UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS OF STUDY

C.Th. Certificate of Theology
Dip.Th. Diploma of Theology
B.Th. Bachelor of Theology
B.A.(CATH) Bachelor of Arts in Catholic Studies

GRADUATE THEOLOGY PROGRAMS OF STUDY

M.T.S.  Master of Theological Studies
M.Div. Master of Divinity

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS OF STUDY

G.C.C.S.A. Graduate Certificate in Catholic School Administration
M.R.E. Master of Religious Education

The academic year consists of a fall semester of approximately 15 weeks (September-December), and a winter semester of approximately 15 weeks (January-April). Limited course offerings are available during intersession (May-June) and summer school (July).

First Day Applications Accepted
1 October

Last Day Applications Accepted
2 June (Fall intake only for B.A.(CATH))

14 November (Winter intake)

Bursary Application Deadline
1 June 

The College may accept applications after the deadline; contact Admissions to inquire. The College may also close or restrict applications prior to these deadlines.

Please note that prospective students must arrange to have official transcripts of their high school and all college and university records sent to Admissions. Master of Religious Education applicants are not required to provide high school transcripts. 

Applicants should order their transcripts to be sent directly from the appropriate government department or institution maintaining their records. Transcripts issued to the student or to another institution are not acceptable. If transcripts will take some time to obtain, unofficial transcripts may be submitted only for preliminary consideration, and must be followed by official transcripts.

All documents must be submitted in English or French. Where official documents are in a language other than English or French the applicant needs to provide notarized English translations as well as the final official documents. All international transcripts must be translated into English at the applicant’s expense and by an approved third-party transcript translation organization such as World Education Services (WES) or the International Qualifications Assessment Services (IQAS).

Students who have not yet completed high school should submit transcripts indicating credits and grades to date, and subsequently submit, as soon as possible, a transcript with final grades. Similarly, students with post-secondary work in progress should submit interim transcripts followed by final transcripts as soon as possible.

Admission is always conditional on the receipt of official final versions of these documents; failure to meet document deadlines could jeopardize the student’s continuation in the program.

Applications for programs are reviewed according to the admission cycle schedule found on our Admissions pages. Please see the individual admission document requirements for specific programs under the relevant section in this Academic Calendar. 

If, at any time, it is discovered that a student has been admitted on the basis of falsified documents or information, then the admission will immediately be terminated and no future admissions will be allowed. All applicants to NTC are given equal consideration. Possession of minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission to the college. Conversely, applications for admission that do not meet the minimum admission criteria may be considered. NTC reserves the right to refuse admission or registration to any applicant. The Registrar will notify applicants of their acceptance. 

Note: Transcripts and other documents become the property of NTC and will not be returned nor photocopied for the student or forwarded to other institutions. All reference letters must have been written within the last six months and all police checks issued within the last six months.

Seminary Admission Route

Seminarians who apply via St. Joseph Seminary are pre-screened by the seminary and all admission documents are submitted to the College directly via the Seminary. 

Seminarians admitted by this route do not have a screening interview to enter programs for ministry, nor do they participate in THEO 020 Lay Formation. Such students will typically begin their program by taking the SAF 101 Spiritual Internship Year. They cannot apply for government student loan funding during this first year. 

MPS 570 Field Education for such students on programs for ministry lasts for 8 months during which they undergo a supervised placement in a parish. Seminarians are required to meet ordination requirements over and above the requirements of the degree to which they have been admitted. 

An offer of admission to NTC is made for a specific academic start term.  If you are unable to attend or choose to take a gap year for the term specified, you may be eligible to defer your acceptance to a future term.

Registration post admission is acceptable up to one year following the admission decision. Application materials are good for one year from the point of application, except for police checks which must be current. Scholarships and financial aid cannot be deferred, so admitted students would need to reapply for those awards each year.

Requests for deferred admission will be accepted up to the add/drop deadline of the term you have been accepted to enter. No requests will be reviewed after this date. See the relevant Academic Schedule for the add/drop dates.

Request a deferral by emailing the Registrar at Registrar@newman.edu and outlining the reason you are requesting a deferral.  Please briefly describe your intended activities between now and when you plan to begin your studies.

Upon receipt of your request an Admissions Counsellor will contact you to:

1.       Outline your next steps in the deferral process (i.e. paying the $150.00 admission deposit to hold your spot until next year); or

2.       Outline your options if the deferral is unavailable to you.

Once your request has been reviewed you will receive an email notification informing you of the decision.

M.T.S. and M.Div. Programs

The AGPA is usually calculated on post-secondary course work completed in the most recent two terms of study if they contain a minimum of 24 credits of course work. If these two terms contain less than 24 credits of course work, all work in the next most recent term(s) is included in the calculation until a minimum of 24 credits of post-secondary course work is reached.

Applicants for the M.T.S. program must possess a previous undergraduate university degree, with a GPA of 3.00 (B) or better.
Applicants for the M.Div. program must possess a previous university degree with a GPA of 2.00 (C) or better.

Study permit applicants will need to record the NTC DLI number on their study permit applications.

The DLI number for NTC is: O19391057177.

International students will need to show proof of a valid study permit upon arrival at NTC.

The following programs ONLY are eligible to receive international students on study permit:
B.A.(CATH), B.Th., M.T.S., M.Div.,  M.R.E.

At present we are not able to offer Distance Education courses to residents of the U.S.A., but we welcome inquiries from anyone so interested. 

English is the official language of instruction at NTC. Consequently, any student who lacks proficiency in the English language will have difficulty studying at NTC. In the interest of ensuring that all students have sufficient English language skills to cope with the rigours of the academic curriculum, NTC has adopted the following English Usage Policy:

All applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in both spoken and written English before their acceptance to NTC.

Written proficiency may be shown by completing one of the following:

• Alberta English 30 or equivalent (minimum grade: 60%).
• A paper-based test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination (minimum score: 560).
• A paper-based TOEFL examination (minimum score: 550) plus the Test of Written English (TWE) examination (minimum score: 50).
• A computer-based TOEFL examination (minimum score: 220).
• Internet based TOEFL IBT testing: overall score: 86 points, with a minimum score of 21 points in each of the four testing areas: reading, listening, speaking and writing.
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System); a score of at least 6.5 with no band less than 5.0.
• ESL 140/145: Successful completion of the University of Alberta’s ESL 140/145.
• Additional ways to meet the requirement.

All students are expected to maintain an acceptable standard of English language proficiency in all their coursework at Newman Theological College. A student who consistently demonstrates deficient skills in English may be advised to discontinue their studies until they receive remedial help in the language. Such a student may resume studies at NTC upon receipt of official documentation attesting to improvement (i.e. official transcripts, acceptable TOEFL scores etc.).

Please note that NTC reserves the right to use discretion in determining English language proficiency.

An Open Studies student is one who is permitted to take regular post-secondary credit courses, but who is not admitted to a program leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate.

REGULATIONS

1. Open Studies students registering for graduate level courses must hold a previous undergraduate degree.

2. Open Studies students are 18 years of age or older and take courses:

  A. For professional development purposes.
  B. To upgrade in preparation for admission to a degree program.
  C. To fill in missing requirements needed for graduate school.
  D. For personal enrichment.

3. There are no admission criteria for Open Studies as it is not considered to be a program at NTC.

4. Open Studies students may audit courses that are eligible for audit.

5. Open Studies unclassified students must meet with the Registrar and be approved for further registrations after completing 5 courses by this route. Students wishing to obtain a diploma or degree should consider moving into a program at this point.

Procedures

1. Applicants must meet all pre-and co-requisites for individual courses unless prior permission is granted by the instructor.

2. Open Studies students must complete an application and register online and must submit official transcripts from all high schools and/or post-secondary institutions attended.

Graduate Mature Admission Policy

NTC admits students to master’s degrees who have an accredited baccalaureate degree or its educational equivalent and who meet any other requirements specified for that master’s degree. An accredited baccalaureate degree is one from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or holding membership in the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada, or the educational equivalent. Students without an accredited baccalaureate degree or its equivalent may apply for mature admission. NTC applies rigorous objective means to assess that such applicants will be adequately prepared to do master’s level work and that they possess the knowledge, academic skill, and ability generally associated with persons who hold the baccalaureate degree. A mature admission student is one who is admitted to the M.Div./M.R.E./M.T.S. program without possessing an accredited undergraduate degree. As many as 20 percent of the students in each of these master’s programs may be admitted without possession of the accredited baccalaureate degree or its educational equivalent and there can be a waiting list for places. The Registrar should be contacted for such admissions. Acceptance under this category is always at the discretion of the Admissions and Evaluations Committee. NTC reserves the right to prioritize student applications for Mature Admission based on whether the student is applying via the Seminary Route, on the strength of the candidate’s application, and on the perceived benefit of the program to the student. The Admissions and Evaluations Committee reserves the right to request an interview of any applicant regardless of program.

1. Mature admission may be granted to applicants who have sufficient relevant work, study, and/or life experience to prepare them adequately to do master’s level work e.g., presenting with three years of relevant work/study/ministry experience after high school graduation. Applicants should highlight this in their application materials.

2. Applicants must complete a satisfactory probationary year of full-time enrollment in courses before permission will be granted to continue in the program. Students with Mature Admission are still subject to minimum progression and graduation requirements. Failure to meet these requirements may result in withdrawal from the program.

3. Mature Admission student applicants must submit all official high school and post-secondary transcripts, regardless of the level reached. All applicants must satisfy our English Language Proficiency requirement before they will be considered for admission.

A Visiting student is one who is admitted to NTC for the purpose of taking courses to transfer into a degree program at another recognized institution. New students should apply online for Open Studies and select “Visiting” as their enrollment status and program of study.

Upon receipt of the completed application and a Letter of Permission from the home institution granting approval for all courses selected, the eligibility as a Visiting student will be determined. Students should submit to Admissions a transcript showing the courses completed at their home institution along with their application. Visiting students are subject to NTC’s English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Academic Calendar.

It is the student’s responsibility to request an official transcript for their home institution upon completion of their studies at NTC. 

NTC students who wish to be granted Visiting Student Status at another institution will do so only for the purpose of taking courses to transfer into their degree program at NTC and they should discuss this first with their faculty advisor before requesting a letter of permission from the Registrar. A course outline for the selected course(s) at another institution should be submitted to the Registrar along with a completed Request for Letter of Permission Form. Approval of the course selection will then be communicated by the Registrar. 

Students may attend classes without seeking credit for a course. No additional fees are charged for audited classes and admission requirements for unclassified Audit students are less stringent. Online courses can be audited with permission from the instructor and students should contact the Registrar for details. 

Seminary Admission Route

If you will be entering into the Propaedeutic Year at St. Joseph Seminary please follow the instructions below for your application:

1. Once you are accepted as a seminarian at St. Joseph Seminary, you still need to apply to Newman Theological College through our CrossRoad Application Portal. 

NOTE: Application documents will be sent to the college directly from the seminary. Please order final, official transcripts and letters of reference etc. to be issued to the Rector.

2. Your Rector will advise you as to which program you should apply for.

3. As part of the application, you are to pay the Application Fee online. You are responsible for this fee even if your tuition will later be billed to your diocese. 

4. Your application will be received by Admissions who will bring this application, along with supporting documentation, for review to the Registrar. Once your application has been reviewed and accepted, an email with an offer of admission will be sent to you.

5. Once you have accepted the offer, either by paying the required tuition deposit or acknowledging acceptance in writing,  you will be officially admitted and you will be sent instructions on how to register. Your Rector will be your faculty advisor.

6. You will advised by him to enroll in the Spiritual Internship Year course which is coded as SAF 101. This is the name given by the college for the Propaedeutic Year at the seminary.

7. Register for the course SAF 101 for both the fall semester and the winter semester.

8. The cost for SAF 101 will be billed to you by the seminary. This bill is for Administration, Library and Student Association Fees only.  You will be asked to write a cheque for this amount to the seminary who will then send it to the college on your behalf.

9. The Propaedeutic Year is a program that is fully offered through St. Joseph Seminary in contract with the college so that you are actually a student of the College as well as a seminarian of St. Joseph Seminary.

10. Upon completion of the Propaedeutic Year, if you are not being third party funded by your diocese then you must pay the returning student tuition deposit each year to maintain your status. 

1. 

Students in programs designated for ministry (B.Th. and M.Div. programs) are required to complete a Criminal Record Check (through the RCMP or City Police) before admission to the program and again prior to beginning a practicum.

It should be noted that the time to gain these items can vary greatly. We are aware that in some cases students have had to wait six to eight weeks for their clearance to arrive. To complete a Criminal Record Check, applicants should bring two pieces of government issued identification (e.g. Driver’s License, Birth Certificate) to any police or RCMP station, and complete their application. Note that there is often a charge for this service.

Screening is an integral part of the ongoing academic and professional evaluation of candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Theology or Master of Divinity. 

As the Bachelor of Theology and the Master of Divinity are degrees that prepare people for ministry a screening process including personal interviews shall be established to ensure that all candidates have a basic aptitude for these roles. 

 The screening process shall be an integral part of the ongoing academic and professional evaluation of candidates for these degrees. 

 A student enrolled in the Bachelor of Theology or Master of Divinity program will be required to be screened before admission. A Mid-Program Assessment will again be required prior to registering in MPS 570 Theological Field Education. 

The screening interview shall be conducted by a committee of faculty and may be up to one (1) hour in duration. Areas addressed in the interview may include the following:

• Faith stance: vision of church, sense of Christian identity and call to service, concept of ministry.
• Candidate’s personal and academic history, including recommendations or reservations with respect to the latter.
• Major areas of interest: intellectual, spiritual, ecclesial, social.
• Motives for seeking the degree.
• Previous experience in ministry; hopes for the future.
• Support available: financial, emotional.
• Life management skills: study habits, attention to responsibilities beyond academics.
• Anticipated participation in College life: liturgical, social, intellectual.

Following the initial interview, the interviewing committee shall confer regarding the candidate’s suitability for acceptance into the program. The committee will formulate any recommendations it may have for personal, spiritual, social, and intellectual growth. The candidate will be provided with oral feedback at this point and, if admitted, a written report of the interview will remain with the Director of Lay Formation. This report, with any recommendations, will be used in ongoing formation.

The recommendation for admission of the interviewing committee shall be recorded on a Student Screening Interview form which will then be forwarded to the Registrar prior to any admission decision being made. 

Once an application has been submitted and all documents in support of the application are received, the Registrar will perform an evaluation and either: 

• Refuse the application, or 

• Grant a favourable admission decision to be communicated to the applicant.

An offer of admission granted subject to a condition(s) being met (e.g. evidence of satisfactory completion of a specified degree). All admissions are subject to approval by the Registrar and official letters of admission are sent only by the Registrar. 

Applicants should be aware there is no formal appeal in admission matters, and NTC does not have to entertain appeals. Offers of program admission will be made as quickly as possible after all admission documents are received and a letter of acceptance will be sent to successful applicants. Offers are conditional pending receipt of official transcripts reporting final grades for all courses and other admission documentation. Applicants must present the final official transcripts or the admission offer will be rescinded.

Students may learn more about student accommodations at NTC by registering early with the Dean of Students who acts as the Accommodations Coordinator to ensure that their accommodations are in place for the first term of study. If they have a documented permanent disability that affects their mobility, vision, hearing, learning, and/or a chronic physical or mental health condition, they are eligible to apply for academic accommodations that will help to remove barriers to their academic participation. 

Students must request assessment of courses for advanced credit into any program at the time of application by submitting a Request for Transfer Credit Form. Courses for advanced credit will be assessed by the Admissions and Evaluations Committee once all official and complete transcripts are received. Note that the Committee will not assess courses in advance or via email. Students may be asked to provide detailed course outlines before an evaluation can be made. Course outlines are reviewed by the Admissions and Evaluations Committee for advanced credit and then considered with respect to the program being applied for.

Students who have interrupted their study at NTC and have not maintained active status by enrolling for a continuing course must re-apply for admission. Students who have taken courses elsewhere since their last registration, must arrange to have official transcripts sent from the other institution(s) to Admissions. Students seeking readmission may be required to meet new admission and program requirements. 

Each student at Newman Theological College shall have a faculty advisor. The faculty advisor shall be a full-time or part-time instructor at the College who has agreed to serve in this capacity and they will be available to meet periodically with the student to discuss and offer advice on academic matters including:

1. Selection of topics for research papers or a thesis.

2. Clarification of theological issues relating to course work, including required reading and books reviewed.

3. Course selection appropriate to the student’s degree program, considering the needs and interests of the student, the structure of the curriculum and the college timetable.

4. Field Education requirements, alternatives, and related course selections.

5. Preparing for comprehensive examinations and integrative seminars.

6. The methodology of research, including the effective use of library resources.

All full-time students and those part-time students who are eligible to complete a degree, diploma, or certificate in a given year are required to have faculty advisors. Students shall make a choice of a faculty advisor before the 30th of September in the academic year.  In the event no choice is made, the Director of the student’s program shall be assigned as their faculty advisor. A faculty advisor’s signed approval is required in certain circumstances, including the following:

1. Course changes.

2. Incompletes.

3. Course extensions.

Students shall meet with their faculty advisor at the beginning of each semester for review and approval of their program for that semester. 

Please note: Students are encouraged to consult first with their faculty advisor concerning any questions about their program before approaching the Registrar, Academic Dean, or other members of the faculty.