The Christianity and Culture Program offers students an opportunity to study Christianity from a variety of perspectives, including its self-understanding, history, and interaction with various facets of western and world culture. The program also explores how Christian experience continues to develop in its encounter with contemporary culture and issues.
Individual courses focus on art, literature, science, philosophy, theology, ritual, law, and social and institutional history. The program addresses the broad range of Christian experience, with a particular emphasis on the Catholic tradition.
Christianity and Culture is a good preparation for a career in education, journalism, arts and entertainment, or communications. Many of our students proceed to graduate work in theology and religious studies.
For students anticipating teaching careers in Ontario Catholic schools, certain of the Christianity and Culture courses have been judged by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association as providing equivalent standing in ministry courses required for permanent teachers’ contracts.
- Special to our Program
C&C Social Club
A social club for students, faculty, staff and alumni associated with the program which sponsors a range of enjoyable events that encourage members to consider the place of Christianity in cultures past and present, including lectures, discussion, films, and cultural outings.
Saeculum
Saeculum is an undergraduate journal for the study of Christianity and Culture edited, produced, and published by the students in the program.
Christianity and the Arts Lecture
The Christianity and the Arts Lecture is an annual public lecture, held in April, by a scholar or practitioner in the field of Christianity and literature, music, poetry. The 2017 lecture on The Church and Contemporary Art was given by Bishop Paul Tighe, Adjunct Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Rome.
Previous lecturers include Pier Giorgio di Cicco (poet), John Bentley Mays (art and architecture critic), Philip Marchand (literary critic), the late Richard Bradshaw (conductor and general director of the Canadian Opera Company), Ted Rettig (sculptor), James MacMillan (composer), Sarah Hall (stained glass artist), Claire Keegan (writer), Peter Togni (musician and broadcaster), Thomas Dilworth (University of Windsor), Katharine Lochnan (curator at the AGO), Rev. Dan Donovan (St. Michael’s College), Sr. Rose Pacatte (film critic and Director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies, and Marianne McKenna (architect).
- Program Requirements
Major
The Christianity and Culture Major is a Type 1 Program. Enrolment is open to students who have completed 4.0 credits.
To complete the Major, students must complete 6.0 credits, including at least 2.0 credits at the 300+ level, 0.5 of which must be at the 400-level. These include:
- SMC203Y1
- 1.5 FCEs from SMC200H1/ SMC215H1/ SMC218H1/ SMC232H1
- 3.0 additional FCEs from the Christianity and Culture courses, with at least 2.0 FCEs from the following courses with an SMC designator. Students can choose courses from all course groups. Courses from other departments may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Program Coordinator, preferably before taking the course. It will help to have a syllabus for the course being considered.
Christianity and Society:
SMC120H1/ SMC188H1/ SMC189H1/ SMC210H1/ SMC212H1/ SMC215H1/ SMC240H1/ SMC241H1/ SMC303H1/ SMC304H1/ SMC308H1/ SMC309H1/ SMC322H1/ SMC361H1/ SMC362H1/ SMC368H1/ SMC372H1/ SMC379H1/ SMC397H1/ SMC413H1/ SMC456H1/ NMC270H1Christianity and the Arts:
SMC165H1/ SMC200H1/ SMC213H1/ SMC222H1/ SMC305H1/ SMC323H1/ SMC326H1/ SMC328H1/ SMC343H1/ SMC364H1/ SMC365H1/ SMC367H1/ SMC369H1/ SMC382H1/ SMC384H1/ SMC464H1 / ITA311H1Christianity and Science:
SMC232H1/ SMC370H1/ SMC371H1/ SMC383H1Christianity and Education:
SMC218H1/ SMC306H1/ SMC307H1/ SMC311H1/ SMC312H1/ SMC313H1/ SMC324H1/ SMC327H1/ SMC330H1/ SMC350H1/ SMC358H1/ SMC359H1Independent Study and Seminar Courses:
SMC390Y1/ SMC391H1/ SMC406H1/ SMC407H1/ SMC433Y1/ SMC434H1/ SMC436H1/ SMC457H1/ SMC472H1 - 0.5 FCE from SMC232H1/ SMC370H1/ SMC371H1/ SMC383H1/ SMC385H1 or any 0.5 FCE 200+ level course from Breadth Requirement Category 5: The Physical and Mathematical Universes
For the most up-to-date requirements and current course offerings, please see the University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science 2020-2021 Timetable and Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar.
Minor
The Christianity and Culture Minor is a Type 1 Program. Enrolment is open to students who have completed 4.0 credits.
To complete the Minor, students must complete 4.0 FCE, including at least 1.0 credits from 300+ series courses. These include:
- SMC203Y1
- 1.0 credits from SMC200H1/ SMC215H1/ SMC218H1/ SMC232H1
- 2.0 FCEs from the Christianity and Culture courses listed in Requirement 3 of the Christianity and Culture Major, with at least 1.5 credits from courses with an SMC designator. Students can choose courses from all course groups. Courses from other departments may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Program Coordinator, preferably before taking the course. It will help to have a syllabus for the course being considered.
For the most up-to-date requirements and current course offerings, please see the University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science 2020-2021 Timetable and Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar.
Minor in Christianity & Education
This is an open enrolment program. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the program.
To complete the Minor, students must complete 4.0 FCE, including at least 1.0 credits from 300+ series courses. These include:
- SMC203Y1
- SMC218H1, SMC312H1 and SMC313H1
- 1.5 FCEs from the Christianity and Culture courses listed in Requirement 3 of the Christianity and Culture Major, with at least 1.0 FCE from courses with an SMC designator. Students can choose courses from all course groups. Courses from other departments may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Program Coordinator, preferably before taking the course. It will help to have a syllabus for the course being considered.
For the most up-to-date requirements and current course offerings, please see the University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science 2020-2021 Timetable and Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar.
- Program Contacts
Faculty
Michael O’Connor, Associate Professor, Program Coordinator
Odette Hall, room 123
Rev. Daniel Donovan, Professor Emeritus
Odette Hall, room 028
Giulio Silano, Professor
Odette Hall, room 118
Reid Locklin, Associate Professor
Odette Hall, room 130
Jean-Olivier Richard, Assistant Professor
Queens Park Building (PIMS), room 48
jeanolivier.richard@utoronto.ca
Stephen Tardif, Assistant Professor
Queens Park Building (PIMS), room 49
Kelly Library Liaison
Noel McFerran
Kelly Library, room 208C
416-926-1300 ext. 3472
noel.mcferran@utoronto.caContact Noel with any library-related questions, including using online resources, arranging library instruction, ordering new titles, and getting help with research.
SMC Programs
For more information about the program, including queries about enrollment and completion, contact smc.programs@utoronto.ca.
Courses
- SMC120H1S — Catholicism in Conversation
- SMC203Y1Y — Christianity and Society through the Ages
- SMC215H1F — Varieties of Christian Community
- SMC232H1F — Christianity and Science
- SMC303H1F — Global Christianities (new course)
- SMC305H1F — Christianity and Popular Culture: Literature
- SMC305H1S — Christianity and Popular Culture: Science Fiction
- SMC307H1F — Scripture in Christian Tradition
- SMC308H1S — Marriage and the Family in the Catholic Tradition
- SMC322H1S — Women and Christianity
- SMC327H1F — Ritual and Worship
- SMC364H1S — The Christian Book
- SMC368H1S — Varieties of Christian Experience
- SMC369H1S (formerly SMC206H1) — Christianity and Music
- SMC383H1F (formerly SMC233H1) — God and Geometry
- SMC390Y1 / SMC391H1F / SMC391H1S — Independent Studies in Christianity and Culture
- SMC433Y1 / SMC434H1F / SMC434H1S — Independent Studies in Christianity and Culture
- SMC457H1F/S — Directed Research
- SMC472H1F — Research Seminar in Christianity and Culture: Death, Rituals and Technology
- SMC165H1S — SMC One: The Boyle Seminar in Scripts and Stories
- SMC188H1S — SMC One: The Gilson Seminar in Faith and Ideas
- SMC189H1S — SMC One: The Gilson Seminar in Faith and Rome
- SMC210H1F — The Early Mediaeval Tradition
- SMC222H1F — Mediaeval Latin Literature
- SMC240H1F — The Celts in the Ancient and Mediaeval World (formerly Celtic Cultures I: Ancient and Mediaeval)
- SMC323H1S — Mediaeval Latin III (formerly Mediaeval Latin II)
- SMC359H1S — Mediaeval Theology
- SMC406H1F — Mediaeval Seminar: Apocalypse
- SMC406H1S — Mediaeval Seminar II: Jus Commune
- SMC413H1S — The Irish in Canada