Academic Programs

Programs

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Programs Overview

ICS faculty members are recognized scholars in their fields and are also committed mentors. They encourage students to discover their own interests and give students the space and support to grow into their own scholarship. The ICS curriculum itself is broad and deep. It immerses students in the study of leading philosophical figures and movements, both historical and contemporary, and a wide range of courses open the door to challenging ideas.

Our programs have an innovative design. Unlike graduate programs that emphasize the distinct subdisciplines of philosophy, our MA and PhD programs gather courses into interdisciplinary fields of study. Each field of study serves as a major or concentration, within which students find their own pathways of study. To find out more, visit our Program Design page or click on one of the programs below currently on offer at ICS.

Doctoral Degree

ICS offers a PhD in interdisciplinary philosophy which is awarded upon completion of prescribed course work, language requirements, and the doctoral dissertation. We offer two paths through our PhD program: an ICS-only PhD and a PhD offered conjointly with the Free University (Vrije Universiteit or VUA) in Amsterdam. For more details about each of these options, students should visit the PhD Program page and consult the Junior Member Handbook.

Learn more about our PhD program >

Master's Degree

The Institute for Christian Studies offers three master's degree options: a Master of Arts (MA) in Philosophy, an Educational Leadership concentration within the Master of Arts in Philosophy (MA-EL), and a Master of Worldview Studies (MWS).

The MA in Philosophy is awarded upon the successful completion of two years of full-time study. The program requirements include the writing and oral defense of a thesis.
The MA-EL is awarded upon the successful completion of a flexible course of study, a project related to the student's interests, and a reflection on the student's praxis.
The MWS is awarded upon the successful completion of a one-year program consisting of eight courses.

Learn more about our MA in Philosophy >

Learn more about our MA-EL program >

Learn more about our MWS program >

About Our Degrees

In Canada, provincial governments have jurisdiction over higher education and the granting of academic degrees. The Institute for Christian Studies operates under a charter granted by the Ontario Legislature in the Institute for Christian Studies Act, 1983 (amended in 1992 and 2005).

Until 2005, the Free University granted the doctoral degree at ICS. As of 2005, ICS is authorized under the consent of the Minister of Colleges, Training and Universities to grant its own PhD. In addition to offering this standalone PhD, ICS is pleased to continue our collaboration with the Free University in offering interested and qualified students the opportunity to seek a degree conjointly granted by both institutions.