Micro Certificate in Muslim Studies: Overview

The Micro Certificate in Muslim Studies provides a foundational understanding of Islam through the study of scripture, theology, philosophy, spirituality, and historical development. The program is designed for learners with little or no prior background and emphasizes clarity, depth, and respectful engagement with a diverse and complex religious tradition.

Courses are crosslisted with the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue. All courses may be applied toward diploma completion.

To earn the micro certificate, learners must complete three of the four courses offered. Each course is 12 hours in duration and delivered over six weeks in a synchronous online format.

This program is offered in partnership with the Shi’a Research Institute, which engages in the academic study of Shi’a Islam, in an effort to positively contribute to the production of knowledge that shapes our world.

Why This Program

This program responds to a clear educational need for a nuanced and informed understanding of Islam beyond reductive narratives. It offers a rare opportunity to engage deeply with Islamic intellectual and spiritual traditions in a structured, accessible format.

Learners benefit from:

• Academically grounded study of core Islamic texts and traditions
• Exposure to both Sunni and Shiʿa perspectives
• Insight into philosophical, theological, and mystical dimensions of Islam
• Opportunities to develop theological literacy for interfaith dialogue
• A learning environment that encourages curiosity, respect, and critical engagement

Courses

Introduction to the Qur’an (Winter 2027)
Explore the Qur’an as a sacred text and a work of divine literature. This course introduces its themes, structure, and interpretive traditions, including Sunni and Shiʿa approaches to exegesis.

Introduction to Islamic Prayer and Spirituality (Fall 2026)
Examine the role of prayer and devotional life in Islam. Learn about daily practices, spiritual traditions, and key expressions of devotion across Sunni, Shiʿa, and Sufi contexts.

Introduction to Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism (Fall 2026)
Engage with major Islamic thinkers and traditions of philosophy and mysticism. This course introduces key figures and explores both Sufi and Shiʿa (Irfan) approaches to spiritual knowledge.

Making of the Shiʿa Tradition (Winter 2027)
Trace the historical development of Shiʿa Islam and its contributions to theology, philosophy, and political thought. Gain context for understanding contemporary diversity within the Muslim world.

Who This Program Is For

This program is designed for:

• Individuals interested in developing a deeper, more informed understanding of Islam
• Professionals working in education, healthcare, social services, or community organizations
• Those engaged in interfaith dialogue or religious literacy initiatives
• Students and lifelong learners seeking academically grounded religious studies
• Anyone looking to move beyond simplified or media-driven narratives about Islam

No prior background in Islamic studies or theology is required.

Admission Requirements

The Micro Certificate in Muslim Studies is an open-enrolment, non-degree credit program offered by USMC Continuing Education.

There are no academic prerequisites, and learners from all backgrounds are welcome.

To complete the micro certificate, you must:

• Complete 3 of the 4 required courses
• Successfully participate in all course components

Courses may be taken in any order, and all are delivered online to support accessibility and flexibility.

Fees

Each course within the program costs $150.

Questions?

Land Acknowledgement

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the University of St. Michael’s College operates. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Diploma in Catholic Leadership: Overview

The Diploma in Catholic Leadership is designed for mid-career and senior professionals leading in Catholic or mission-driven organizations. It integrates theological insight, ethical discernment, and practical leadership tools to support effective leadership in complex, pluralistic environments.

The program consists of four core courses, each aligned with a central competency area in Catholic leadership. Together, they provide a comprehensive and applied learning experience that bridges faith, leadership, and organizational practice.

Courses are 18 hours each, delivered over 4 weeks in a hybrid, synchronous format to support working professionals.

The four core areas are:

Making Change
Examine how to design and implement mission-aligned change initiatives. You will explore strategic planning grounded in Catholic social teaching, organizational culture, and ethical decision-making through real-world case studies.

Managing Change
Develop the skills to lead teams through transition in increasingly complex and diverse environments. Topics include change management theory, organizational behaviour, conflict dynamics, and religious literacy in secular workplaces.

Mission-Driven Leadership
Focus on articulating and operationalizing Catholic identity in contemporary contexts. You will explore Catholic social teaching, stewardship, ethical leadership, and how to communicate mission effectively across diverse audiences.

Leading Leaders
Learn how to mentor, support, and develop others while sustaining your own leadership practice. This course emphasizes coaching, team development, resilience, and fostering collaborative, mission-aligned organizational cultures.

Each course will support you in applying your learning to a real-world leadership challenge, demonstrating your ability to lead with purpose, navigate complexity, and advance the common good.

Micro Credentials

Each course within the Diploma endows a separate micro credential.

USMC CE is proud to offer micro credentials—digital, verifiable credentials that you own and can share on your résumé, LinkedIn profile, and more. Micro credentials are certifications of assessed learning that focus on specific, relevant skills and competencies. These programs are designed for professionals seeking rapid, practical training to meet today’s social and environmental challenges. Whether you’re advancing your career, or deepening your expertise, our micro credentials deliver focused learning backed by real-world relevance, and academic excellence.

Diploma Outcomes

By the end of the program, you will be able to:

1. Lead Mission-Driven Organizations Effectively – Apply Catholic social teaching and organizational leadership principles to guide strategy and decision-making.
2. Navigate Complex Organizational Challenges – Lead change initiatives with confidence, balancing mission, people, and performance.
3. Demonstrate Ethical and Reflective Leadership – Integrate faith, values, and professional responsibility in complex and often ambiguous contexts.
4. Strengthen Organizational Culture and Teams – Build collaborative, high-performing teams grounded in respect, purpose, and shared values.
5. Engage Diverse and Pluralistic Contexts – Lead effectively in environments shaped by multiple perspectives, identities, and belief systems.
6. Mentor and Develop Future Leaders – Support leadership growth in others through coaching, feedback, and formation practices.

The Diploma in Catholic Leadership is open to all. It was designed with the needs of mid-career to senior leaders in professions across:

• Catholic education (e.g., school board leaders, principals, administrators)
• Catholic healthcare systems
• Social service and community organizations
• Charitable and non-profit sectors
• Lay ministry and diocesan leadership

This program responds to a clearly identified gap in Canadian continuing education: leadership formation that meaningfully integrates Catholic identity with the realities of modern organizational life. Developed through sector-wide consultation, the diploma reflects the needs of today’s leaders by offering practical, applicable leadership skills grounded in Catholic social teaching and mission. It provides opportunities for interdisciplinary and cross-sector learning, equips participants to lead diverse and multigenerational teams, and supports leaders in navigating secular and pluralistic environments with confidence and integrity.

It is particularly suited to those managing complex organizations and seeking to integrate Catholic mission with contemporary leadership practice.

Admission Requirements

The Diploma in Catholic Leadership is an open-enrolment, non-degree credit program offered by Continuing Education.

There are no formal academic prerequisites; however, the program is designed for professionals with leadership experience or responsibilities.

To complete the diploma, you must:

• Complete all four core courses (Making Change, Managing Change, Mission-Driven Leadership, Leading Leaders)
• The maximum timeframe for completion is 6 years.

Note: If you completed SMCE2000 Leadership for Transformative Changemakers in Catholic Organizations in Fall 2025, you may apply this course toward your completion of the Diploma by using it in place of any one course.

Fees

Each course within the program is $795, with a 15% discount available for alumni of the University of St. Michael’s College, or senior citizens aged 65+.

Courses

To get started in the Diploma in Catholic Leadership, choose a course and enrol.

Courses are offered throughout the academic year in hybrid formats to support participation from working professionals across sectors.

You may also register for individual courses without committing to the full diploma.

Questions?

Land Acknowledgement

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the University of St. Michael’s College operates. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Explore the Depth of Islamic Prayer and Spirituality

• Delivery: Online
• Duration: 6 weeks
• Day of the week: Tuesdays
• Dates: October 27th to December 1st
• Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
• Location: Online via Zoom
• Cost: $150
• Level of Interfaith Dialogue (for learners taking the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue): Dialogue of Theological Exchange

Course Overview

Explore the rich spiritual traditions of Islamic prayer in this introductory course on Muslim devotional life. Learn about the structure and meaning of daily ṣalāh (ritual prayer), supplications (duʿāʾ), and a wide range of devotional practices across Sunni, Shiʿī, and Sufi traditions.

Through guided readings and discussion, engage deeply with key spiritual texts, including the Ṣaḥīfa al-Sajjādiyya (Psalms of the Family of Muhammad), a classical collection of supplications attributed to Imam ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn (Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn).

This course invites learners to move beyond abstract knowledge into a more reflective and experiential understanding of Islamic spirituality, supporting meaningful and informed interfaith dialogue.

SMCE3019 is an elective course within the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue. Learners who wish to complete this program can learn more on our website. Enrolment in this course is open to all learners.

SMCE3019 is part of the Micro Certificate in Muslim Studies, offered in partnership with the Shi’a Research Institute.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

Describe the role and structure of daily prayer in Islamic life

Explain key forms of Islamic devotion, including supplication and liturgical practices

Analyze differences and commonalities across Sunni, Shiʿī, and Sufi approaches to prayer

Engage critically with classical devotional texts such as the Ṣaḥīfa al-Sajjādiyya

Apply principles of interfaith dialogue to discussions of Islamic spirituality

About the Instructor

Mehreen Zahra Jiwan

Mehreen Zahra Jiwan (MPhil) is a PhD candidate in the Religion Department at Columbia University. She completed her first Master’s degree at the University of Toronto, where she developed her interest in approaches to early Islam and Shīʿism that foreground sensory and material culture studies. Her dissertation explores the (re)configuration of sacred geography as central to a shifting praxis of mediating sacred authority between the ninth and tenth centuries.

Jiwan’s work engages oft-neglected sources such as early pilgrimage manuals, hadith collections, and understudied mosques and gravesites in Baghdad and Samarrāʾ to recover early Shīʿī voices. She brings five years of undergraduate teaching experience at Columbia University and Barnard College, both within and beyond religious studies. She has also led introductory workshops on Islamic theology in collaboration with the Sacred Door Project and the ABSA Network at NYU’s Islamic Center. 

In both academic and community settings, she employs an inquiry-driven teaching approach that emphasizes student-led textual engagement and collaborative thinking. Her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is shaped by her background as a Shīʿī Muslim and her focus on voices marginalized in both religious and academic contexts. Jiwan’s teaching and scholarship highlights the plurality and complexity of the Islamic past while fostering inclusive and respectful learning environments.

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SMCE3019 F26 – Interfaith Dialogue: Introduction to Islamic Prayer & Spirituality

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Journey Through Islamic Thought and Spirituality

• Delivery: Online
• Duration: 6 weeks
• Day of the week: Wednesdays
• Dates: October 28th to December 2nd
• Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
• Location: Online via Zoom
• Cost: $150
• Level of Interfaith Dialogue (for learners taking the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue): Dialogue of Theological Exchange

Course Overview

Discover the rich intellectual and spiritual traditions of Islam in this introductory course on Islamic philosophy and mysticism. Engage with the ideas of major thinkers such as al-Fārābī, Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna), Ibn Rushd (Averroes), and Mullā Ṣadrā, and explore how their work shaped philosophical inquiry within and beyond the Islamic world.

Alongside these traditions of rational thought, the course introduces the mystical dimensions of Islam through Sufism and the Shiʿī tradition of ʿIrfān (gnosis). Through guided discussion and accessible readings, learners will encounter key questions about the nature of existence, the role of reason, and the human search for meaning.

This course is designed for non-specialists seeking a thoughtful and engaging introduction to Islamic intellectual history, and for those interested in deepening interfaith understanding through philosophical and spiritual dialogue.

SMCE3020 is an elective course within the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue. Learners who wish to complete this program can learn more on our website. Enrolment in this course is open to all learners.

SMCE3020 is part of the Micro Certificate in Muslim Studies co-delivered with the Shi’a Research Institute

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, learners will:

Describe the historical development of key ideas in Islamic philosophy

Explain major philosophical contributions of thinkers such as al-Fārābī, Ibn Sīnā, and Ibn Rushd

Analyze classical arguments related to reason, metaphysics, and the existence of God Compare Islamic philosophical thought with Greek and other intellectual traditions

Evaluate the role of mysticism, including Sufism and Shiʿī ʿIrfān, in shaping Islamic thought

Apply insights from Islamic philosophy and mysticism to interfaith dialogue

About the Instructor

Faezeh Izadi

Faezeh Izadi is a Sessional Instructor and a scholar of Islamic thought with over a decade of teaching experience at the university and secondary levels. Her research focuses on Shi‘i intellectual history, Islamic and Western moral philosophy, and philanthropic studies. Faezeh’s scholarship has earned several prestigious honors, most notably a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship and the AMI Scholarship for young scholars of Twelver Shīʿism.

As the co-founder of the Muslim Impact Lab—a multidisciplinary initiative designed to bridge scholarly research with tangible social impact—and a former Public Humanities Fellow at the Calgary Institute for the Humanities, Faezeh is dedicated to bridging the gap between scholarly research and community action.

Faezeh’s pedagogical approach is rooted in fostering epistemological humility and imaginative inquiry, encouraging students to engage deeply with complex religious and philosophical traditions. Her expertise is informed by four years of traditional Islamic seminary training in Qom, alongside dual Master’s degrees: one in Religious Studies from Queen’s University and another in the Comparative Study of Religions and Mysticism from the University of Kashan. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Religious Studies at the University of Calgary.

Questions?

Stay Connected

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• Get in touch: ce.stmikes@utoronto.ca
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SMCE3020 F26 – Interfaith Dialogue: Introduction to Islamic Philosophy & Mysticism

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Experience a unique course that blends literature, theology, and imagination to uncover the enduring spiritual power of fantasy storytelling

• Duration: 6 weeks
• Day of the Week: Wednesdays
• Date: October 7th to November 11th, 2026
• Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Location: TBC (on campus at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto)
• Cost: $345 (includes HST) 

Since their composition, the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis have enchanted the hearts and imaginations of millions of readers of all ages and shaped the fantasy genre in immeasurable ways. This course engages with the Christian orientation of both authors, exploring how a faith-based perspective illuminates the themes, characters, plots, and deep substructures of their work. Through lecture, discussion, and creative reflection, students will investigate the theologically rich worlds of Middle Earth and Narnia, uncovering their spiritually formative power.

Learning Outcomes:  

• Explore the theology and spiritual worldview at the heart of the Tolkien and Lewis’s fantasy fiction.
• Interpret symbols, images, characters, plots, and themes through a Christian lens.
• Engage with theological concepts of good and evil, love and sacrifice, hope and transcendence in Tolkien and Lewis’s respective “legendaria.”
• Contrast allegorical and applicable approaches to Christian fantasy.
• Discuss “mythopoeia” (mythmaking) and the reading of fantasy fiction as propaedeutic for the Christian imagination and the life of faith through the recovery of wonder.

Dr. Christina Labriola

Dr. Christina Labriola holds graduate degrees in sacred music and in pastoral theology from the Toronto School of Theology at the University of Toronto. As a musical theologian at home in the Roman Catholic tradition, her academic work focuses primarily on the intersection of music and the arts with Christian spirituality, theological aesthetics, and liturgy. She is passionate about embracing a sacramental worldview and exploring mystical theologies, especially those that engage the imagination and heart through creative and holistic approaches, and bring music, literature, and art into the realm of prayer, religious experience, and the spiritual life. Labriola’s monograph, The Sacramentality of Music, was recently publishedby Bloomsbury (2024). In addition to liturgical music ministry, academic engagement and lecturing, Christina is Director of Music in the Office of Campus Ministry at the University of St. Michael’s College, in which capacity she serves as artistic director of the St. Michael’s Schola Cantorum.

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SMCE4027 F26 – Faith and Fantasy: Christian Mythopoeia in J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis

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Does architecture interest you, but leave you puzzled? Do you want to know how to look at it and read the language it is speaking?

• Delivery: In-person
• Duration: 4 weeks
• Day of the week: Tuesdays
• Dates: September 15th to October 6th, 2026
• Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• Location: Various on/near campus at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto
• Cost: $345 (includes HST)

Course Overview

 Historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner in his Outline of European Architecture (1943) distinguished “building” (a bicycle shed for instance) from “architecture”: his example was Lincoln Cathedral. Hence architecture as consciously aesthetic design has vast  range and variety. So-called “Western” architecture’s history began millennia before the Greek temples were built and eventually evolved into the thin, light abstraction of Modernism and Neo-modernism—this last sometimes quite eccentric: think of the additions to the ROM.) Toronto, with a history of not much over two centuries, has had to develop with speed and eclecticism from sources derived from several traditions, chiefly in Britain, France, and elsewhere in North America.

This course will introduce three main “families” of design—Classical, Neo-Medieval, and Modern (including Post- and Neo-modern)—through illustrations and, especially, walking tours on and close to the campus. The guiding aim is to support participants, who often enjoy but are mystified by architecture, in learning to speak and (if they wish) draw and write about it in an informed manner, using examples around us ranging from the humble (the chapel of St. Basil’s College and Marshall McLuhan’s carriage house) to the monumental, elaborate, and towering. (Believe it or not Toronto is now considered North America’s third skyscraper city, after only New York and Chicago!)

Method of Teaching

This course is delivered through a series of guided walking tours across the University of Toronto campus and surrounding areas. Each session introduces key architectural styles, historical developments, and cultural contexts through direct observation and discussion.

Week 1: St. Michael’s College and Victoria University
Explore one of the oldest areas of campus, featuring a rich variety of buildings spanning multiple periods and styles. Introduction to key concepts in architectural history and how to “read” buildings.

Week 2: Central Campus and Civic Architecture
Walk through the historic core of campus, including Hart House, Soldiers’ Tower, Knox College, Convocation Hall, and the Medical Sciences complex. Concludes near Queen’s Park, considering architecture and public identity.

Week 3: Campus Growth and Modern Architecture
Examine the evolution of campus through the 20th century, including institutional expansion and modernist design. Sites include the Newman Centre, Massey College, and Woodsworth College.

Week 4: Museums, Culture, and the City Edge
Explore the campus perimeter, including major cultural institutions, museums, and nearby commercial architecture along Bloor Street and Yonge Street. Consider architecture in relation to urban development and cultural life.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Evaluate and interpret architectural works by considering the intentions of designers and patrons, moving beyond personal preference toward informed and critical appreciation

Identify and distinguish major architectural design families and their subtypes, including classical orders, Gothic and Romanesque Revival, and modern versus historical styles

Recognize and describe key architects and associate them with landmark works, including figures such as J.G. Howard, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Le Corbusier

Analyze the layout and defining characteristics of contemporary cities, including the historical, social, and cultural factors that have shaped them

About the Instructor

Dr. Christopher (Chris) Thomas

Dr. Christopher (Chris) Thomas has studied, written about, worked to preserve, and taught the history of North American and European (mainly British) architecture for almost 50 years. His writing has concerned Canadian federal-government architecture since Confederation (MA thesis, U of T); Catholic church design, emphasizing the Toronto archdiocese; the work of American architect Henry Bacon (1866-1924), including the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC (book and Yale PhD); the design of the National Gallery of Art, also in Washington, and other subjects in Victorian, modernist, and postmodern design in both countries, especially questions of collective and national identity. Catholic theology and especially its relationship to church-design in Europe and North America also interests him.

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SMCE4023 F26 – Art History: What is Architecture?

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Savour Italian Culture Through Film and Food

Be sure to check out Cinema & Cucina II: The Italian Adventure Continues (part 2)

• Delivery: In person on campus at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, and a final session at Cucinato Studio, 1338 Lansdowne Ave. at St. Clair West
• Duration: 6 weeks
• Day of the week: Wednesdays
• Dates: September 16th to October 21st, 2026
• Time: 6:00-9:00 pm
• Locations:
  • September 16th to October 14th: On campus at the University of Toronto (classroom TBC)
  • October 21st: Cucinato Studio, 1338 Lansdowne Ave. at St. Clair West
• Cost: $425 (includes HST)

Presented in collaboration with

Course Overview

In this six-week course, we will explore the heart of Italian culture through the captivating world of Italian cinema, and authentic Italian cooking. Each week, we will engage with a selected film, watching the original Italian with English subtitles, followed by a group discussion. Beginning with a masterpiece of Italian Neorealism, we will journey through a selection of contemporary films, each offering a unique window into Italy’s regional diversity, historical heritage, rich traditions, family life, and everyday culture.

Our final session will take place at Cucinato Studio, where we will prepare and share a meal inspired by the films we have watched together, under the instruction of a professional chef.

Learning Outcomes

• Recognize and discuss key aspects of Italian culture.
• Interpret films through the lens of Italian customs, history, and everyday life.
• Gain insight into Italy’s regional differences — from north to south.
• Experience the connection between food and culture by preparing an authentic dish.

What you’ll Watch

Films:

• Bicycle Thieves [Ladri di biciclette]. Dir. Vittorio De Sica, 1948. (90 min)
• Cinema Paradiso. Dir. Giuseppe Tornatore, 1988. (210 min.)
• Life is Beautiful [La vita è bella]. Dir. Roberto Benigni, 1997. (116 min.)
• Bread and Tulips [Pane e tulipani]. Dir. Silvio Soldini, 2000. (114 min.)
• Welcome to the South [Benvenuti al sud]. Dir. Luca Miniero, 2010 (102 min.)

About the Instructor

Dr. Laura Pontieri has taught cinema and animation at the University of Toronto for many years. Although her life path led her to explore Soviet film and European animation, subjects to which she has devoted numerous articles and two books, she has never forgotten her roots, her language, and her enduring passion for her native cinema.

About Cucinato Studio

Cucinato Studio is a unique culinary space in Toronto focused on sharing the flavours and traditions of Italy through events and classes, dinners, and tasting events that bring authentic, traditional, and regional techniques and ingredients to life.

SMCE4013 F26 – Language & Arts: Cinema & Cucina An Italian Adventure in Film & Cuisine

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Explore how gender shapes religious belief and practice through feminist, queer, and interfaith perspectives, examining scripture, tradition, and identity in diverse contemporary global faith communities.

• Duration: Six
• Day of the Week: Thursdays
• Dates: November 6th to December 10th, 2026
• Location: In person on campus at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto (room TBA)
• Cost: $150 (includes HST) **15% discount available to alumni of the University of St. Michael’s College and seniors 65+
• Level of Interfaith Dialogue (for learners taking the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue): Dialogue of Theological Exchange

Course Overview

An investigation of how gender shapes our religious lives. We will look at feminist and gender-based writings by contemporary faith leaders and analyze how conceptions of gender and gender role create, promulgate and also challenge the religious landscape of personal and communal faith and faith-based institutions.

Guided by internationally recognized scholar Rabbi Dr. Elyse Goldstein, learners will engage with feminist, queer, and post-modern theological perspectives through readings, lectures, discussion, and reflective journaling. Topics include: gendered language for God, scripture and interpretation, ritual, and gender diversity and its challenges within worship spaces. Participants will examine historical and contemporary texts, compare faith traditions, and critically reflect on how gender influences their own religious identity and spiritual development. 

This course is an elective within the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue, and is open to all learners.

Method of Instruction

This course is delivered online via Zoom. The course will include readings, lecture, discussions, journalling, and small group work. 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Examine gender-based scriptural assumptions and analyze their historic and faith-based centrality 

Examine later Rabbinic, Church fathers, and Islamic writings on gender-based religious assumptions 

Learn about differing faith communities ways of conceptualizing gender and faith 

Analyze one’s own faith’s gender-based thinking and how it affects one’s individual religious development.

About the Instructor

Rabbi Dr. Elyse Goldstein

Rabbi Dr. Elyse Goldstein was the founding Rabbi of City Shul, a Reform congregation in downtown Toronto she started in 2011, and is now its Rabbi Emerita. She broke the “stained glass ceiling” upon her arrival to Toronto in 1983 as the only female Rabbi in all of Canada. After her first position as Assistant Rabbi at Canada’s largest synagogue (Holy Blossom Temple) she founded Kolel: The Adult Centre for Liberal Jewish Learning. She was awarded the most prestigious prize in Jewish education, the internationally recognized Covenant Award for Exceptional Jewish Educators, as a result of that work. She is the author/editor of four award-winning books on Women and Judaism: ReVisions: Seeing Torah through a Feminist Lens, The Women’s Torah Commentary, The Women’s Haftarah Commentary and New Jewish Feminism. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Brandeis University in 1978, earning her Masters Degree from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1981 before ordination in 1983, and receiving their Doctor of Divinity, honoris causis in 2008. In 2013 she was named one of America’s 50 Most Influential Rabbis by The Forward and in May 2017 she was awarded Doctor of Laws Honoris Causis from TMU (formerly Ryerson University) in recognition of her path-breaking work in Canada. She is a fiery and passionate speaker/teacher who gets students to think, challenge, question and grow.

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SMCE 3018 F26 – Interfaith Dialogue: Gender & Faith

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Analyze films and dreams side by side to uncover shared symbolic languages that evoke emotion, insight, and deeper understanding of the human experience

• In-person
• Duration: 6 Weeks
• Day of the Week: Thursdays
• Date: September 17th to October 22nd 2026
• Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• In-person on campus at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, room TBD
• $345.00 (includes HST & materials)

This course explores the intersectionality between dreams and cinema as it pertains to symbolic images moving in time. While filmmaking is a human-made storytelling device, dreaming is a spontaneous human phenomenon described across cultures as a spiritual message delivery system. As such, great films and dreams invite analysis and interpretation by oneself or exploration with others.

Through lectures, film screenings, guided discussions and workshops, this interdisciplinary course engages participants in the power of dreams and the moving image through the lens of history, literature, psychoanalysis and film studies.

Learning Outcomes 

In this course, you will:

• Summarize the history of dreaming, dream interpretation and its role in human society.
• Conceptualize dreaming and filmmaking / viewing as related “activities” rooted in meaning-making.
• Analyze and discuss specific film works in conjunction with the symbolic language of dreams.
• Define what constitutes impactful cinematic storytelling and powerful dreams (evoking emotion, lingering with viewer/dreamer).
• Develop a practice of dream awareness to harness a deeper understanding of ourselves, which can improve storytelling skills.

Week 1: “Life Is But a Dream” What is dreaming? An overview in science, literature, religion, psychology. Contrast this with the history of the moving image and how they relate. Film scene viewing 1: Waking Life (Holy Moment scene). Encourage student dream journal: Set intention to remember dreams, write every morning.

Week 2: “Moving Images in the Ancient World” – Brief history of Mesopotamia and dreaming, Film viewing 2: “The Rod and The Ring”

Week 3: “Symbols Rule the World, Not Words Nor Laws” The language of symbols and archetypes (Jung, Woodman) (Gilgamesh, hero’s journey) A perennial symbol is a form that has an effect on the viewer but can change in meaning over time. Symbolic language in films: An object or subtext imbued with meaning. The key to this is honoring the mystery… Film scene viewing 3.

Week 4: Genres are based on elicited emotions. Interpretation as exploration: Brief history of dream interpretation in religion and psychoanalysis. Dream recall and film analysis as memory practice = Discuss time (reading: The Last Question) Film viewing 4.

Week 5: Discuss reading. The moving image and dreams as revealers of universal truths. Dreaming as a function to restore psychic balance. Key emotions that make dreams / films memorable: Fear, joy, sadness, anger, compassion. Music video viewing: “Territory” “Pursuit” “Born Free” “Jamie XX -Gosh” “Nobody Speak”

Week 6: Artificial Intelligence history (Google’s “Deep Dream” – neural networks as artificial “collective conscious”) In 2026 AI memes increasingly generated to make sense of the chaos of our world – screen some examples. AI video viewing.

Movie scenes from: Sci fi: “2001 Space Odyssey”, “Arrival”// Magical Realism: “Divine Intervention” “Donnie Darko” “The Rod and The Ring” // TV series: “The Young Pope” // Horror: Midsommar // Anthology: Kurosawa’s “Dreams” // Shirin Neshat

About the Instructor

Hala Alsalman, M. Fine Arts

Hala Alsalaman is an interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker with a strong background in journalism. For almost two decades, she worked in the media across North America and the Middle East in English, French and Arabic. Her fiction films have screened at international festivals including the Rendez-Vous du Cinéma Québécois, Newport Beach, Venice, Busan and Cairo film festivals. As an educator, Hala has given filmmaking presentations and workshops at OCAD University, VCU, NYU and with the British Council in Baghdad.

Hala holds a BA in Communication Studies from Concordia University and an SSHRC-funded MFA from OCAD University. Her master’s thesis proposes dreaming as a vehicle for time travel within the context of ancient Mesoptamian history and scholarship, presented in an art exhibit that combined cinema and ceramics. This course draws from her thesis research as well as her international experience in filmmaking.

Stay Connected

• Questions? Please see our FAQ
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SMCE4028 F26 – Spirituality & Psychology: The Universal Language of Dreams & the Moving Image

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Explore French art, food, and performance while building language skills through immersive, real-world cultural experiences.

• Delivery: In person on campus at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, with off-campus excursions
• Duration: 6 weeks
• Day of the week: Tuesdays
• Dates: October 13th to November 17th, 2026
• Time: 6:30- 8:30 p.m.
• Location: TBC
• Cost: $345 (includes HST)

Course Overview

This six-week intermediate French course invites learners to deepen their language skills through an immersive exploration of French art, food, wine, film, and performance. Designed for students who want to move beyond the classroom, the course blends language development with cultural discovery, emphasizing communication, confidence, and personal expression.

Weekly themes range from visual arts and gastronomy to cinema and theatre, each supported by targeted language focus and interactive activities such as role-plays, tastings, scene performances, and group discussions. At least two of the sessions will include an excursion to an authentic French cultural setting in Toronto where learners can put their language skills to real world use.

Method of Instruction

Through guided discussions, the use of authentic materials, and experiential learning, students learn to describe visual and performing arts using precise analytical vocabulary, express opinions and emotions in spoken French, and interpret cultural practices within their social and historical contexts.

This course is suitable for intermediate French learners with a B1 level in the Common European Framework of Reference.

CEFR Level B1, known as “Intermediate” or “Threshold,” represents an independent language user who can communicate, work, or travel in familiar situations. Learners can understand main points of clear, standard input on familiar matters, produce simple connected texts, describe experiences and ambitions, and handle most travel situations. 

Key B1 Capabilities:

Writing: Produces simple, connected text on familiar topics or topics of personal interest. 

Listening: Understands the main points of clear, standard speech on familiar subjects (work, school, leisure).

Reading: Comprehends texts with high-frequency everyday or work-related language.

Speaking: Handles most situations while traveling, enters unprepared conversations on familiar topics, and connects phrases to describe experiences

Learning Outcomes

In this course, learners will:

• Discuss visual and performing arts using appropriate descriptive and analytical vocabulary
• Express opinions, emotions, and cultural interpretations in spoken French
• Understand authentic cultural materials (films, menus, wine labels, interviews, reviews)
• Interact confidently in real-world cultural settings (museums, cafés, tastings, performances)
• Deepen cultural literacy around French artistic and culinary traditionswritten French. 

About the Instructor

Michael Salvatori

Career educator and author, Dr. Salvatori serves as Director of Continuing Education at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto.  Prior to this role, Michael served as Vice President of Strategy and as Associate Professor at Niagara University in Ontario.

As the Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the Ontario College of Teachers from 2009-2021, Michael led Canada’s largest self-regulatory body for the teaching profession.

Earlier in his career, Michael served as an elementary and secondary school core French and French immersion teacher, a vice-principal, principal, and as an assistant professor at Glendon College of York University.

Long a champion of second language education, he is fluent in French, Italian, English, and German and is author and co-author of numerous textbooks and teacher resources.

SMCE4025 F26 – Language & Arts: À Table et en Scène: French Culture Through Art, Food, & Wine

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Please note this course is full. Registration is now closed.

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Dive Deeper into Italy’s Stories, Culture, and Cuisine

Be sure to check out Cinema & Cucina: An Italian Adventure in Film & Cuisine (Part 1)

• Duration: 6 weeks
• Day of the week: Wednesdays
• Dates: November 4th to December 9th, 2026
• Time: 6:00-9:00 pm
• Locations:
  • October 15 – November 12: Media Commons room RL 3-023, 3rd floor, Robarts Library, 130 St. George St.
  • November 19: Cucinato Studio, 1338 Lansdowne Ave. at St. Clair West
• Cost: $425 (includes HST)

Presented in collaboration with

Course Overview

In this 6‑week continuation course, we will deepen our exploration of Italian culture through a new selection of Italian films and another hands‑on culinary session. Each week, we will watch an original Italian film with English subtitles and engage in guided discussions that expand on themes introduced in the first course—regional identities, socio-historical context, everyday practices, and Italy’s evolving cultural life.

Building on the foundations established in Italian Cinema & Culture I, this sequel introduces fresh cinematic voices, contemporary perspectives, and new cultural themes. Our final session will once again take place at Cucinato Studio, where we will prepare and share a meal inspired by the films, under the guidance of a professional chef.

Note: Completing SMCE4013 Cinema & Cucina is NOT required to participate in this course.

Learning Outcomes

• Deepen your ability to analyze Italian cinema through cultural, historical, and regional lenses.
• Explore new aspects of Italian society, traditions, and identity as represented in film.
• Compare past and contemporary cinematic portrayals of Italian life.
• Further experience the connection between food, place, and culture through a new hands‑on cooking session.

What you’ll Watch

Films:

• Rome Open City [Roma città aperta]. Dir. Roberto Rossellini, 1945 (73 min.)
• A Special Day [Una giornata particolare]. Dir. Ettore Scola, 1977 (105)
• Human Capital [Il capitale umano]. Dir. Paolo Virzí, 2013 (111 min.)
• There’s Still Tomorrow [C’è ancora domani]. Dir. Paola Cortellesi, 2025 (118 m.)
• Loose Cannons [Mine vaganti]. Dir. Ferzan Özpetek, 2010 (110 min.) Or,
• Perfect Stranger [Perfetti sconosciuti]. Dir. Paolo Genovese, 2016. (96 min.)

About the Instructor

Dr. Laura Pontieri has taught cinema and animation at the University of Toronto for many years. Although her life path led her to explore Soviet film and European animation, subjects to which she has devoted numerous articles and two books, she has never forgotten her roots, her language, and her enduring passion for her native cinema.

About Cucinato Studio

Cucinato Studio is a unique culinary space in Toronto focused on sharing the flavours and traditions of Italy through events and classes, dinners, and tasting events that bring authentic, traditional, and regional techniques and ingredients to life.

SMCE4024 F26 – Language & Arts: Cinema & Cucina The Italian Adventure Continues

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Discover the creative freedom of poetic constraints. Write powerful, compact poems, experiment with form, and leave with new work in a supportive, inspiring workshop.

• Duration: Full-day workshop 
• Day of the Week: Saturday
• Date: October 24th, 2026
• Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Location: TBD
• Cost: $150.00 (includes HST) 

In this in-person workshop, explore the creative potential of short-form poetry through constraint, compression, and experimentation. Participants will engage with a variety of poetic forms—from haiku to sonnets—discovering how limits can spark originality and sharpen voice. Using the AWA Method, the session fosters a supportive, non-hierarchical environment where writers generate new work, share aloud, and respond to what resonates. Leave with several new poems and practical techniques to continue developing your craft.

**Coffee will be provided, please plan to bring a litterless lunch or purchase lunch from a local café** 

Method of Instruction

This course is delivered in person using the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) Method, which emphasizes a supportive, non-hierarchical workshop environment. Participants write during guided exercises, share their work aloud, and respond to others by highlighting strengths and resonant elements. The instructor writes alongside participants, modeling creative risk-taking and fostering mutual trust. Craft concepts are introduced through hands-on experimentation rather than lecture, allowing learning to emerge organically through practice, reflection, and positive feedback.

Learning Outcomes:  

In this workshop, you will:

• Identify and differentiate key short poetic forms, including haiku, couplets, and sonnets
• Analyze how constraint and compression shape meaning, tone, and poetic impact
• Apply formal and spatial limitations to compose original short poems
• Create multiple polished short-form poems and share them using AWA workshop practices

About the Instructor

Kate Marshall Flaherty

Kate Marshal Flaherty guides workshops in the AWA Method, where participants write, read and comment in a safe and inclusive circle. This Method was developed by Pat Schneider, author of “Writing Alone and With Others,” who asserts that all writers have a unique voice, and that the deepening of craft can be done organically and without harm to that unique voice. Kate Marshall Flaherty has published eight books of poetry, most recently “Titch,” Piquante Press 2023, and “Digging,” Aeolus House, 2022. She was shortlisted for the Mitchell Poetry Prize 2021, Arc’s Poem of the Year 2019 and the Gwendolyn MacEwen Poetry Prize 2018. She has been published in numerous Canadian and international journals such as The Literary Review of Canada, American Academy of Poets, Contemporary Verse 2, Vallum, Grain, Room, untethered and Trinity Review. She is monthly host at the Art Bar, Canada’s longest running poetry series. She writes spontaneous “Poems Of the Extraordinary Moment” (P.O.E.M.s) for charity, in person and online, and guides StillPoint Writing and Poetry Editing Circles in the AWA Method in person and online. See her performance poetry at https://katemarshallflaherty.ca.

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Register Now

SMCE4020 F26 – Poetry & Creative Expression: Less is More: Freedom Within Poetic Constraints

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Create Beautiful Handmade Bound Books

• Delivery: In person on campus at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto
• Duration: 4 Weeks
• Day of the Week: Tuesdays
• Dates: September 15th to October 6th, 2026
• Time: 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
• In-person at the Kelly Library Print Studio, 113 St. Joseph Street
• Cost: $325 (includes HST & materials)

Course Overview

In this hands-on workshop, students will explore a variety of book arts techniques from both Western and Eastern traditions. Through guided instruction, we will create several modern book forms, each showcasing different binding and folding methods. Students will gain practical experience in bookbinding, and leave with the skills and knowledge to continue crafting books independently. Handouts will be provided to support at-home practice, making it easy to recreate these book forms for personal projects, such as sketchbooks, journals, or artists’ books. No prior experience is required—just bring your creativity!

Learning Outcomes  

In this course, learners will:
• Learn to make your own custom books.
• Practice using the tools and methods of binding.
• Explore bookbinding styles from multiple cultures.

About the Instructor

Andrew Huot is a book artist and bookbinder in Toronto, ON, Canada, where he operates Big River Bindery. He taught bookbinding, conservation, and preservation at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois for 12 years. In addition to conservation and bookbinding, he teaches bookbinding and book arts in his Scarborough studio, for the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild, and at arts centres around Toronto. He holds a Master’s in Book Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and his artists’ books use photographs, linoleum cuts, and text to share the humorous side of everyday life. His artists’ books are in collections including the Art Institute of Chicago, Yale University, Emory University, and the Ontario College of Art & Design. See more of his work at bigriverbindery.com and andrewhuot.com

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SMCE4014 F26 – Book Arts & Printmaking: Introduction to Bookbinding

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An Exploration of Traditional Songs, Introduced Through the Gaelic Language

• Delivery: In person on campus at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto
• Duration: 6 weeks
• Day of the week: Wednesdays
• Dates: September 16th to October 21st, 2026
• Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Location: TBC
• Cost: $325 (includes HST)

Course Overview

This course will provide an introduction to speaking and singing in Gaelic, the Celtic language of Scotland. Students will learn pronunciation, basic vocabulary and useful phrases. Music is an effective tool for learning language. Each class will explore a different type of traditional song from Scotland’s rich Gaelic heritage.

Students will encounter a range of songs and styles and understand the cultural context behind them. Musical styles will include mouth music, waulking and other work songs, children’s and ceilidh songs, songs of love and loss, and traditional Gaelic psalm-singing.

Method of Teaching

Instruction will include a mix of lecture-style delivery of information on the history, sound patterns and musical genres in addition to opportunities for students to interact with each other to practice simple conversation exercises and participate in group singing. There will be in-class use of multimedia resources including audio and video recordings as well as printed text. While not required, self-directed study will be encouraged, with students practicing their singing and newly developed language skills or accessing on-line supports between sessions to reinforce learning. No prior knowledge of Gaelic or ability to read music are required.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn pronunciation and basic conversational phrases in Scottish Gaelic
• Explore several styles of traditional Gaelic music
• Learn and sing Gaelic songs in a supportive, communal setting
• Gain a deeper awareness of the interconnection between language and song

About the Instructor

David Livingston-Lowe is an alumnus of the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto and a graduate of the Celtic Studies Program. David has a broad interest in the Celtic languages and has been teaching Gaelic for over thirty years. He studied Scottish Heritage at the University of the Highlands and Islands, Gaelic in the Isle of Skye and the Gaelic College in Cape Breton, as well as Irish in Donegal and Connemara. He has worked as a translator and language consultant in addition to teaching Gaelic and Scots language and literature at St. Mike’s.

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• Questions? Please see our FAQ
• Get in touch: ce.stmikes@utoronto.ca
• Continuing Education Offices:
  Alumni Hall, Rooms 309 – 313
  121 St. Joseph Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1J4

SMCE4010 F26 – Celtic Studies: Songs & Speech of Gaelic Scotland

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Elevate Your Craft: 3D Techniques in Bookmaking

• In person on campus at the University of St. Michael’s College in the Unviersity of Toronto
• Duration: 4 Weeks
• Day of the Week: Tuesdays
• Date: October 20 to November 9, 2026
• Time: 6:30-9:00 p.m.
• In-person at the Kelly Library Print Studio, 113 St. Joseph Street
• $325.00 (includes HST & materials)

Creative book design strengthens stories and ideas, bringing them to life in exciting new ways. In this workshop, learners will be introduced to techniques for three-dimensional bookmaking. Concentrating on accordion-folded variations, we will construct tunnel, carousel, and flag books. Tunnel and carousel books have historically been used for children’s books or keepsakes, and the flag book combines the accordion with dynamic pages that move as you open the book. These structures are ideal for making artist books, children’s books, and unique presentation items.

Learning Outcomes 

In this workshop, participants will:  

• Understand the historical and practical applications of three-dimensional bookmaking techniques, such as tunnel, carousel, and flag books, in artistic and children’s literature.
• Learn to construct intricate book forms using accordion fold techniques to enhance both form and narrative.
• Experiment with interactive book structures to craft personalized objects that engage readers in new ways

About the Instructor

Andrew Huot is a book artist and bookbinder in Toronto, ON, Canada, where he operates Big River Bindery. He taught bookbinding, conservation, and preservation at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois for 12 years. In addition to conservation and bookbinding, he teaches bookbinding and book arts in his Scarborough studio, for the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild, and at arts centres around Toronto. He holds a Master’s in Book Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and his artists’ books use photographs, linoleum cuts, and text to share the humorous side of everyday life. His artists’ books are in collections including the Art Institute of Chicago, Yale University, Emory University, and Ontario College of Art & Design. See more of his work at bigriverbindery.com and andrewhuot.com

Stay Connected

• Questions? Please see our FAQ
• Get in touch: ce.stmikes@utoronto.ca
• Continuing Education Offices:
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SMCE4001 F26 – Book Arts & Printmaking: Sculptural Books: Carousel, Tunnel, & Flag Books

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• ***IMPORTANT NOTE*** When submitting your form please do not resubmit if you receive an error message. We will contact you if there is an issue with your submission. Thank you.
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