final PROJECTs
All students in the MCS and ThM programs have to complete some type of final project in order to graduate.
MCS students have a choice of:- a comprehensive examination/paper
- a thesis
- an Integrative Project in the Arts and Theology (IPIAT)
- a thesis
- a major paper
MDiv students do not need to complete a final project. Instead, their program includes a supervised ministry component and additional course work.
Comprehensive Examination/Paper (3 credits)
Comprehensive exam
The comprehensive examination tests the breadth of your knowledge within a concentration. The exam includes a written component, and, if required by your examining professor, an oral component.
Preparation
You prepare by reading a representative selection of material (normally between 3,000 and 4,000 pages) chosen by your concentration coordinator.
What to expect
The written examination is normally three or four hours long, and focuses on specific questions taken from topics related to the reading list. The oral examination, if required, will be more general within the field of interest and will provide the opportunity to amplify what has been tested in the written examination.
Grading
The final grade will be determined by your performance in the written, and if required, oral exam. The oral exam will not detract from the grade achieved in the written part, but may enhance it. The passing grade for the comprehensive exam is B-.
How to register
- Meet with your concentration coordinator to arrange for a member of faculty to serve as your supervisor.
- Complete the Comprehensive Exam/Paper Registration Form and have it signed by your supervisor.
Upcoming deadlines
- October 12, 2012: deadline to register for a comprehensive exam/paper for Fall 2012.
- February 15, 2013: deadline to register for a comprehensive exam/paper for Winter 2013.
Upcoming exam dates
- November 26–December 7, 2012for Fall Term.
- April 2–12, 2013 for Winter Term.
The Registration Office will notify you of the precise date and time of your written exam shortly after the registration deadline stated above, but you will need to consult with your supervisor to arrange an oral exam if it is required.
You are required to take the comprehensive exam in the term in which you register for it.
Comprehensive paper
Upon special approval of your supervisor, the exam may take the form of a major paper. As this is an alternative within the comprehensive exam track, similar policies apply. You should be aware that this option will probably consume more time than the exam option.
Preparation
The paper will be based on the same reading list as the exam.
What to expect
The paper should be approximately 10,000 words (40 pages) and should demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of all the material on the reading list.
Grading
The faculty supervisor will select a second reader for the paper. Each of them will grade the paper and together, they may conduct an oral exam that will cover both the paper and the reading. The final grade will be determined by your performance in both the paper and the oral exam. The oral exam will not detract from the grade achieved in the paper, but may enhance it. The passing grade for a comprehensive paper is B-.
How to register
- Meet with your concentration coordinator to arrange for a member of faculty to serve as your supervisor.
- Complete the Comprehensive Exam/Paper Registration Form and have it signed by your supervisor.
Upcoming deadlines
- October 12, 2012: deadline to register for a comprehensive exam/paper for Fall 2012.
- February 15, 2013: deadline to register for a comprehensive exam/paper for Winter 2013.
Thesis (12 credits)
The thesis is a substantial piece of independent research on a specific, focused subject, involving both critical analysis and theological reflection.
What to expect
The thesis is normally between 30,000 and 45,000 words (including footnotes, but excluding the bibliography). The thesis requires considerable vigour and time; few students are able to complete a thesis in one term. It is ideal for students whose specific area of interest is highly defined. You must have a GPA of at least 3.5 before being approved to write a thesis.
Grading
The final grade will be determined by the supervisor and the second reader, chosen by the Thesis Proposal Approval Committee. The passing grade for an MCS or ThM thesis is B; however, the ThM thesis will be graded at an advanced level (i.e. it will be tougher to get a B on the ThM thesis than an MCS thesis).
How to register
- Register for and attend the non-credit Thesis Orientation Seminar GENR 301 offered each Fall and Winter term (mandatory for MCS students; optional but recommended for ThM students).
- Consult the Thesis Guidelines .
- Approach a member of faculty to serve as your thesis supervisor. The College will endeavour to facilitate thesis supervision in the area of choice; however, admission to the program does not guarantee this.
- Submit a thesis proposal to the Thesis Proposal Approval Committee (see deadlines below). The Committee may accept the proposal as it stands, reject the proposal, or make recommendations for revision.
- Submit the Thesis Registration Form , signed by your supervisor, either by the end of the term that the proposal is approved, or by the thesis registration deadline of the subsequent term.
Registration for the thesis may be done in the Fall, Winter, or Summer Term, and may be split over two consecutive terms. If the thesis registration is split over two terms, you do not need to submit a registration form for the final 6 credits; you will automatically be registered and charged for the credits at the beginning of the subsequent term (including Summer), and you must pay the fees by the tuition payment due date of that term.
Thesis Proposal Approval Committee Deadlines
| Term | Submission Deadline | Committee Date |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2012 |
September 5 October 3 October 31 November 14 |
September 19 October 17 November 14 November 28 |
| Winter 2013 |
January 17 February 7 February 28 March 14 |
January 31 February 21 March 14 March 28 |
Upcoming deadlines
- December 7, 2012: deadline to register for a comprehensive exam/paper for Fall 2012.
- January 31, 2013: deadline to submit your thesis to your supervisor for grading
- January 31, 2013: deadline to apply for graduation without incurring a late fee. No applications will be accepted after March 15, 2013.
If you plan to graduate on May 3, 2013, you must complete your thesis by these dates:
- March 22, 2013: submit your thesis to the Registrar's Office for proofreading.
- April 29, 2013: submit the final copy of your thesis to the Registrar's Office for binding.
Completion timeline
Beginning from September 1 following the registration of the thesis, you have a maximum of three years to complete the thesis (provided you are still within the time limit for your program). If you do not complete within three years, you must appeal in writing to the Academic Standards Committee for permission to continue. Your appeal must include:
- a description of the progress you have made
- an explanation of why you did not complete your thesis
- a proposed date for completion
- a letter of support from your supervisor
Extensions are by no means guaranteed.
You can find the refunds for withdrawal from a thesis or IPIAT schedulehere.
Integrative Project in the Arts and Theology (IPIAT) (6 or 12 credits)
The integrative project in the arts and theology (IPIAT) provides an opportunity for students who have experience in the arts to create and present an original work of art (e.g., a novel, paintings, the writing and performance of music or a play) and to reflect on it theologically. This option is offered solely to students completing a concentration in Christianity and the Arts, and may be taken for either 6 or 12 credit hours depending on the size of the project.
What to expect
In addition to presenting an original work of art, you will complete a critical essay of 20 to 30 pages engaging in theological and aesthetic reflection on the medium and tradition in which the integrative project in the arts and theology is done. The IPIAT is primarily intended for people who have already achieved significant competency in their chosen art field. You will need to present a portfolio of work for adjudication as part of the proposal process. The level of completed work is expected to be publishable, acceptable for juried exhibit, or ready for performance. If you are at a more exploratory stage with regard to your chosen medium or genre, you may be required to take some courses through UBC, or art schools or community colleges outside your Regent program. You must have a GPA of at least 3.3 before being approved to do an IPIAT.
Grading
The passing grade for the integrative project in the arts and theology is B.
How to register
- Register for and attend the non-credit IPIAT Orientation GENR 313 offered every Fall and Winter Term.
- Take INDS 560 The Christian Imagination, normally offered in the Fall Term.
- Take INDS 785 The Vocation of the Artist seminar, normally offered in the Fall Term. As a prerequisisite for the seminar, you need to present a portfolio of your work and a cv showing other relevant training, performance, or publishing in that art form, to one of the seminar instructors to obtain permission to take the course.
- Approach a member of faculty to supervise your project. While the College will endeavour to facilitate supervision in the area and art form of your choosing, admission to the MCS program does not guarantee this.
- Submit a proposal to the Arts Advisory Committee (see deadlines below). The Committee may accept the proposal as it stands, reject the proposal, or make recommendations for revision.
- Read the IPIAT Guidelines .
- Register for the IPIAT using the IPIAT Registration Form , either by the end of the term that the proposal is approved, or by the registration deadline of the subsequent term.
Arts Advisory Committee Deadlines
| Term | Submission Deadline | Committee Date |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2012 |
October 1 November 13 |
October 15 November 26 |
| Winter 2013 |
January 24 March 14 |
February 7 March 28 |
Upcoming deadlines
- December 7, 2012: deadline to register for an IPIAT for Fall 2012.
- April 12, 2013: deadline to register for an IPIAT for Winter 2013.
If you plan to graduate on May 3, 2013, you must present your IPIAT by these deadlines:
- April 12, 2013: Deadline for public presentation of IPIAT. The paper must be submitted to the supervisor and second reader for grading ten days prior to the public presentation.
- April 29, 2013: Final copy of paper and record of IPIAT presentation submitted to the Arts Administrator, complete with title page and IPIAT Checklist .
Completion timeline
Beginning from September 1 following the registration for the IPIAT, you have a maximum of three years to complete your project (provided you are still within the time limit for your program). If you do not complete within three years, you must appeal in writing to the Academic Standards Committee for permission to continue. Your appeal must include:
- a description of the progress you have made
- an explanation of why you did not complete your project
- a proposed date for completion
- a letter of support from your supervisor
Extensions are by no means guaranteed.
You can find the refunds for withdrawal from a thesis or IPIAT schedule here.
