52 weeks. Students and Postdocs must make a request for such a leave in writing to their department and submit a medical certificate. The department shall forward the request to the GPSO.
Students and Postdocs who have been granted such a leave will have to register for the term(s) in question and their registration will show as "leave of absence" on their record. No tuition fees will be charged for the duration of the authorized leave. Research supervisors are not obligated to remunerate students on leave. A student on leave of absence during the Fall term must register for an active term of study in the Winter term (at least) in order to apply for graduation. A student on leave of absence during the Winter and/or Summer terms must register for an active term of study in the Fall term (at least) in order to apply for graduation.
Parental or familial reasons
During a leave of absence for parental or familial reasons (see § 10.6 of the Graduate Calendar), a student will not be eligible to take courses but he/she may request and expect guidance on thesis and research work and will have free access to the University's academic facilities. Library services will continue to be available by registering at the Circulation Desk of the Humanities and Social Sciences Library (McLennan-Redpath). In special circumstances, familial leave may be considered by the GPSO for a student when a close family member is ill.
Health reasons
During a leave of absence for health reasons (see § 10.6 of the Graduate Calendar), a student will not be eligible to request guidance on thesis and research work or to take courses. He/she will not have access to the University's academic facilities but Library services will normally continue to be available by registering at the Circulation Desk of the Humanities and Social Sciences Library (McLennan-Redpath).
A medical certificate must accompany such leave requests.
Non-resident status
May be granted to students in residence terms only.
Residency at another University
With the approval of the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office, may permit or require candidates to spend one session at another institution; it is understood that this session must be one of full-time study, and that the institution selected must be able to provide expert supervision and facilities for research appropriate to the candidate, in the field selected.
Permission to spend a required year of residence at another university must be obtained before the beginning of the session in which the student will be absent. A program of the study projected and particulars of the institution selected must be sent, accompanied by a letter from the Chair of the department, to the Director of the GPSO for approval. Permission is granted only to students who have already completed one full session at McGill.
The student will be required to register and pay the normal full-time McGill tuition fee less any tuition fee payable to the host institution. Other student-related fees are not levied and the ID card is not validated.
Students participating in a formal exchange program must register and pay full-time tuition including other student-related fees. The ID card is not validated.
Non-resident student
Students who wish to take a leave from the University for a maximum period of one year before returning to complete their residence requirements must first obtain permission to do so both from their departments and the GPSO.
The student must register as a Non-Resident student, and pay the non-resident fee. Student services fees are not levied and the ID card is not validated. Students can only be non- resident for a maximum of one year. The non-resident fee is $100 per term.
Deferral of admission
Under exceptional circumstances, an admission for a particular semester can be considered for a deferral. This can be considered only if the student has not registered. If the student has already registered, no deferral can be granted. The student must withdraw from the University and apply for admission to a later term.
Withdrawal from a degree program
Departments have the right to ask students to withdraw from the program if progress is not satisfactory, or if they have failed a course required for their program, or for lack of performance in research.
Any student who withdraws from the University must complete a Withdrawal Form available from the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office.
Reinstatement and admission of former students
Students who have not been registered for a period of up to two years but who have not officially withdrawn from the University by submitting a signed Withdrawal Form to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office are eligible to be considered for reinstatement into their programs. The student's department must recommend, in writing, that the student be reinstated, stipulating any conditions for reinstatement that it deems appropriate. The final decision rests with the GPSO. Normally, the GPSO will approve the departmental recommendation. If the student's department chooses not to recommend reinstatement, the student may appeal to the Associate Dean (Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies). The Associate Dean's decision can be appealed to the Graduate Committee on Student Standing.
Reinstatement fees will be charged in addition to the fees due for the academic session into which the student has been reinstated. The amount of the reinstatement fees is the tuition portion of fees owed for all unregistered terms, up to a maximum of two years just prior to the term of reinstatement.
If an individual has not registered for a period of more than two years, his or her student file will be closed. These individuals and those who have formally withdrawn may be considered for admission. Applicants' admission applications will be considered as part of the current admission cycle, in competition with other people applying during that cycle and in accordance with current graduate admission procedures and policies.