Atlantic School of Theology (AST) is a Canadian public

ecumenical Ecumenism (), also spelled oecumenism, is the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships among their churches and promote Christian unity. The adjec ...

university that provides graduate level

theological Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

education and undertakes research to assist students to prepare for Christian ministries and other forms of public leadership. It is located in Halifax,

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

, Canada, and its enrolment is approximately 160 degree and non-degree students. Persons of all religious traditions, or none, are welcome to study at AST.

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. 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: * Faculty of Theology, University of King's College (

Anglican Church of Canada The Anglican Church of Canada (ACC or ACoC) is the Ecclesiastical province#Anglican Communion, province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French-language name is ''l'Église anglicane du Canada''. In 2017, the Anglican Church co ...

) * Holy Heart Theological Institute, formerly the Holy Heart Seminary ( Roman Catholic Church) * Pine Hill Divinity Hall ( United Church of Canada) 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.Holy Heart Seminary 50th Anniversary
from Beaton Institute, retrieved 3 March 2018 In 2002, AST and nearby Saint Mary's University signed a collaboration agreement. The two universities remain independent.

Academic programs

AST's degree programs include the

Master of Divinity For graduate-level theological institutions, the Master of Divinity (MDiv, ''magister divinitatis'' in Latin) is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America. It is the most common academic degree in seminaries and divi ...

(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.

Centres

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Public Affairs (CCEPA) was jointly sponsored by Atlantic School of Theology and Saint Mary's University.

Notable alumni

Joseph-Aurèle Plourde Joseph-Aurèle Plourde, (January 12, 1915 – January 5, 2013) was a Canadians, Canadian Roman Catholic Archbishop of Ottawa, Ontario. Early years Archbishop Plourde was born in Saint-François-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick to Antoine Plourde a ...

- former Roman Catholic Archbishop of Ottawa (Holy Heart Seminary) *

Fred Hiltz Frederick James Hiltz (born 3 December 1953) is a Canadian retired Anglican bishop. From 2007 to 2019, he served as Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. Early life and education Hiltz was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where he was also r ...

, primate of the

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Atlantic School Of Theology Universities and colleges in Halifax, Nova Scotia Seminaries and theological colleges in Canada Educational institutions established in 1971 Private universities and colleges in Canada 1971 establishments in Canada