Disability, Theology, Inclusion, and Interfaith Perspectives
- Delivery: Online
- Duration: 6 weeks
- Day of the week: Tuesdays
- Dates: Tuesday October 21 – Tuesday November 25
- 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
This course examines how Jewish and Christian theologies address disability, exploring themes such as ritual exclusion, mental health, and community belonging. Students will analyse historical and legal models that shape theological views on disability, critique contemporary theological challenges, and consider ethical responses. Through critical engagement with texts and traditions, students will develop personal theological reflections on ability, identity, and inclusion.
SMCE3013 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.
Method of Teaching
This course employs a mix of lectures, textual analysis, and discussions, encouraging critical engagement with Jewish and Christian theological perspectives on disability. You will explore historical and modern frameworks through readings, case studies, and reflective exercises, fostering inclusive and analytical theological thinking.
Learning Outcomes
In this course, learners will:
Identify key themes in Jewish and Christian disability studies.
Analyze the impact of theological perspectives on disability.
Compare Jewish and Christian approaches to disability.
Critically evaluate theological frameworks with sensitivity and depth.
About the Instructor
Emma CW Ceruti is a PhD candidate in theological studies at Emmanuel College in the University of Toronto, where her research explores how disabled experiences challenge dominant theological ideas, and offer transformative insights into suffering, spirituality, and justice. She holds an MA in systematic theology from Union Theological Seminary in New York, where her thesis on intellectual disability and the imago Dei was mentored by Black liberation theologian James Cone. Emma brings over a decade of experience in disability theology, interfaith engagement, and theological education, including work with the Canadian Council of Churches, the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, and the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre. She previously served as an interfaith scholar at DePaul University, and has facilitated ecumenical and interreligious dialogue across North America and Northern Ireland. Her areas of expertise include disability theology, liberation theology, and interreligious ethics. As an educator, Emma invites you into spaces of relational learning and critical reflection, engaging both sacred texts and lived experience to explore questions of embodiment, exclusion, and belonging.
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Explore the Path of Buddhist Wisdom
- Delivery: Online
- Duration: 6 weeks
- Day of the week: Thursdays
- Dates: September 11 – October 16, 2025
- 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 fundamental teachings and practices of Buddhism, and apply your learning to explore practices of interfaith dialogue in this introductory course. Learn about the life of the Buddha, the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and key traditions such as Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. Through engaging discussions and readings, discover Buddhism’s historical development, ethical principles, and relevance in today’s world. Whether you are new to Buddhism or seeking a deeper understanding, this course offers a comprehensive foundation.
**SMCE3005 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.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
• Describe the life of the Buddha and key historical developments in Buddhism.
• Explain core Buddhist concepts, including the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
• Analyze the differences between Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna traditions.
• Apply basic Buddhist meditation and mindfulness techniques to daily life.
• Understand applications of the principles and practices of interfaith dialogue in a Buddhist context
About the Instructor
Rory Tasker, MA, has been a Buddhist monk since 2004. During his initial training, he mostly studied Tibetan Buddhism but also spent two years learning about meditation practice with Thai forest monks. In 2011, he completed the Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Program in India and began translating Buddhist teachings from Tibetan to English for audiences in Europe, Asia, and North America.
He has continued as an interpreter since that time and currently translates for Geshe Sonam at the Lama Yeshe Ling Buddhist Centre in Burlington, Ontario. Rory holds an MA in Buddhist Studies from McMaster University and is a PhD (ABD) candidate at the University of Toronto, OISE. In his research, he examines the methods and pedagogies of Tibetan Buddhist teachers in North America. This research has been presented at several conferences, including the American Academy of Religion (AAR) annual meeting and the Collaborative for Spirituality in Education. He has been the Buddhist chaplaincy representative at McMaster University’s Spiritual Care and Learning Centre since 2021, and has a passion for spiritual care and religious dialogue.
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Exploring Faith and Community Across the Table
- Delivery: In-Person
- Duration: 4 weeks
- Locations, Dates & Times:
- Beth Tzedec Synagogue,1700 Bathurst St. : Wednesday, October 29th, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- St. Basil’s Catholic Parish at the University of St. Michael’s College, 50 St. Joseph St., TUESDAY, November 4th, 6:00-9:00 p.m. (note this session will be on a Tuesday evening)
- The Ismaili Centre, 49 Wynford Dr., Wednesday, November 12, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
- Toronto United Mennonite Church, 1774 Queen St. E, Wednesday, November 19, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
- Cost: $150
- Level of Interfaith Dialogue (for learners taking the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue): Dialogue of Life
Course Overview
Faith can meaningfully shape what we eat: what we eat, where and when we eat, and how and with whom we eat can all express our values and beliefs, as well as how we relate to one another within our communities. From how we use food in celebrating holidays, to how we bless it around the table, to the role of religious and cultural laws and global histories that shape what’s on our plates, food plays a key role in how we can learn about and experience each other’s faith traditions.
In this course, you will visit a new place of worship each week and prepare and share a meal together with the host congregation. In this way, you will learn about and experience each other’s cultures and flavours, receive hospitality, explore each other’s spaces, and hear about the ways that faith and fellowship are practised across Toronto.
Method of Teaching
SMCE3003 Faith & Food will consist of four meetings on site at different places of worship over four consecutive weeks, and weekly asynchronous learning activities.
Learners will actively participate in making and sharing meals on site, as well as touring the spaces. Lessons that bolster themes of dialogue, including short readings, videos, and reflective writing, will be used. A final culminating assignment will tie together themes and teachings from all four sites.
No foods containing pork or shellfish will be part of the menu at any site. USMC CE will make every effort to ensure that dietary needs will be accommodated, but we are unable to guarantee zero contact with certain allergens or other items (i.e., gluten, dairy, etc.), please contact ce.stmikes@utoronto.ca to inquire further.
SMCE3003 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.
Learning Outcomes
In this course, learners will:
• Explore the connection between faith and food between four distinct faith traditions, including dietary laws, cultural histories, holidays and feast days, and everyday life
• Experience prayer, ritual, and cultural norms in places of worship across Toronto
• Learn recipes and practice cooking techniques tied to faith and culture
• Reflect on the role of hospitality in the practice of interfaith dialogue
Information about Host Places of Worship
Beth Tzedec Synagogue, 1700 Bathurst St.
St. Basil’s Catholic Parish at the University of St. Michael’s College, 50 St. Joseph St.
The Ismaili Centre, 49 Wynford Dr.
Toronto United Mennonite Church, 1774 Queen St. E.
About the Instructor
Ren Ito is a community organiser and educator based in Toronto. He recently completed a PhD in theological studies at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. With expertise in racial justice organising and education, Dr Ito’s work and research focus on how to foster solidarity across differences of race, culture, and faith. Prior to completing his PhD, he taught and advised students at the religiously diverse Emmanuel College in the Toronto School of Theology, and subsequently served regionally and nationally as a social justice coordinator at the United Church of Canada. He has also been heavily involved in community-building and activism, and co-founded a national collective for people of colour to explore faith, justice, and interracial solidarity on their own terms. His teaching style aims to draw wisdom out of students, helping them articulate their experiences in critical, theoretical terms, and building a body of knowledge to be shaped and shared in the classroom and beyond.
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Engage in Meaningful Communication Across Differences
- Delivery: In-person
- Duration: 6 weeks
- Day of the week: Tuesdays
- Dates: September 9 – October 14, 2025
- Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
- Location: Room 400, Muzzo Family Alumni Hall, 121 St. Joseph St, Toronto
- Cost: $150
- Level of Interfaith Dialogue (for learners taking the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue): Core Course
Course Overview
This foundational course provides a practical introduction to interfaith dialogue, equipping learners with tools to engage in meaningful conversations across religious and cultural differences. Learners will explore the four levels of dialogue — the dialogue of life, the dialogue of action, the dialogue of theological exchange, and the dialogue of religious experience. Emphasising real-world application, this course fosters skills in active listening, and conflict transformation. By the end of the course, you will more confidently navigate interfaith conversations, fostering understanding and collaboration in your communities and professional settings.
**SMCE3000 is the foundational course for the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue. It is recommended that learners who wish to complete this Diploma program take this course first.
Micro Credential
Learners who successfully complete SMCE3000 will receive a micro credential for this course.
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.
Method of Teaching
This course will be delivered in person on campus at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. Interactive discussions, case-based learning, and reflection will be used to practise the application of tools for effective interfaith dialogue practice.
Learning Outcomes
- Define interfaith dialogue and its significance in today’s world
- Identify and apply the four levels of interreligious dialogue
- Cultivate greater personal openness to, and tools for, interreligious dialogue and engagement, and communicating effectively across difference
- Practice dialogue techniques through structured exercises and real-world scenarios
- Reflect critically on lived examples of interreligious dialogue and collaboration in Canada, the Greater Toronto Area, and students’ own local contexts
- Create a personal or professional action plan for implementing interfaith dialogue skills
About the Instructor
Mia Theocharis is the director of advocacy, emerging campuses at Hillel Ontario, where she leads strategic initiatives to support Jewish students and allies on campuses without a formal Hillel presence. In this role, she develops student leadership pipelines, designs targeted programming, and works closely with university administrators and EDI offices to address student concerns. With nearly a decade of experience in higher education—as a researcher, educator, and advocate—she is deeply committed to bridging scholarly insight with real-world impact. Mia is also a PhD candidate in theological studies at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. Her research explores Jewish–Christian relations from the 19th to 21st centuries, with particular attention to antisemitism, the Holocaust, and the Second Vatican Council declaration Nostra aetate. Through historical methodology, critical analysis, and interdisciplinary inquiry, her work aims to confront antisemitism, foster interreligious and interideological understanding, and ensure the lessons of the past inform our present. Her dissertation, supported by a prestigious SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship, examines the development and influence of Canadian Catholic theologian Gregory Baum’s theological thought on Jewish–Christian relations in Canada and internationally. In the classroom, Mia cultivates inclusive spaces where students grapple with complex histories, reflect on their contemporary relevance, and engage in interfaith dialogue as a vital practice for understanding others as they understand themselves—grounded in empathy, humility, and intellectual integrity.
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Bridge Beliefs, Build Understanding
What could be possible if we understood each other better? The Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue from the University of St. Michael’s College Continuing Education Division will equip you to engage in meaningful, respectful interfaith conversations. You’ll explore diverse religious traditions, practices, spiritualities, and texts through experiential learning, dialogue techniques, and a capstone project. Gain the skills to foster understanding, connection, and peace across faith communities in your everyday life.
Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue: Overview
The Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue focuses on building confidence and skills for effective communication and encounters across differences. The mandatory core course, Foundations of Interfaith Communication & Dialogue, will introduce you to the tools and techniques for open, curious, and non-judgmental communication—skills that will be central to every elective course. This course also endows you with a micro-credential upon successful completion.
Elective courses within the Diploma will be structured around the Four Levels of Interfaith Dialogue, ensuring that you experience diverse ways of encountering and appreciating different faith traditions:
Dialogue of Life – Courses in this category will explore how people of different faiths coexist in daily life, emphasizing relationships, shared experiences, and cultural interaction. You will reflect on personal experiences and examine case studies of interfaith communities.
Dialogue of Action (Deeds) – These courses will focus on current examples and opportunities for interfaith collaboration in areas such as social justice, environmental stewardship, and community service. You will examine real-world initiatives, both internationally and in Canada, where faith groups work together for the common good.
Dialogue of Religious Experience – You will engage with the spirituality and faith practices of different traditions, including meditation, prayer, rituals, and sacred objects and places. Courses may include site visits, guest speakers, or experiential activities to deepen appreciation for the commonalities, differences, and distinctive claims of various religions.
Dialogue of Theological Exchange – You will explore core beliefs, texts, doctrines, and worldviews of various religious traditions. You will learn to compare them respectfully and appreciate how religious convictions shape self-understanding, relationships with others, and our sense of meaning in the world.
To earn the diploma, you must complete at least one elective from each level.
In the capstone project, you will apply the principles of interfaith dialogue to a real-world issue of your choice. You will demonstrate your ability to foster mutual understanding, address societal challenges, and propose actionable solutions through research, reflection, and engagement with people of diverse faith perspectives and spiritualities
Diploma Outcomes
By the end of the program, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate Interreligious Understanding – Analyze key beliefs, practices, and historical developments of major religious traditions, recognizing commonalities and differences.
- Engage in Meaningful and Pragmatic Interfaith Dialogue – Apply effective communication strategies to engage respectfully, with curiosity and without judgement, in discussions and encounters across religious traditions, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration.
- Critically Reflect on Personal and Social Impacts of Religion – Evaluate the role of religion in shaping individual identity, societal values, artistic expression, and global issues
- Apply Interfaith Perspectives to Social Action – Demonstrate an understanding of the value of promoting interfaith cooperation in areas such as social justice, community building, and environmental sustainability.
- Synthesize Theological and Experiential Learning – Integrate your lived experience with faith traditions and insights to form a personal, nuanced, and applicable perspective on interfaith relations in your own milieu.
Curious to know what this learning looks like in action?
Read the reflections of 2025 graduate Simon Burke, Instructor of Introduction to Buddhism Rory Tasker, and Continuing Education Manager Roxanne Wright on Faith & Food
Admission Requirements
The Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue is an open-enrolment, non-degree credit program offered by Continuing Education. There are no academic or professional prerequisites. Learners of all faith traditions—or none—are welcome and encouraged to enrol.
To begin, choose a course and enrol. We recommend starting with SMCE3000 Foundations of Interfaith Communication & Dialogue, but courses may be taken in any order. The maximum timeframe for completing the Diploma requirements is 4 years.
To complete the diploma, you must:
Complete a mandatory core course – Take SMCE3000 Foundations of Interfaith Communication & Dialogue to gain foundational skills in interfaith dialogue.
Take 8 Elective Courses – Select from various topics across the four Levels of Interfaith Dialogue (Life, Deeds, Religious Experience, Theological Exchange), ensuring at least one course from each level, and
Complete the Capstone Course – Engage in a final project applying interfaith dialogue principles through research, creative work, or community engagement.
Note: If you completed SMD102 Dialogue Principles and Practices before Fall 2025, it fulfills the core course requirement. Learners who started before Fall 2025 may complete the program by either:
- taking the capstone, or
- taking the core course plus nine electives (including prior courses).
Fees
Each course within the program costs $150.
This program is supported by a significant financial endowment from Scarboro Foreign Missions (SFM), and extends the charism of the SFM Fathers in interfaith dialogue. SFM has been deeply committed to interfaith dialogue for many decades. This Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue situates the legacy of the Scarboro Foreign Mission to create an educational opportunity for all who wish to understand the religious ideals and values of their neighbours and even themselves within Continuing Education at USMC, where our mission, vision, and values, and adult learning pedagogies will support it.
Courses
To get started in the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue, choose a course and enroll.
You may choose to register for individual courses without committing to the full Diploma program.
Each academic year, courses will be offered across Levels of Dialogue, both in-person and online, to ensure that you can meet the program’s breadth requirements.
Course Schedule, Fall 2025 to Fall 2026
| TERM | Course Name | Level of Dialogue | Modality |
| Fall 2025 | SMCE3000 Foundations of Interfaith Communication & Dialogue | N/A (Core Course) | In-Person |
| Fall 2025 | SMCE3003 Faith & Food | Dialogue of Life | In-Person |
| Fall 2025 | SMCE3005 Introduction to Buddhism | Dialogue of Theological Exchange | Online |
| Fall 2025 | SMCE3013 Christianity and Judaism on Disabilities | Dialogue of Theological Exchange | Online |
| Winter 2026 | SMCE3000 Foundations of Interfaith Communication & Dialogue | N/A (Core Course) | Online |
| Winter 2026 | SMCE3008 Eco-Spiritualities | Dialogue of Life | Online |
| Winter 2026 | SMCE3007 “Called to be Peacemakers”: Peace, Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation | Dialogue of Deeds | Online |
| Spring-Summer 2026 | Online | ||
| Spring-Summer 2026 | SMCE3004 Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching | Dialogue of Deeds | Online |
| Spring-Summer 2026 | SMCE3016 Sacred and Ritual Spaces | Dialogue of Religious Experience | In-Person |
| Fall 2026 | SMCE3000 Foundations of Interfaith Communication & Dialogue | N/A (Core Course) | In-Person |
| Fall 2026 | SMCE3003 Faith & Food | Dialogue of Life | In-Person |
| Fall 2026 | SMCE3011 Law & Religion | Dialogue of Theological Exchange | Online |
| Fall 2026 | SMCE3017 Art & Faith | Dialogue of Life | In-Person |
| Fall 2026 | SMCE3018 Gender & Faith | Dialogue of Theological Exchange | In-Person |
Please note: Programming is subject to change
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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 Intersection of Spirituality and Sustainability
- Delivery: Online
- Duration: 6 weeks
- Day of the week: Wednesday
- Date: February 4th to March 11th, 2026
- Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Location: Online via Zoom
- 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 Life
Course Overview
This course explores eco-spiritualities within and across religious traditions, with attention to theological, ethical, and systemic dimensions of ecological realities around the world. Students will engage with interfaith texts and traditions to examine how spirituality shapes environmental worldviews and inspires action in the face of climate change and ecological degradation.
SMCE3008 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.
Method of Instruction
The course incorporates a variety of instructional methods, including comparative text analysis, seminar-style discussions, and lectures enriched with multimedia content. Assessment tasks are specifically designed for adult continuing education learners, providing opportunities to demonstrate mastery of key course concepts in a format that aligns with their educational needs and professional goals.
Learning Outcomes
In this course, learners will:
- Examine theological foundations for eco-spirituality across traditions
- Analyze structural causes of ecological harm from a faith-based lens
- Evaluate how eco-theologies intersect with social justice
- Interpret scriptural texts through ecological lenses
- Explore the role of religious institutions in climate advocacy
- Engage in comparative religious analysis of nature and creation
- Articulate a faith-informed response to ecological challenges
About the Instructor
Rosemary Boissonneau is a PhD candidate in Theological Studies at Regis St Michael’s Faculty of Theology, specializing in ecotheology and Hebrew Bible. She is also a teaching assistant for the Gilson Seminar in Faith and Ideas in the USMC’s Christianity and Culture Program. She holds a MA in theology from St. Mike’s and a Certificate of Specialization in Theology and Ecology from the Elliott Allen Institute for Theology and Ecology, where she studied socio-ecological justice and eco-spirituality from a variety of spiritual traditions. An activist in the climate movement for over ten years, Boissonneau has been especially involved in faith-based climate action, organizing and mobilizing faith communities in a multi-faith context in Toronto with such groups as For the Love of Creation, Fridays for Future and ClimateFast. As a research associate for Regis St. Michael’s Critical Conversations in Catholic Education Project, she helped develop workshops and resources for educators that explore youth climate anxiety from a spiritual perspective. Boissonneau has also worked as an editorial assistant on several academic volumes in ecotheology, eco-spirituality and ecological ethics.
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Exploring Faith, Identity, and Justice through Peacebuilding
- Delivery: Online
- Duration: 6 weeks
- Day of the Week: Tuesdays
- Dates: January 13 to February 17, 2026
- Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- Location: Online via Zoom
- 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 Deeds
Course Overview
This course explores the intersections of faith, identity, and justice through the lens of peacebuilding and reconciliation. Students will engage with historical and contemporary examples of faith-inspired peacebuilders, analyze how religion and media can both foster and hinder peace, and reflect on their own roles as agents of change. Through engaged learning, critical reflection, and compassionate dialogue, students will develop the skills necessary for meaningful interfaith engagement and transformative action.
SMCE3007 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.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will:
- Create personal reflections and action plans for peacebuilding in communities.
- Understand the role of religion in both conflict and peacebuilding.
- Analyze media narratives and their impact on public perception and peace.
- Apply interfaith principles to real-world peace initiatives.
- Evaluate historical and contemporary peacebuilders through a faith-based lens.
Method of Instruction
Teaching methods combine weekly two-hour lectures with student-led presentations, reflective writing, and case study analysis. Learners will also benefit from guest speakers and multimedia resources, as well as interactive learning activities such as documentary viewings that connect theory to real-world contexts.
About the Instructor
Shahin Pardhan, MBA
Shahin Pardhan created and teaches Islam in the Workplace (MOS 2222), an organizational behaviour course that equips students to foster inclusive work environments through understanding Islamic practices and religious accommodation. She holds a BBA and MBA from the Schulich School of Business and has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and corporate sectors. Shahin is a long-time community advocate, serving as the Muslim representative at the award-winning London Interfaith Peace Camp for over a decade, and she regularly speaks at interfaith events across high schools, universities, and faith communities. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes inclusive, experiential learning that connects theory to practice and empowers students to lead with empathy and integrity.
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Engage in Meaningful Communication Across Differences
- Delivery: Online via Zoom
- Duration: 6 weeks
- Day of the week: Thursdays
- Dates: February 26 to April 2, 2026
- Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
- Location: Online via Zoom
- 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): Core Course
Course Overview
This foundational course provides a practical introduction to interfaith dialogue, equipping learners with tools to engage in meaningful conversations across religious and cultural differences. Learners will explore the four levels of dialogue — the dialogue of life, the dialogue of action, the dialogue of theological exchange, and the dialogue of religious experience. Emphasising real-world application, this course fosters skills in active listening, and conflict transformation. By the end of the course, you will more confidently navigate interfaith conversations, fostering understanding and collaboration in your communities and professional settings.
**SMCE3000 is the foundational course for the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue. It is recommended that learners who wish to complete this Diploma program take this course first.
Micro Credential
Learners who successfully complete SMCE3000 will receive a micro credential for this course.
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.
Method of Teaching
This course will be delivered in online via Zoom. Interactive discussions, case-based learning, and reflection will be used to practise the application of tools for effective interfaith dialogue practice.
Learning Outcomes
- Define interfaith dialogue and its significance in today’s world
- Identify and apply the four levels of interreligious dialogue
- Cultivate greater personal openness to, and tools for, interreligious dialogue and engagement, and communicating effectively across difference
- Practice dialogue techniques through structured exercises and real-world scenarios
- Reflect critically on lived examples of interreligious dialogue and collaboration in Canada, the Greater Toronto Area, and students’ own local contexts
- Create a personal or professional action plan for implementing interfaith dialogue skills
About the Instructor
Dr. Mia Theocharis is the Director of Advocacy, Emerging Campuses at Hillel Ontario, where she leads strategic initiatives to support Jewish students and allies on campuses without a formal Hillel presence. In this role, she develops student leadership pipelines, designs targeted programming, and works closely with university administrators and EDI offices to address student concerns. With nearly a decade of experience in higher education—as a researcher, educator, and advocate—she is deeply committed to bridging scholarly insight with real-world impact. Mia completed her PhD in Theological Studies at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. Her research explores Jewish-Christian relations from the 19th to 21st centuries, with particular attention to antisemitism, the Holocaust, and the Second Vatican Council declaration Nostra aetate. Through historical methodology, critical analysis, and interdisciplinary research, her work aims to confront antisemitism, foster interreligious and interideological understanding, and ensure the lessons of the past inform our present. Her dissertation, supported by a prestigious SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship, examines the development and influence of Canadian Catholic theologian Gregory Baum’s theological thought on Jewish-Christian relations in Canada and internationally. In the classroom, Mia cultivates inclusive spaces where students grapple with complex histories, reflect on their contemporary relevance, and engage in interfaith dialogue as a vital practice for understanding others as they understand themselves—grounded in empathy, humility, and intellectual integrity.
Questions?
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Please sign up for the latest news about our courses, programs, workshops, special lectures, and more.