Postgraduate Diploma - Pastoral Thanatology

Thanatology is the study of grief, bereavement, death and dying. This growing discipline explores the grieving process, ethical issues surrounding death and dying, cultural, gender and societal attitudes towards death, the issues facing both the dying and the bereaved, and the place of ritual and memorialization.

The Post-Graduate Diploma in Pastoral Thanatology provides educational requirements for the Certified Thanatologist Pastoral Specialist (CTPS) designation. Admission requirement for this post-graduate diploma is a Master’s degree from an accredited theological school and an interview with program coordinator or designate.

Many Thanatology students find that ministering to others through grief or loss is rewarding, benefiting the recipient through a difficult period in their life. The program will equip students with the knowledge and skills for assisting those facing or coping with grief and death from the perspective of both the dying and the bereaved. The course will also direct students toward biblical and spiritual resources in grief and bereavement.