St. Andrew’s College is a community where students of all ages and from all walks of life put their faith in motion through a unique program of academic study, pastoral experience and community engagement.
The Student Body
St. Andrew’s students are diverse in age and background and come from all parts of Canada and beyond. Our students experience an intimate, affirming community where programs are tailored to individual circumstance and where access to teachers is generous. St. Andrew’s students learn through a justice-seeking community and share in an integrated program of ecumenical academic study, cutting-edge theology, pastoral experience and community engagement.
The Faculty
Faculty members at St. Andrew’s College, lay and ordained, combine academic excellence and pastoral experience. Shaped by the traditions of The United Church of Canada, they bring diverse knowledge and perspectives. Through the Saskatoon Theological Union, St. Andrew’s students have access to a broad ecumenical faculty and a wide experience of Christian tradition on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan.
A Justice-Seeking Community
Rooted in the Canadian Prairies, St. Andrew’s emphasizes the study of scripture, theology, history, ethics, education and pastoral care with attention to the significance of the gospel to the cultural, economic and political realities of today’s society. Part of the student experience at St. Andrew’s involves hands-on involvement with community organizations also seeking justice, peace, human rights and environmental and economic security.
An Affirming Community
St. Andrew’s is an Affirming Ministry of The United Church of Canada and welcomes people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
An Ecumenical and Global Community
Through the Saskatoon Theological Union (STU), St. Andrews’s students have the opportunity to share their journey with Anglican and Lutheran students in joint classes, access to faculty, shared worship and the resources of each college. The STU Library brings together the collections of the library resources at St. Andrew’s, the Lutheran Theological Seminary, the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad and Horizon Pentecostal College to ensure that library resources are comprehensive, complementary and contemporary. Through our partnership with Hanshin University and SungKongHoe University (both in Seoul, South Korea), St. Andrew’s students have opportunities to study with exchange students from both Hanshin or SungKongHoe or participate in exchanges with either university.
Programs To Fit Your Goals
The needs of every student are unique, and St. Andrew’s College provides flexible programs that keep the individual in mind. Our unique ordination-track degree program offers the opportunity to gain pastoral experience as a student minister, complete with salary, while working toward your degree. And many of our degree and diploma courses are available in alternative modes including online and distance education or as week-long intensive courses.
The St. Andrew’s residency model for ordained ministry
St. Andrew’s College is piloting a unique model of education toward ordination in The United Church of Canada. Through the four-year program students earn their Master of Divinity degree, complete their internship requirement and receive the testamur for ordination.
Our ordination-track degrees require as little as two semesters on campus. Central to the model is an 18- to 20-month residency during which students serve as half- to three-quarter time student supply ministers, receiving salary and benefits. During the residency, students return to the college for five learning circles specifically designed to integrate the practical experience of ministry with their prior academic knowledge in the context of peer learning with student colleagues and faculty.
Residency locations are often tailored to meet a student’s learning goals and to accommodate family circumstance and individual needs. St. Andrew’s offers the opportunity to integrate the joys and challenges of pastoral ministry through reflection and study with teachers and peers, with earned income, while completing their ordination requirements.
Flexible degree and program options
The Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree Residency Model is designed primarily for students who seek ordination in The United Church of Canada and the vocations of pastoral ministry or spiritual care.
The Dual Degree Program of study and formation for ordained ministry that integrates undergraduate preparation, post-graduate study and experience in ministry. A three-year Bachelor of Theology (BTh) will integrate one year of study in the traditional theological disciplines from St. Andrew’s with two years of study in liberal arts. The Bachelor of Theology will provide graduating students with one year of equivalency in the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program.
The Master of Theological Studies (MTS) provides a theological foundation for work in society or the church and can serve as a basis for further graduate study. A specialized MTS in spiritual care is offered by St. Andrew’s in co-operation with the Saskatoon Institute of Pastoral Education. Students who have completed an undergraduate degree with extensive studies in religious studies and/or theology OR who have completed some theological study at the Master’s level are eligible to complete the MTS program in one year (31 credit hours) upon faculty approval. The Master of Theological Studies in Pastoral Studies for International Partners allows international students with previous theological studies to obtain a Canadian Master’s degree without having to transfer credits from previous work. This degree is useful to international students who are already ordained and are seeking admission to the ministry of the United Church of Canada. Find more information about the different MTS degree options on the Master of Theological Studies page under the Programs tab.
The Master of Theology (ThM) is offered in a broad range of theological disciplines.
The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) is offered to those with an MDiv (or equivalent), who have been in pastoral ministry for at least three years, and who are seeking specialization in rural ministry and/or community development.
St. Andrew’s offers a Diploma of Theology for students without an undergraduate degree. The college also has courses for students in the Designated Lay Ministry program and a course of study for those seeking admission to The United Church of Canada from other denominations.
The Designated Lay Ministry Program (DLM) is a three-year work-study program that trains lay people for paid, accountable ministry within The United Church of Canada.
St. Andrew’s provides flexible opportunities for study including online distance education courses, on campus semester-long courses, week-long intensive courses and learning circles. Our goal is to craft a program that can be a part of your journey.
If you are not applying to a program of study but still want to take courses from the College, you may be eligible to take up to four courses for credit as an Occasional Student