Accreditation
St. Andrew’s College is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and is approved to offer the following degree programs by virtue of participation in the Saskatoon Theological Union: Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Theological Studies (MTS), Doctor of Ministry (DMin). The next comprehensive evaluation visit is scheduled for spring 2029.
St. Andrew’s College is approved for a comprehensive distance education program.
Statement of Educational Effectiveness 2026
St. Andrew’s College (SAC) seeks to prepare students for faithful and effective leadership in the church and the world. Within the stream of this broad purpose, the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree, by distinction, fosters excellence in academic and experiential learning for those pursuing ordained ministry, whereas the Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree lays a sturdy theological foundation for life or work in society or in the church, and to provide a sound basis for further theological study.
The following statements of learning outcome and purpose guide SAC’s regular assessments of student achievement and of the effectiveness of the college’s academic programs.
The MDiv degree ensures that students achieve the following outcomes:
- Apply graduate-level critical thinking and a Gospel lens to primary sources, classical traditions, and current understandings of the Christian faith to support public proclamation of the Word.
- Exhibit Gospel-grounded leadership by integrating the liberating Gospel of Christ into their personal lives in a way that inspires and supports others to do the same.
- Cultivate responsible Christian engagement with today’s world by bridging historical and contemporary contexts and intersection of church and society.
- From both learning and teaching perspectives, engage informed, intentional, and contextualized approaches to life-long education that nurtures Christian formation.
- Lead others in church and community collaborations that serve the transformative and life-affirming work of Christ-in-the-world.
The MTS degree is designed to address the following purposes:
- Provide opportunity for the academic study of theology/religion at an advanced level.
- Provide personal enrichment and strengthen the theological/religious basis for leadership in lay and secular contexts.
- Foster the integration of faith and practice within the church and community.
- Create an intellectual and religious/spiritual platform for challenging social inequities and injustices, and advancing reconciliation, especially as these pertain to countering imperialism and colonization in Canadian contexts.
Student learning is assessed using a range of direct and indirect measures. These include course assignments, evaluation through capstone coursework, faculty reviews of student progress, student surveys, and, for the MDiv degree, supervisor evaluations in field placements. Faculty review said assessments annually to ensure that courses and programming support student learning outcomes.
In recent survey (2025-2026), specific to educational effectiveness in specified skill areas, graduating students rate the college’s programs (MDiv and MTS) in the following categories:
| Category | Average Score (from ‘not effective’ [1] to ‘very effective’ [5]) |
|---|---|
| Ability to preach well | 4.0 |
| Ability to use and interpret Scripture | 4.0 |
| Knowledge of church polity/canon law | 4.0 |
| Ability to give spiritual direction | 4.3 |
| Ability to teach well | 4.0 |
| Knowledge of church doctrine and history | 4.3 |
| Ability to lead others | 4.0 |
| Ability to conduct worship/liturgy | 4.3 |
| Ability to interact effectively with those of religious traditions other than my own | 4.0 |
| Ability to work effectively within my own religious tradition | 4.3 |
| Ability to interact effectively with those from cultural and racial/ethnic contexts other than my own | 4.0 |
| Awareness and appreciation of the globalized context in which ministry is practiced | 3.3 |
| Ability to work effectively with both women and men | 4.0 |
| Ability to relate social issues to faith | 4.0 |
| Ability in pastoral counseling | 4.0 |
| Ability to administer a parish/congregation | 4.3 |
| Knowledge of Christian ethics | 4.7 |
| Ability to think theologically | 4.7 |
| Ability to integrate insights from science into theology and Ministry | 4.0 |
| Ability to integrate ecological concerns into theology and ministry | 4.0 |
| Knowledge of Christian philosophy | 4.0 |
While the college currently meets the ATS Commission of Accreditation Standards of Accreditation, it has received a warning that it must address deficiencies in (educational and degree) evaluation and in supervised ministry experience. As of June 2, 2026, the college has been placed under probation for the former (deficiency in educational and degree evaluation). The college shall demonstrate compliance with ATS Standards in supervised ministry experience by April 1, 2027 and with ATS Standards for educational evaluation by April 1, 2028.
For further information on the Commission on Accrediting, please contact the commission directly:
The Commission on Accrediting of the Association
of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275 USA
Telephone: 412-788-6505
Fax: 412-788-6510
Website: www.ats.edu