Atlantic School of Theology

Last updated
Atlantic School of Theology
Atlantic School of Theology (logo).svg
Established1971
Religious affiliation
 Christian
President The Rev. Dr. Heather McCance
Academic staff
9 full-time; 12 sessional [1]
Students106 [2]
Location
Halifax
,
Nova Scotia
,
Canada
CampusUrban
Colours
  • Blue
  • burgundy
  • white

   
Website astheology.ns.ca

Atlantic School of Theology (AST) is a Canadian public ecumenical university that provides graduate level theological education and undertakes research to assist students to prepare for Christian ministries and other forms of public leadership. [3] It is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and its enrolment is approximately 160 degree and non-degree students. [2] Persons of all religious traditions, or none, are welcome to study at AST.

Contents

Mission

Atlantic School of Theology is a public ecumenical university that serves Christ's mission by shaping effective and faithful ordained and lay leaders and understanding among communities of faith.

History

Atlantic School of Theology was founded in 1971 and formally incorporated on June 28, 1974, by an act of the Legislature of Nova Scotia. [1] Atlantic School of Theology is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission.

AST was formed in 1971 through a merger of the following institutions:

Theological education has been offered on the property in Halifax since 1878. AST occupies the former campus of Pine Hill Divinity Hall situated on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in eastern Canada.

The university received its charter to grant degrees in 1974 from the government of Nova Scotia. In 1975, fire destroyed the Holy Heart Theological Institute. [5] In 2002, AST and nearby Saint Mary's University signed a collaboration agreement. [3] The two universities remain independent.

Academic programs

AST's degree programs include the Master of Divinity (MDiv) – offered on campus (30 credits over three years) or in a blended campus/internet format (30 credits over five years, including a work placement) – and the Master of Arts (8 credits as a second theological degree or 18 credits as a first theological degree). The Master of Arts in Religious Studies and Theology is offered in collaboration with Saint Mary's University. The MA degree is usually pursued in preparation for doctoral studies, for vocational formation, or for personal enrichment. The MDiv degree, which is usually pursued in preparation for service to faith communities, may also be undertaken at the honours level (35 credits). Both MDiv and MA students may choose to write a thesis.

Atlantic School of Theology's ecumenical degree programs also prepare students for chaplaincy in the contexts of health care, universities, prisons, and the military.

AST also offers a Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies (10 credits); an Adult Education Certificate in Theological Studies (4 components, fully online); a Diploma in Youth Ministry; and a Diploma in the New Evangelization. An expanding number of Continuing Education offerings is part of AST's non-credit programming.

Independent researchers and scholars, the public, area clergy, and those undertaking sabbaticals are welcome to make use of AST's library resources.

Notable alumni

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Saint Vincent University</span> Canadian university

Mount Saint Vincent University, often referred to as the Mount, is a public, primarily undergraduate, university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and was established in 1873. Mount Saint Vincent offers undergraduate programs in Arts, Science, Education, and Professional Studies. The Mount has 13 graduate degrees in areas including Applied Human Nutrition, School Psychology, Child and Youth Study, Education, Family Studies and Gerontology, Public Relations and Women's Studies. The Mount offers a doctorate program, a Ph.D. in Educational Studies, through a joint-initiative with St. Francis Xavier University and Acadia University. The Mount offers more than 190 courses, over 10 full undergraduate degree programs and four graduate degree, programs online.

The Acadia Divinity College (ADC) is Baptist theological institute located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is affiliated with the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. It is governed by a board of trustees with members appointed by the Convention and the Board of Governors of Acadia University. The college is also the Faculty of Theology of Acadia University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of King's College</span> Canadian university in Halifax, Nova Scotia

The University of King's College is a public liberal arts university in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Established in 1789, it is the oldest chartered university in Canada, and the oldest English-speaking university in the Commonwealth outside of the United Kingdom. The university is regarded for its Foundation Year Program (FYP), an undergraduate curriculum designed to comprehensively study a variety of intellectual developments—past and present—through great books and ideas. It is also known for its upper-year interdisciplinary programs, particularly in contemporary studies, early modern studies, and the history of science and technology. In addition, the university has a journalism school that attracts students from across the world for its intensive graduate programs in journalism, writing, and publishing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto School of Theology</span>

The Toronto School of Theology (TST) is an ecumenical consortium of seven theological colleges and is affiliated with the University of Toronto. TST is the largest ecumenical consortium for theological education in Canada. Its seven member schools are Emmanuel College, Knox College, Regis College, St. Augustine's Seminary, University of St. Michael's College Faculty of Theology, Trinity College Faculty of Divinity, and Wycliffe College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NSCAD University</span> Public art school in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

NSCAD University, also known as the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD), is a public art university in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university is a co-educational institution that offers bachelor's and master's degrees. The university also provides continuing education services through its School of Extended Studies.

For graduate-level theological institutions, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America. It is the most common academic degree in seminaries and divinity schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memphis Theological Seminary</span> Cumberland Presbyterian seminary in Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis Theological Seminary is an ecumenical seminary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Although it is affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, it accepts and trains ministerial candidates from other denominations as well. Besides the traditional Master of Divinity (MDiv), Memphis Theological Seminary also grants the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM) with concentrations in Social Justice, Christian Education, and Chaplaincy, as well as the Doctor of Ministry (DMin). It also administers the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination's Program of Alternate Studies or PAS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Université Sainte-Anne</span> Public university in Nova Scotia, Canada

Université Sainte-Anne is a French-language university in Pointe-de-l'Église, Nova Scotia, Canada. It and the Université de Moncton in New Brunswick are the only French-language universities in the Maritime Provinces.

Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) is a theological seminary in the Reformed theological tradition with campuses in multiple locations in the United States. Founded by conservatives in the Southern Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Church in the United States, in 1966, it serves primarily students from more conservative branches of the Presbyterian and Reformed traditions.

Christian Theological Seminary is an ecumenical seminary related to the Christian Church and located in Indianapolis, Indiana. It provides five degree-level education courses, three dual-degree programs, a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program, and a Ph.D. in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric. As of 2019, the seminary had an enrollment of 139 students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Seminary</span> Multi-denominational, university-based school in Portland, Oregon

Portland Seminary at George Fox University is a multi-denominational, university-based school that offers a variety of master's degree and postgraduate degree programs in theology and ministry, located in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church Divinity School of the Pacific</span> Episcopal Church seminary in California, U.S.

Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP) is an Episcopal seminary in Berkeley, California. It is one of the nine seminaries in the Episcopal Church and a member of the Graduate Theological Union. The only Episcopal seminary located in the Far West, CDSP has, since 1911, been designated the official seminary of the Episcopal Church's Eighth Province, the Province west of the Rocky Mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yale Divinity School</span> Graduate school of Yale University

Yale Divinity School (YDS) is one of the twelve graduate and professional schools of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interdenominational Theological Center</span>

The Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) is a consortium of five predominantly African-American denominational Christian seminaries in Atlanta, Georgia, operating together as a professional graduate school of theology. It is the largest free-standing African-American theological school in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lexington Theological Seminary</span> Graduate theological institution in Lexington, KY

Lexington Theological Seminary is a private Christian seminary in Lexington, Kentucky. Although it is related to the Christian Church, it is intentionally ecumenical with almost 50 percent of its enrollment coming from other denominations. Lexington Theological Seminary is accredited by Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada to award Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Pastoral Studies, and Doctor of Ministry degrees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Halifax, Nova Scotia</span>

Halifax, Nova Scotia has the largest selection of education options in Atlantic Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary</span> Christian higher education school in United States

Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary is a Reformed seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Joel R. Beeke was the president of Puritan Reformed from 1995 to 2023 and currently serves as the chancellor, while Adriaan C. Neele serves as the president and Gerald M. Bilkes as the vice president. Founded by the Heritage Reformed Congregations in 1995, Puritan Reformed is a graduate school that offers both masters' and doctoral degrees. All of its faculty subscribe to the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards. Since 1998, the Free Reformed Churches of North America (FRCNA) has sent its theological students to Puritan Reformed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeastern Seminary</span> Seminary in Rochester, New York

Northeastern Seminary (NES) is a private Wesleyan seminary on the campus of Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, New York. Though it is independent and multi-denominational in its approach to theological education it has strong affiliation with the Free Methodist Church. Degrees offered are the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, graduate-level certificates, and Doctor of Ministry; all master's degree programs are offered online. Students and graduates represent more than 30 Christian faith traditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Higher education in Nova Scotia</span>

Higher education in Nova Scotia refers to education provided by higher education institutions. In Canada, education is the responsibility of the provinces and there is no Canadian federal ministry governing education. Nova Scotia has a population of less than one million people, but is home to ten public universities and the Nova Scotia Community College, which offers programs at 13 locations.

The Seminary of the Immaculate Conception was a Catholic seminary in Lloyd Harbor, New York, accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, and serving the Diocese of Rockville Centre. It offered a number of academic degrees, primarily those of Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Doctor of Ministry (DMin).

References

  1. 1 2 "Facts About AST". Atlantic School of Theology. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Full-time plus Part-time Enrolment 2017-2018" (PDF). Association of Atlantic Universities. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
  3. 1 2 "ABT's History". Atlantic School of Theology. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  4. ↑ The Story of Atlantic School of Theology Archived 2018-03-04 at the Wayback Machine , 2010, retrieved 3 March 2018
  5. ↑ Holy Heart Seminary 50th Anniversary from Beaton Institute, retrieved 3 March 2018

Further reading

44°37′45.91″N63°34′37.28″W / 44.6294194°N 63.5770222°W / 44.6294194; -63.5770222

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.