The Centre for Christian Studies offers courses and circles for students in our Diploma (Diaconal Ministries) and Certificate programs, as well as for Continuing Studies students. Some courses and circles have prerequisites. Visit the Tuition page for course and circle fees, and the Admissions page to apply for the Diaconal Ministries or Continuing Studies program. (If you’ve already been accepted into a program, you can register for specific courses here.)
Circles and Courses for 2024-2025
June 17-28, 2024 | Learning on Purpose (LoP) in-person, Montreal, QC |
Aug 12-23, 2024 | UCC Admissions Orientation (online) |
Sept 2024 – May 2025 | Praxis |
Sept 2024 – May 2025 | Field |
Sept 29 – Oct 4, 2024 | Integration 1 (IY1)(in-person) |
Oct 2024 – March 2025 | Integration 2 (IY2)(online) |
Oct 16-22, 2024 | Eco-Justice (SJ04)(in-person) |
Oct 24-30, 2024 | Culture and Identity (EW04)(in-person) |
Jan 7 – Feb 13, 2025 | Ministry as Community-building (SJ01)(online) |
Jan 9 – Apr 10, 2025 | Intercultural Leadership for Educational Ministry (EMP1431)(online) |
March 24-29, 2025 | Integration 3 (IY3)(in-person) |
March 26-April 1, 2025 | Worship (EW05)(in-person) |
April 3-9, 2025 | Grief and Loss (SC02)(in-person) |
May 7-14, 2025 | Ministry as Listening (SC01)(online) |
June 16-27, 2025 | Learning on Purpose (LoP) (in-person, Winnipeg) |
Course and Circle Descriptions
- LEADERSHIP and DISCERNMENT COURSES
- THEME LEARNING CIRCLES
- PRAXIS
- FIELD EDUCATION
- ACADEMIC COURSES (Externals)
- INTEGRATION CIRCLES
LEADERSHIP and DISCERNMENT COURSES
Explore your calling, develop your leadership skills, and discover the meaning of “learning-in-community.”
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THEME LEARNING CIRCLES
Theme Learning Circles are 6-day in-person intensives (or 8-10 week online courses), exploring various themes in ministry and faith-based leadership and action. Learning Circles include readings, assignments, and group work. Two in-person Learning Circles are offered back-to-back in the fall, and two back-to-back in the spring.
SPIRITUAL CARE CIRCLES
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SOCIAL JUSTICE CIRCLES
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & WORSHIP CIRCLES
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PRAXIS
What is “praxis?” It’s action combined with reflection, and it’s how experiential learning happens. Diaconal ministry students do Diaconal Praxis for every year they are active in the diploma program.
FIELD EDUCATION
Practical field experience and engagement with the world allows Diploma and Certificate students to put theory into practice, and provides contextual grounding for Learning Circles and Academic courses.
ACADEMIC COURSES (Externals)
Students in the Diaconal Ministries program are required to take 8 academic courses in theology, Biblical studies, church history, and ethics. These courses are often referred to as “externals”, as they are not taken at the Centre for Christian Studies but at a recognized theological education institution outside of the CCS. (For more information and to see a list of recognized institutions, visit the External Course page.) The 8 required academic courses are:
- Theology (2) – an introductory theology course and a course on a more specific theological focus (eg. Christology, feminist theology, contemporary indigenous theologians, etc.)
- Christian Scriptures (2) – an introductory Christian Scriptures or New Testament course and a course on a more specific focus (eg. the Gospel of Mark, images of nature in Revelations, etc.)
- Hebrew Scriptures (2) – an introductory Hebrew Bible or Old Testament course and a course on a more specific focus (eg. women in the Hebrew Bible, Exodus, etc.)
- Church History (1) – a course providing an overview of Christian church history.
- Christian Ethics (1) – a course providing an overview of ethical models and methodologies in the Christian tradition.
INTEGRATION YEAR CIRCLES
In the final year of their diploma program, diaconal students take an integrating year to pull together all they’ve learned and prepare for a life of leadership in the church and the world. (Integration Circles I, II, and III are taken in the same school year.)
- IY1 Integration I – theology, personal faith statements and official creeds, diaconal/vocational/ministry identity.
- IY2 Integration II – a 6-session online connection focusing on denominational identity and polity.
- IY3 Integration III – a 6-day circle focusing on preparation for active ministry.
MINI-COURSES
Mini-courses are short, self-directed online courses focusing on some of the tools, skills, and ideas that are foundational to the Centre for Christian Studies’ education model. These non-credit courses can be taken as a refresher for CCS students, or as a “taste” of what CCS offers for the general public. Contact the registrar directly for more information.
- The CCS Action-Reflection Spiral – Learn to use this tool for understanding and transformation.
- Giving and Receiving Feedback – Tips for offering encouragement and challenge without alienating people, and accepting comments without being defensive.
- The Alumni Reading Circle – A special online community for our alumni and diaconal mentors, with access to all the readings assigned to current students and a forum for discussion and sharing of resources.
COST
How much does a course or learning circle cost? Check out the Tuition page.
PREREQUISITES
Course/Circle/Activity | Prerequisite |
Mini-courses | no prerequisite |
Learning on Purpose | no prerequisite |
Diaconal/Vocational Praxis | Learning on Purpose |
Up to 4 Theme Learning Circles | (Learning on Purpose is encouraged.) |
5th Theme Learning Circle |
Learning on Purpose |
1st Field Placement | Learning on Purpose |
2nd Field Placement | 3 Theme Learning Circles |
Global Perspectives Experience | 10 Theme Learning Circles |
Integration I, II, and III | 12 Theme Learning Circles + 3 Field Placements + 8 Academic Courses (externals) + Global Perspectives Experience |
Course and Circle FAQ
How much do Courses or Circles cost? Check out the Tuition page. Tuition costs don’t include travel or accommodations.
Where do learning circles take place? Most in-person learning circles take place in Winnipeg. The Learning on Purpose course often moves around the country.
Do I have to take a Praxis Year every year? If you’re in the Diaconal Ministries program, yes, you should do the praxis component every year. It’s how you develop the practice of reflecting on and integrating your experience, regardless of whether that experience is attending learning circles, doing a field placement, taking academic courses, or just living your life as a diaconal student. If you don’t want to or are unable to do the praxis component, you could consider becoming Inactive.
What does Inactive status mean? Sometimes life gets in the way of your being able to be a student. “Inactive” means you’re taking a break from being a CCS student for awhile – to look after your health, care for a loved one, travel, work, whatever – and you plan on coming back to your studies when you’re done. After more than 3 Inactive years in a row, we’ll consider you withdrawn from your program and you’ll have to reapply.
What would a “full” year of the diaconal program include? A typical full year would be made up of: Diaconal Praxis, a Field Placement, 4 theme learning circles (2 in the fall, 2 in the spring), and maybe a couple of Academic external courses. An Integrating Year would be made up of: Diaconal Praxis, and 3 Integration Circles. (Global Perspectives is also usually considered part of the Integrating Year, though one’s actual trip might have occurred earlier.)
Is there a schedule of courses and learning circles for the years to come? There is a tentative schedule. Generally, Praxis components and Field Placements will run from September to May each year. Integration 1 learning circles will be in September each year, Integration 2 will be online and run between October and the Integration 3 circle, and Integration 3 will be in March or April, depending on when Easter falls in a given year. Two theme learning circles will usually be offered in October and two in March or April (again, depending on Easter and the Integration 3 timing). Two theme learning circles will be offered online during a year. The tentative rotation of Theme learning circles looks like: