At St. Stephen's University in St. Stephen, Canada, Certificate in Religion, Peace & Justice is offered as a postgraduate certificate in Peace and Development Studies programme. The programme runs for 8 months, delivered fully online. Tuition for international students is CAD 7,110 per total (CAD 7,110 per total for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Postgraduate Certificate
Field:Peace and Development Studies
Duration: 8 months
Delivery: Online
Local tuition: CAD 7,110 / total
International tuition: CAD 7,110 / total
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
This certificate program, the Online Certificate in Religion, Peace & Justice, is offered through the Jim Forest Institute at St. Stephen's University over 18 credit hours across six three-credit courses, completed in about eight months. The curriculum covers the theology of peace and justice, the dimensions of peace and violence within the Christian Scripture narrative, the role of religion in peace and violence, practical peacebuilding and conflict transformation, and the inner transformation of the peacemaker. It is delivered entirely online across two semesters — fall and spring — with three courses per semester, and it is open to both graduate and undergraduate students. A practicum option allows students to replace one course with fieldwork through a peace and justice organization. The certificate can be completed as the first year of the M.A. or M.T.S. in Peace & Justice, making it suited to students who want a standalone credential or a pathway into a longer graduate program in peace and justice studies.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.00 / 4.0
Admission Requirements: The Certificate in Religion, Peace & Justice page at St. Stephen's University sets out no admission requirements of its own and directs applicants to the university's general admission procedures. Under SSU's entrance requirements for graduate students, applicants need an undergraduate degree from an accredited university in a related discipline, with transcripts showing a minimum 3.0 GPA (B), rising to 3.3 GPA (B+) in the final two years of the major. Applicants whose first language is not English must present a paper-based TOEFL score of 550, an internet-based TOEFL (iBT) score of 86, or an IELTS score of 6.5; equivalent alternative tests may be considered. Mature applicants aged 30 or over with five years of relevant experience may be admitted without meeting the standard academic threshold, provided they achieve at least an A- average in a preliminary year after acceptance. The university states it evaluates applicants case by case rather than by fixed cut-offs, and asks for transcripts, a CV and a letter of recommendation with the application; a $200 CAD deposit is payable only after acceptance to confirm enrolment.
Application Details
Start Date:September and January
Application Deadline:St. Stephen's University admits on a rolling basis with no fixed application deadline for domestic or international applicants; the admissions page states that applications are open on an ongoing basis. Prospective students submit a free online application with transcripts, a CV and a reference letter, receive a decision by email, and confirm their seat with a CAD 200 deposit. No fall, winter or other term-specific closing date is published, and no separate international deadline exists; international applicants are advised only to allow time for IRCC study-permit processing before their intended start. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
About St. Stephen's University
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