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Bachelor of Theology program

Please see the following list:

Also see Program requirements for more information.

General information

The Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) may be taken as a first or second baccalaureate degree in the Faculty of Religious Studies.

ATS accreditation

The Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) program offered by McGill and the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program offered by the Theological Colleges are together fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the U.S. and Canada (ATS).

Admission requirements

The B.Th. program has three points of entry:

  1. To enter the 120-credit degree program from outside Quebec, the applicant must hold a high school diploma, unless you qualify as a mature student. A maximum of 60 credits from another institution of higher learning can be considered for transfer into the 120-credit program.
  2. To enter the 90-credit first-degree program, the applicant is expected to have completed the Diploma of Collegial Studies (DCS) of a Quebec CEGEP with a minimum average Cote R of 24, or the equivalent elsewhere. A maximum of 30 credits from another institution of higher learning can be considered for transfer into this program.
  3. To enter the 60-credit program, the applicant must have completed a Bachelor of Arts or other Bachelor’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 2.7 (B-). No credits can be transferred from another institution of higher learning into the 60-credit program.

Any McGill student in good standing, with a minimum of 30 credits, may apply for transfer from their current degree program into the B.Th. program. BTh students entering the 120- or 90-credit programs are free to pursue Minors in other departments, schools, or faculties, in consultation with their BTh adviser(s).

Mature students admission policy

Those who will be 23 years of age or older by September 1 of the year that they seek admission (or by January 1 for admission to the Winter Term), and who lack the academic qualifications normally required for entry into the B.Th. program may apply as mature students for admission to a qualifying year in the B.Th. program.

Admitted students enroll in a qualifying year (30 credits) of designated Religious Studies and Arts courses (determined by the Chair of the Bachelor of Theology Committee).

Those who, during the qualifying year, earn a CGPA of 2.5 to 2.9 (with no grade less than 60%) normally will be granted admission to the 120-credit Bachelor of Theology program. Credits completed during the qualifying year may be applied toward the 120 credit requirement.

Those who, during the qualifying year, earn a CGPA of at least 3.0 (having taken 30 credits, including at least two 300-level courses and with no grade less than 65%) normally will be granted admission to the 90-credit Bachelor of Theology program. Credits completed during the qualifying year may be applied toward the 90 credit requirement.

Students who, during the qualifying year, do not earn a minimum CGPA of 2.5 or who have grades less than 60%, may apply to retake courses, pending approval of the Chair of the Bachelor of Theology Committee.

Proof of Proficiency in English

The language of instruction for most courses at McGill University is English; however, you may make arrangements to write term papers, examinations and theses in English or in French, except in courses where knowledge of the language is one of the objectives of the course. You must demonstrate an adequate level of English proficiency prior to admission to McGill, regardless of citizenship status or country of origin. For non-Canadian applicants whose mother tongue is not English, a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required, with a minimum score of 577 for the paper based version and of 90 for the new internet based composite score (iBT). For the iBT a minimum score of 21 is also required in each individual component of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Permanent residents of Canada may be required to submit a TOEFL score as well. Note: The McGill ETS Institution code is: 0935

Applying to the Bachelor of Theology Program

All applications must be made on-line at the McGill University website for prospective students: applying online. The on-line application process should take about 20 minutes and a credit card is required for payment of the application fee. Once completed, the on-line application form may be printed for your own records.

For more information contact studaffairs [dot] relg [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Student Affairs) or by calling (514) 398-5320.

Note: Owing to McGill University's implementation of a comprehensive on-line applications system, paper applications to the B.Th. Program can no longer be accepted. All applicants must apply on-line.

Required documents

  • Transcript(s) of all previous post-secondary academic work. Copies of your unofficial transcript(s) can be uploaded to complete your application. Official transcript(s) are required only if you are admitted and must be mailed directly from the institution to the mailing address below.
  • Personal Statement, according to the directions in the application. Please download and use the attached form. Personal Statement Form

NEW! Uploading your documents: After your application has been received, you will be given access to your Minerva account, where, you will be able to upload your unofficial transcripts and personal statement to complete your application. You can find full instructions on how to prepare, upload, and submit relevant documents on this website:http://www.mcgill.ca/applying/submitting_your_documents/uploadingdocuments/

  • Two letters of recommendation including at least one from an instructor in an academic institution previously attended. Your referee must download and use the attached form. BTh Reference Form

The two letters of recommendation must be sent to the mailing address below. If you are applying for admission to one of the theological colleges, another complete set of these required documents must also be sent to the college concerned.

If you are applying for admission to one of the theological colleges, another complete set of these required documents must also be sent to the college concerned.

Please note that your file will not be considered by the Admissions Committee until all the required documents have been received.

Mailing Address:

McGill University
Bachelor of Theology Program
Enrolment Services
Documentation Centre
McGill University
688 Sherbrooke Street West, Room 760
Montreal, Quebec H3A 3R1 Canada

In-Person Delivery and Courier Address:

Enrolment Services
Service Point
McGill University
3415 McTavish Street
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1Y1 Canada

Application deadlines

Applicants to the B.Th. Program may be accepted into the Fall, Winter or Summer Term.  The on-line application deadlines are listed below.

May 1st for September Admission (Canadian and International applicants)

June 15th for September Admission (College affiliated applicants only)

September 15th for January Admission (International applicants)

November 1st for January Admission (Canadian applicants)

March 1st for May Admission (Canadian and International applicants)

Please note that all required documents listed above must be received by the Faculty of Religious Studies prior to these deadlines in order for the applicant to be considered by the Admissions Committee.

Tuition fees and funding

Information concerning current tuition fees may be found at the following website: student accounts. Applicants for admission to one of the affiliated Colleges should contact the institution concerned for information regarding College-related fees.

Admission Review Procedure

An unsuccessful applicant, or a Faculty of Religious Studies Council member acting on behalf of an unsuccessful applicant, who believes that not all factors having a bearing on the application have been fully considered may submit a request for a review of the decision.

The request must be made in writing and directed to the Chair of the B.Th. Admissions and Awards Committee. A $40.00 certified cheque or money-order made payable to McGill University must accompany the request.

The request for review must include information in support of reconsideration, such as: a description of significant change in the applicant’s circumstances since the initial consideration; correction of any missing or erroneous information in the application, or information that the applicant believes may have been overlooked when the original decision was made.

Requests for reconsideration must be received at McGill no more than two weeks after notification of refusal.

The review procedure will be carried out by the B.Th. Admissions and Awards Committee. Please note that the original admission decision will stand unless the Committee is persuaded that admissions standards have been misapplied or that an applicant’s academic record has been misapprehended.

Decisions on Special, Visiting, and Exchange applications are final; requests for reconsideration will not be considered.

Registration procedures

Students register on-line at: Minerva for students. "Minerva" for students provides web access to registration, class schedules, course descriptions, and address changes.

  • Returning students must register via Minerva between April 7 and the first day of classes. After this period a late registration fee will be applied.
  • New students accepted from CEGEP should register via Minerva between June 9 and September 14, 2010. All other new students should register via Minerva between July 27 and September 14, 2010. After September 1 a late registration fee will be applied.
  • All B.Th. students should consult their before registration.

Withdrawal procedures

Dropping or adding courses must be done via Minerva, prior to the deadline listed under registration procedures. The permission of the advisor is required for all changes to course selection. In case of withdrawal from the University prior to the published course withdrawal deadline, the student must withdraw from all courses via Minerva. In addition students must contact the Chair of the B.Th. Committee and complete the necessary withdrawal form.

Readmission

Students requesting readmission to the B.Th. program after an absence of one academic term or more must submit an electronic readmission application. The on-line application is available as of March 1 through the Student Records menu once you have logged into Minerva. Supporting documents, if applicable, must be sent separately to the Student Affairs Office, Henry and William Birks Building Room 109, 3520 University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A7.

  • Students should state the reasons for their absence from the University and give a summary of their activities during that period. Requests must be submitted before April 1 for readmission in May, June 1 for readmission in September and November 1 for readmission in January.
  • Students who withdrew because of illness should provide a medical note stating that they are ready to resume their studies.

Inter-faculty transfer

If you are currently registered at McGill in another degree program and you wish to transfer into the Faculty of Religious Studies, Bachelor of Theology (BTh) program for the fall term, you must submit an electronic transfer application by June 1. The on-line application is available as of March 1 through the Student Records menu once you have logged into Minerva. Supporting documents must be sent to the Student Affairs Office, Henry and William Birks Building Room 109, 3520 University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A7.

Required Supporting Documents

  • Two letters of recommendation including at least one from an instructor in an academic institution previously attended. Your referee must download and use the attached form. BTh Reference Form
  • Personal Statement, according to the directions in the application. Please download and use the attached form. Personal Statement Form

If you are currently registered in the B.Th. program, and you wish to transfer for the fall term to another faculty, you must submit an electronic transfer application by June 1. The on-line application is available as of March 1 through the Student Records menu once you have logged into Minerva. Supporting documents, if applicable, must be sent separately. Please consult the appropriate Faculty website for detailed information.

Graduation requirements

  1. The Bachelor of Theology is either a 120-credit program (for those admitted from outside Quebec and without a prior Bachelor's degree), a 90-credit program (for those who apply on the basis of a Quebec DCS or equivalent) or a 60-credit program (for those who apply on the basis of a recognized Bachelor's degree.
  2. Qualification for the degree shall include satisfactory standing (a grade of C or better) in all required courses and the complementary courses specified in year three, and the accumulation of sufficient acceptable credits to make a total of either 60 or 90-credits. It should be noted that students who take the B.Th. program as part of the Master of Divinity program need to maintain a minimum CGPA of 2.5 to be eligible for the M.Div. degree.
  3. Normally the program credits must be earned within five years from the date of entrance.

Course selection

You are to seek the guidance of your adviser(s) when registering for courses. You must have your courses approved and your Minerva form signed by the Chair of the B.Th. Committee before classes begin. If you are affiliated with one of the Theological Colleges, your Minerva form must first be approved and signed by your College adviser.

Academic standing and course loads

Satisfactory Standing: Students enter the university in satisfactory standing and remain in this standing unless their GPA (grade point average) or CGPA (cumulative grade point average) for any year drops below 2.00. The normal course load in any academic session is five courses per term (15 credits per term). A student with a high GPA (at least 3.00) may take more than the normal five courses per term.

Probationary Standing: A student is placed in probationary standing if either the CGPA or the term GPA falls between 1.50 and 1.99. (For part-time students, the GPA is calculated on the basis of the last 9 credits.) Students in probationary standing may take a minimum of 6 credits and a maxi¬mum of 12 credits per term.

A student in probationary standing returns to satisfactory standing by completing 12 additional credits with a GPA of at least 2.50, or by completing 12 credits with a GPA and a CGPA of 2.00 or greater.

A student in probationary standing who fails to achieve the lev¬els of performance specified above will be placed in unsatisfactory standing, with the exception of those who obtain a GPA of 1.50-1.99 while continuing to have a CGPA of 2.00 or greater.

Unsatisfactory Standing: A GPA of less than 1.50 places a student in unsatisfactory standing.

A student in unsatisfactory standing will have to withdraw or seek re-admission as a probationary student with special permission from the B.Th. Committee and the Dean. A student who is readmitted on probationary standing may have additional restrictions or conditions to meet, over and above those required of students referred to above under "Probationary Standing." A student in unsatisfactory standing for the second time must withdraw permanently.

Incomplete Standing: A student whose record in any year shows a mark of K, K*, L, L*, or && will have no GPA or CGPA calculated for that year, and the record will show "Standing Incomplete." After completing the appropriate course requirements the GPA and CGPA will be calculated and the student's standing determined as described above.

A student whose standing is still "incomplete" at the time of registration for the next academic year must obtain a Letter of Permission to Register from the Chair of the B.The. Committee.

Academic achievement

Several designations are used to acknowledge the superior academic achievement of in-course and graduating students. These designations are awarded at the discretion of Faculty:

  1. Distinction: to designate graduating students, not in Honours, who have completed a minimum of 60 credits at McGill and achieved a CGPA of 3.30-3.49.
  2. Great Distinction: to designate graduating students, not in Honours, who have completed a minimum of 60 credits at McGill and achieved a CGPA of 3.50 or better.
  3. Honours: to designate graduating students who have completed a minimum of 60 credits at McGill and have fulfilled the honours course requirements with a CGPA of 3.20 or 3.50 for First Class Honours.
  4. Dean's Honour List: to designate graduating students with a CGPA of 3.50 or better. This designation applies in addition to those described in b) and c) above, except that it may not normally be awarded to more than 10% of the graduating class.
  5. Dean's Honour List: to designate in-course students who have completed a minimum of 27 credits during regular session (14 credits for those registered for one term) and have attained a GPA placing them in the top 5-10% of their class.

Evaluation

Competence in a course may be determined by examinations and/or essays, or by other means chosen by the instructor and approved by the Dean.

Updated on Wed, 2011-12-07 16:18
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