Antiochian House of Studies to Offer Master of Eastern Orthodox Canon Law (Online, Fall 2027)

# What the new degree is

Studies (AHOS) has announced a Master of Eastern Orthodox Canon Law, a fully online 51-credit graduate degree intended to give clergy, lay leaders, educators, and researchers a rigorous grounding in the Church's canonical tradition. AHOS anticipates launching the program in fall 2027.

# Program structure and schedule

The degree comprises 51 credits delivered across six semesters. That total breaks down into 39 core credits, 6 elective credits, and a 6-credit thesis. The program is being developed and submitted within AHOS's existing academic and accreditation framework.

# Coursework and skills students will gain

Core coursework covers a sequence of practical and historical subjects:

• Church governance and questions of Church-state relations.
• Marriage and family law as treated in canonical sources.
• Rules and norms for clergy and monastic life.
• The Holy Mysteries and their canonical regulation.
• Ecclesiastical courts, discipline, and contemporary canonical questions.

Students will also study canonical Greek to work directly with primary texts. The combination of language training and doctrinal, historical, and practical courses is designed to allow graduates to read primary canons and apply them in contemporary contexts.

# Who the program is for

AHOS positions the degree for a range of learners: ordained clergy seeking formal canonical training, lay leaders who support parish or diocesan administration, teachers and seminary instructors, researchers and translators working with canonical texts, and professionals serving on ecclesiastical courts or in diocesan offices. The program is intended to serve students in the United States, Canada, and beyond because it will be delivered fully online.

# Intended outcomes and career trajectories

AHOS says the degree will prepare graduates to:

• Teach canon law and related courses in parish and academic settings.
• Conduct research and publish on canonical topics.
• Translate canonical texts, especially using skills in canonical Greek.
• Provide diocesan and parish support on canonical, administrative, and disciplinary matters.
• Serve in church administration or on ecclesiastical tribunals.

# Timeline and rollout

AHOS is developing the curriculum now and will submit the program within its existing academic and accreditation processes. The school anticipates opening the program in fall 2027, with enrollment aimed at a broad North American and international audience.

# Practical considerations for prospective applicants

The degree is fully online, which removes geographic barriers but will require students to manage pacing across six semesters and complete a 6-credit thesis. Prospective applicants should prepare for language work in canonical Greek and for coursework that spans historical, theological, and procedural material.

# What to watch next

Watch for AHOS announcements about admission requirements, tuition, application deadlines, faculty, and course schedules as the curriculum moves through the school's academic approval process ahead of fall 2027 enrollment.