Master of Catholic Thought

All applicants for the Master of Catholic Thought program must complete the online application form through the University of Waterloo’s Graduate Studies Application portal. For step-by-step instructions in completing the application process please visit the How to Apply page for future graduate students.

The following minimum requirements must be met for your application to be considered for this program:

• A four-year Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, in any discipline, with a minimum overall average of 75%. Applicants who do not meet these requirements may be considered for admission on an exceptional basis, provided they demonstrate equivalent qualifications.
• All applicants must complete program-specific questions in the application portal. Students should comment on their reasons for applying to the program, their academic record, their employment record, professional goals, and research interests in the general areas of Catholic thought.
• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)
• Three references:
  • Two academic
  • One from an employer, supervisor, or other professional or academic
• Official transcripts from each institution through which applicants have completed coursework.
• The Graduate Admissions Committee will normally consider the applications only after reviewing all the required documents. Application material submitted in support of the application will not be returned.

Applications are accepted for a Fall term start date. Applications must be submitted at least two to four weeks ahead of the program’s application deadline.

Students must complete both the course and milestone requirements listed below in addition to the Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM).

Students must complete four core curriculum courses:

• CT 600: Foundations of Catholic Thought
• CT 620: The Human Person
• CT 630: The Catholic Church in the World
• CT 640: Catholicism and Social Justice

Students must obtain an overall average of 75% in the four required courses to continue to the thesis stage of the program. Courses offered through other universities may count toward degree requirements with the approval of the Program Director. No more than two courses from other universities will count toward a student’s course requirements.

• Students are required to complete a Master’s Thesis based on the results of original research and in accordance with program guidelines. The Master’s Thesis should be 75 to 100 double-spaced pages in length. The thesis is equivalent to four one-term courses; consequently, the thesis preparation should occupy approximately half of the student’s allotted time in graduate studies.
• Students will write a thesis on a topic within the general area of Catholic thought or choose to write a thesis in an area of concentration.
• Students will defend the thesis before an examining committee consisting of the supervisor, at least one program tenured or tenure-track faculty member, and an examiner (who may be internal or external* to the University) whose expertise can support the evaluation of the thesis. The examining committee will consider both the written thesis and the defense in reaching a final evaluation. *Note: The addition of an external examiner would require the approval of the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies.

Visit the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar for program details or course descriptions as well.