91˿Ƶ

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.)

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Overview of Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.)

The main goals of the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) program are:


  1. to offer the academic instruction in the disciplines of theology within a university setting;
  2. to contribute to preparation for ministry in the contemporary world by giving special attention to the Canadian and North American contexts, the Quebec context, and religious pluralism.

The Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) may be taken as a first or second baccalaureate degree.

As a first degree (90 or 120 credits) it offers a more intensive study of Christianity than is available within the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) programs, while also permitting the student to combine this specialization with other academic or professional interests, whether in Religious Studies or in other faculties and schools of the University.

As a second bachelor’s degree (60 credits) the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) program is designed primarily for those who intend to qualify for the ordained ministry in a Christian denomination, although here too some students pursue the degree out of an interest in the academic study of theology for its own sake, or with a view to combining these studies with proficiency gained in other disciplines. The 60-credit program forms the core of the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) degree.

Those studying for the ordained ministry usually pursue the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) as part of a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) offered by one of the three Theological Colleges affiliated with 91˿Ƶ in the Montreal School of Theology: Montreal Diocesan Theological College (Anglican Church of Canada), the Presbyterian College (Presbyterian Church in Canada), and United Theological College (United Church of Canada).

ATS Accreditation

ATS Accreditation

The B.Th. program offered by 91˿Ƶ and the 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).

Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

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


  1. To enter the 120-credit degree program from outside Quebec, you must hold a high school diploma, with a minimum average of 75%, or the equivalent. 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, you are expected to have completed the Diploma of Collegial Studies (DCS) from a Quebec CEGEP with a minimum average of 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, you must have completed a B.A. 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 91˿Ƶ student in good standing, with a minimum of 30 credits, may apply for transfer from their current degree program into a B.Th. program.

Mature Student 91˿Ƶ Policy

Mature Student 91˿Ƶ 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 enrol in a qualifying year (30 credits) of designated Religious Studies and Arts courses (determined by the Chair of the B.Th. 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 B.Th. 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 B.Th. 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 B.Th. Committee.

Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)
Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Competence in English

Competence in English

Please note that for non-Canadian applicants whose mother tongue is not English, documented proof of competency in oral and written English by an appropriate examination is required. A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 577 for the paper-based version is required as is 90 for the new internet-based composite score (iBT). Each individual component of reading, writing, listening, and speaking for iBT has a minimum score of 21. Permanent residents of Canada may be required to submit a TOEFL score as well. All official documents must be sent to the Faculty of Religious Studies address given in Applying to the B.Th. Program.

Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Applying to the B.Th. Program

Applying to the B.Th. Program

All applications must be made online at the 91˿Ƶ website for prospective students: www.mcgill.ca/applying. The online application process should take about 20 minutes and a credit card is required for payment of the application fee. Once completed, the online application form may be printed for your own records.

Note: Owing to 91˿Ƶ's implementation of a comprehensive online application system, paper applications to the B.Th. Program can no longer be accepted. All applicants must apply online.

Required Documents

Required Documents


  • Two letters of reference, at least one of which should be from an instructor in an academic institution previously attended.

  • A personal statement, according to the directions in the application.

  • Official transcript(s) of all previous post-secondary academic work.

A complete set of these required documents must be sent to the Faculty of Religious Studies (see 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.

Please note that your file will not be considered by the 91˿Ƶ Committee until all the required documents have been received.

Mailing Address

Mailing Address


  • Bachelor of Theology Program
  • 91˿Ƶ
  • Enrolment Services Documentation Centre
  • 688 Sherbrooke Street West
  • Montreal, Quebec H3A 3R1
  • Canada
Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Application Deadlines

Application Deadlines for the B.Th. Program

Applicants to the B.Th. Program may be accepted into either the Fall, Winter, or Summer term. The online application deadline is June 15 (May 1 for International students) for September admissions; November 1 for January admissions and March 1 for May admissions. 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 91˿Ƶ Committee.

Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Tuition Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees and Funding

Information concerning current tuition fees can be found at: www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts. Applicants for admission to one of the affiliated Colleges should contact the institution concerned for information regarding College-related fees.

Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

91˿Ƶ Review Procedure

91˿Ƶ 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. 91˿Ƶ and Awards Committee. A $40 certified cheque or money-order made payable to 91˿Ƶ 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 91˿Ƶ no more than 2 weeks after notification of refusal.

The review procedure will be carried out by the B.Th. 91˿Ƶ 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.

Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Registration Procedures

Registration Procedures

Students register online at www.mcgill.ca/minerva.

Minerva 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 adviser before registration.
Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Withdrawal Procedures

Withdrawal Procedures

Withdrawal from and adding courses prior to the deadline listed in this publication (see Registration Procedures) must be done via Minerva. The permission of the adviser is required for all such changes in the initial registration. In case of withdrawal from the University prior to the published course withdrawal deadline, you must withdraw from all courses via Minerva. In addition, you must contact the Chair of the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) Committee and complete the necessary withdrawal form.

Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements


  1. The B.Th. is either a 120-credit program (if you were admitted from outside Quebec and without a prior Bachelor's degree), a 90-credit program (if you were admitted on the basis of a Quebec D.C.S. or equivalent), or a 60-credit program (if you were admitted on the basis of a recognized Bachelor's degree).
  2. Qualification for the degree must include satisfactory standing (a grade of C or better) in all required courses and the complementary courses specified in Year 3, and the accumulation of enough acceptable credits to make a total of either 60, 90 or 120 credits. It should be noted that if you take the B.Th. program as part of the M.Div. program, you 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.
Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Course Selection

Course Selection

If you are a candidate for the ministry from one of the three Theological Colleges associated with the Faculty, you must select your courses in consultation with your College advisers. The course selection form needs to be signed by the Chair of the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) Committee.

If you are seeking the degree and you are not sponsored by one of the three Colleges associated with the Faculty, you will need to clear your course selections with the Chair of the B.Th. Committee.

In all cases, this consultation should take place before registration.

Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Academic Standing and Course Loads

Academic Standing and Course Loads

Satisfactory Standing

Satisfactory Standing

You enter the University in satisfactory standing and remain in this standing unless your 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). If you have a high GPA (at least 3.00), you may take more than the normal five courses per term.

Probationary Standing

Probationary Standing

You are placed in probationary standing if either your CGPA or your term GPA falls between 1.50 and 1.99. (If you are a part-time student, your GPA is calculated on the basis of your last 9 credits.) While in probationary standing, you may take a minimum of 6 credits and a maximum of 12 credits per term.

While in probationary standing, you may return 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.

As a student in probationary standing, if you fail to achieve the levels of performance specified above, you will be placed in unsatisfactory standing, unless you obtain a GPA of 1.50-1.99 while continuing to have a CGPA of 2.00 or greater.

Unsatisfactory Standing

Unsatisfactory Standing

You are placed in unsatisfactory standing if you have a GPA of less than 1.50.

As a student in unsatisfactory standing, you will have to withdraw, or seek readmission as a probationary student with special permission from the B.Th. Committee and the Dean. If you are a student who is readmitted on probationary standing, you may have additional restrictions or conditions to meet over and above those required of students referred to above under “Probationary Standing”.

In the event that you are placed in unsatisfactory standing for a second time, you must withdraw permanently.

Incomplete Standing

Incomplete Standing

If, in any year, your record shows a mark of K, K*, L, L*, or &&, you will have no GPA or CGPA calculated for that year, and your record will show “Standing Incomplete”. After completing the appropriate course requirements, your GPA and CGPA will be calculated and your standing determined as described above.

If your standing is still “incomplete” at the time of registration for the next academic year, you must obtain a Letter of Permission to Register from the Chair of the B.Th. Committee.

Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Academic Achievement

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 the Faculty.

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.

Graduation Honours

Graduation Honours

Dean's Honour List:For information on the designation of Dean’s Honour List awarded at graduation, see the University Regulations and General Information section of this publication.

Distinction:For information on the designation of Distinction awarded at graduation, see the University Regulations and General Information section of this publication.

Honours:to designate graduating students who have completed a minimum of 60 credits at 91˿Ƶ and have fulfilled the Honours course requirements with a CGPA of 3.20, or 3.50 for First Class Honours.

Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)
Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Evaluation

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.

Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) - Religious Studies (120 credits)

The Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) degree requires 120 credits. Many students enter the program with advanced standing, and their credit requirement for the degree is adjusted accordingly.

All students should discuss their course selection with their program adviser.

The required and complementary course requirements below describe the program for students who enter in Year 1 (U1) with 30 credits of advanced standing based on a Quebec Diploma of Collegial Studies (D.E.C.).

Students admitted directly from high school into U0 should consult their program adviser regarding appropriate courses for their first year of study.

Students admitted on the basis of a bachelor degree will have advanced standing and should consult their program adviser to determine any course equivalencies completed during their first degree and how these affect their program requirements for the Bachelor of Theology. Normally, these students start in Year 2 (U2) and follow the requirements below starting with Year 2.

The normal course load in the degree for full-time students is 15 credits per term, five 3-credit courses.

By permission of the Dean and the Chair of the B.Th. Committee, students may also enrol for courses at any university in the province of Quebec. For further information, see “Quebec Inter-University Transfer Agreement: 91˿Ƶ Students” in the “University Regulations and Information” section under “Registration”.

Professional and vocational courses (e.g., leading to ordination) are available through the In-Ministry Year (Master of Divinity (M.Div.)) upon the completion of the B.Th. degree.

First Year (U0) - Courses (30 credits)

Courses are to be selected in consultation with the student's program adviser for students admitted from high school into U0.

Year 1 (U1) - Required Courses (9 credits)

Students admitted to U1 on the basis of a Quebec Diploma of Collegial Studies (D.E.C.) will take these required courses in their first year.

Students admitted to the B.Th. on the basis of a bachelor degree should consult their program adviser about their first year requirements, if any. By permission of the B.Th. Committee, students may substitute courses for any of the required courses if they have already taken them or similar courses for credit elsewhere.

RELG 204 (3) Judaism, Christianity and Islam
RELG 210 (3) Jesus of Nazareth
RELG 334 (3) The Christian Faith

Year 1 (U1) - Elective Courses (21 credits)

To be determined in consultation with the B.Th. program adviser.

Year 2 (U2) - Required Courses (24 credits)

Students entering the B.Th. as a second degree program would normally take 60 credits and begin with Year 2 (U2) courses. These students should verify with their program adviser regarding course substitutions if they have completed similar courses elsewhere.

RELG 302 (3) Literature of Ancient Israel 1
RELG 303 (3) Literature of Ancient Israel 2
RELG 311 (3) New Testament Studies 1
RELG 312 (3) New Testament Studies 2
RELG 322 (3) The Church in History 1
RELG 323 (3) The Church in History 2
RELG 333 (3) Principles of Christian Theology 1
RELG 341 (3) Introduction: Philosophy of Religion

Year 2 (U2) - Complementary Courses (6 credits)

To be chosen from among the 300- or 400-level courses offered in the B.Th. or B.A. Religious Studies programs (or RELG 280D1/ RELG 280D2) in consultation with the B.Th. program adviser.

RELG 280D1 (3) Elementary New Testament Greek
RELG 280D2 (3) Elementary New Testament Greek

Year 3 (U3) - Required Courses (12 credits)

*Note: RELG 420 may be replaced with another course if recommended by the program adviser.

RELG 420* (3) Canadian Church History
RELG 434 (3) Principles of Christian Theology 2
RELG 470 (3) Theological Ethics
RELG 479 (3) Christianity in Global Perspective

Year 3 (U3) - Complementary Courses (18 credits)

18 credits selected as follows:

One 3-credit course in a religious tradition other than Christianity, such as the courses listed below.

Students who have previously completed a university-level course in world religions may replace this with another complementary course.

ISLA 380 (3) Islamic Philosophy and Theology
RELG 252 (3) Hinduism and Buddhism
RELG 253 (3) Religions of East Asia
RELG 306 (3) Rabbinic Judaism
RELG 352 (3) Japanese Religions
RELG 354 (3) Chinese Religions

9 credits, one 3-credit course in each of the following areas:

Old Testament

3 credits from:

RELG 407 (3) The Writings
RELG 408 (3) The Prophets

New Testament

3 credits from:

RELG 411 (3) New Testament Exegesis
RELG 482 (3) Exegesis of Greek New Testament

Christian Theology

3 credits from:

RELG 330 (3) Reformed Theology
RELG 336 (3) Contemporary Theological Issues
RELG 399 (3) Christian Spirituality
RELG 423 (3) Reformation Thought

6 credits, to be chosen from among the 300- or 400-level courses offered in the B.Th. or B.A. Religious Studies programs (or RELG 280D1/ RELG 280D2) in consultation with the B.Th. program adviser.

Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) - Honours Religious Studies (120 credits)

Students who have achieved a CGPA of 3.30 at the end of B.Th. Year 2 (U2) may apply to the B.Th. Committee for permission to enter the Honours program. They will be required to complete the normal requirements for the B.Th. degree and the honours courses RELG 494 and RELG 495 in the B.Th. Year 3 (U3) with a grade of B or better.

Year 3 (U3) - Required Courses - Honours (6 credits)

RELG 494 (3) B.Th. Honours Seminar 1
RELG 495 (3) B.Th. Honours Seminar 2
Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)
Faculty of Religious Studies—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)
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