Final Projects
All students in the MA Christian Studies, MA Theo Studies, MALTS, and ThM programs must complete some type of final project in order to graduate.
MA Christian Studies students must complete the integrative exam.
MA Theo Studies students, depending on the concentration, have a choice of:
- a comprehensive examination/paper
- a thesis
- an integrative project in the arts and theology
ThM students have a choice of:
- a thesis
- a major paper
All MALTS students will complete a final Capstone Project.
MDiv students do not need to complete a final project. Instead, their program includes a supervised ministry component and additional course work.
Final Project Details:
MACS Integrative exam (3 credits)
The integrative exam is the final project for students in the MA Christian Studies program. It is designed as an integrative exercise, that tests a student’s ability to reflect theologically across the breadth of Regent’s curriculum, and particularly what such reflection means for the Christian life.
PREPARATION
You prepare by reading a set list of readings selected from across Regent’s concentrations (approximately 4,000 pages). Contact the MACS exam coordinator, Matt Lynch, to discuss reading and exam timing further.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The written examination is a take-home exam that will be completed during the course of one week and focuses on integrative questions related to the reading list. The exam will be made available on Moodle, and you will upload your written answers to that same site.
GRADING
The final grade will be determined by your performance in the written exam. The passing grade for the MACS integrative exam is B-.
HOW TO REGISTER
Register for INDS 794 through REGIS.
You are required to write the integrative exam in the term that you register for it.
UPCOMING DEADLINES AND EXAM DATES
For upcoming registration deadlines, and for exam dates, please see the Important Dates section of the website.
If the exam is all you are registering for in the term, register before the beginning of the term in order to avoid a late registration fee.
Comprehensive exam (3 credits)
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 Final Project Form and have it signed by your supervisor.
- Submit together at Reception: Final Project Form signed by your supervisor, regular Registration/Course Change form payment of tuition and fees
UPCOMING DEADLINES AND EXAM DATES
For upcoming registration deadlines, and for exam dates, please see the Important Dates section of the website.
If the exam is all you are registering for in the term, register before the beginning of the term in order to avoid a late registration fee.
The Assistant to the Dean 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 (3 credits)
With the 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 Final Project Form and have it signed by your supervisor. (Note that the Comprehensive Paper is actually a variant of the Comprehensive Exam.)
- Submit together at Reception: Final Project Form signed by your supervisor, regular Registration/Course Change form & payment of tuition and fees
UPCOMING DEADLINES
For upcoming registration deadlines, please see the Important Dates section of the website.
If the paper is all you are registering for in the term, register before the beginning of the term in order to avoid a late registration fee.
Your submission deadline is the last day of the term in which you register. If that is a Winter term and you are planning to graduate at the end of that term, confer with your supervisor to see whether he or she needs you to submit by an earlier date in order to allow sufficient time for grading.
MATS Integrative exam (3 credits)
The integrative examination is the final project for students in the discontinued Christian Studies track of the MA Theological Studies program. It is designed so that you can demonstrate an integrated Christian mind: a world-and-life-view that will structure your piety and practice. To this end, it emphasizes general frameworks of analysis the theologically based response.
PREPARATION
You prepare by reading a broad selection of material (normally between 3,000 and 4,000 pages) chosen by the Christian Studies coordinator.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The examination will include questions arising from the readings. You have the choice of sitting for a three-hour exam or writing a one-week take-home exam. The take-home exam will require 3,500–3,800 words, must be written on a computer, and must be in proper Chicago Manual of Style format. The three-hour exam may be written on a computer. An oral exam, if required, will provide you an opportunity to amplify your responses and to explore issues more broadly.
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 integrative exam is B-.
HOW TO REGISTER
- Meet with the Christian Studies Coordinator.
- Complete the Final Project Form and have it signed by your supervisor.
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Submit together at Reception: Final Project Form signed by your supervisor, regular Registration/Course Change form & payment of tuition and fees
DEADLINES AND EXAM DATES
For upcoming registration deadlines, and for exam dates, please see the Important Dates section of the website.
If the exam is all you are registering for in the term, register before the beginning of the term in order to avoid a late registration fee.
The Assistant to the Dean will notify you of the precise date and time of your 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 integrative exam in the term in which you register for it.
ThM Major Paper (3 credits)
As an option to writing a thesis in the ThM program, you may write a Major Paper. See program details on the Master of Theology program page.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The ThM Major Paper is to be between 7,500 and 10,000 words in length. All ThM students, including Major Paper students, must take INDS 725: Advanced Research Methods and Writing. This class supports Major Paper students as they prepare to write their capstone under the guidance of their supervisor.
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 major paper is B-.
HOW TO REGISTER
- Meet with a member of faculty to serve as your supervisor.
- Complete the Final Project Form and have it signed by your supervisor.
-
Submit together to Reception: Final Project Form signed by your supervisor, regular Registration/Course Change Form & payment of tuition and fees
UPCOMING DEADLINES
For upcoming registration deadlines, please see the Important Dates section of the website.
Note: If the major paper is all you are registering for in the term, register before the beginning of the term in order to avoid a late registration fee.
Your submission deadline is the last day of the term in which you register. If that is a Winter term and you are planning to graduate at the end of that term, confer with your supervisor to see whether he or she needs you to submit by an earlier date in order to allow sufficient time for grading.
MATS Thesis (9 credits) and ThM Thesis (12 credits)
The thesis is a substantial piece of independent research on a specific, focused subject, involving both critical analysis and theological reflection.
For further details, see the Thesis Guidelines .
WHAT TO EXPECT
The MA, Theological Studies, thesis is normally between 15,000-20,000 words and the ThM 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 in either the MATS or ThM.
GRADING
The final grade will be determined by the supervisor and the second reader, chosen by the supervisor and INDS 725 instructor. The passing grade for an MA or ThM thesis is B; however, the ThM thesis will be graded at an advanced level (i.e. it will be more difficult to get a B on the ThM thesis than an MA thesis).
HOW TO PREPARE A THESIS AND REGISTER
- Register for and attend INDS 725: Advanced Research Methods and Writing.
- Required: Read the Thesis Guidelines .
- Approach a member of faculty to serve as your thesis supervisor. The College will endeavor to facilitate thesis supervision in the area of choice; however, admission to the program does not guarantee this. This should normally be done in a fall term.
- Register for INDS 725: Advanced Research Methods and Writing, offered every winter term. This course consists of 3 of a student's total thesis credits. MATS and ThM students will write their proposal in this course.
- Upon completion of the course and proposal, the supervisor, INDS 725 instructor, and a second reviewer will evaluate the proposal. They may accept the proposal as it stands, reject the proposal, or require revisions. If a proposal requires revisions, the student will be given the summer to revise and resubmit by the beginning of the following fall term. At this point, the proposal will be accepted or rejected. Students who have rejected thesis proposals will finish their program through another final project option; i.e. comprehensive exams or the ThM major paper.
- Submit the Final Project Form signed by your supervisor, a regular Registration/Course Change form, to Reception and pay the tuition and fees. Do this either by the end of the term that the proposal is approved, or at the beginning 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. The remaining thesis credits may be split 3+3 for MATS students or 6+3 for ThM students. If the thesis registration is split over two terms, you do not need to submit a registration form for the final 3 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:
For students who began the thesis process prior to Fall 2024 and are already working on proposals, the Thesis Proposal Approval Committee (TPAC) will continue to meet through the 2024-25 academic year. They will approve thesis proposals according to the former system. Theses grandfathered into this process are 12 credits and normally 30,000-45,000 words for both the MATS and ThM programs.
| Term | Submission Deadline | Committee Date |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 |
September 04 September 25 October 23 November 20 |
September 18 October 09 November 06 December 04 |
| Winter 2025 |
January 08 January 29 February 26 March 26 |
January 22 February 12 March 12 April 09 |
UPCOMING DEADLINES
For upcoming registration and submission deadlines, please see the Important Dates section of the website.
If you plan to graduate this year, note on the Important Dates page when you must submit three bound copies of your thesis to Reception. See the Thesis Guidelines for the binding procedure.
COMPLETION TIMELINE
Beginning from September 1 following the registration of the thesis, you have a maximum of three years to complete the thesis. 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 refund schedule for dropping a thesis here.
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.
For further details, see the IPIAT Guidelines .
WHAT TO EXPECT
In addition to presenting an original work of art, you will complete a critical essay of about 25 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 Winter Term.
- Take INDS 785 The Vocation of the Artist seminar, normally offered in the Fall Term. As a prerequisite 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 MA Theo Studies 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 .
- Complete an Final Project Form and have it signed by your supervisor.
- Submit together to Reception: Final Project Form signed by your supervisor, regular Registration/Course Change Registration form & payment of tuition and fees. Do this either in the term that your proposal is approved, or by the beginning of the following term.
Arts Advisory Committee Deadlines:
| Term | Submission Deadline | Committee Date |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 |
September 09 November 18 |
September 16 December 02 |
| Winter 2025 |
January 27 March 17 |
February 03 March 31 |
UPCOMING DEADLINES
For upcoming registration and submission deadlines, please see the Important Dates section of the website.
If you plan to graduate this year, note on the Important Dates page the deadline for having given a public presentation of your IPIAT and for submitting all materials. Be sure to make arrangements in good time with the Arts Administrator.
COMPLETION TIMELINE
Beginning from September 1 following the registration for the IPIAT, you have a maximum of three years to complete your project. 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 refund schedule for dropping an IPIAT here.
Integrative Project (6 credits)
As of Fall 2024, Integrative Projects will not be a final project option for students.
The integrative project is an alternative final project available the MA in Theological Studies program at the discretion of faculty. While the comprehensive exam or the thesis is the usual way of completing the MA in Theological Studies program, in some cases students may benefit from doing an integrative project. This option provides you an opportunity to complete your studies at Regent College with a project that blends theological reflection with creative expression. It embodies the idea that Christian mission involves not only the witness of one’s life and the proclamation of faith but also the generation of cultural goods that in their truth, beauty, and goodness function as signs and foretastes of the kingdom of God.
The integrative project allows those with competence and experience in a given field to create and communicate something recognizably part of that field (e.g., a business presentation, a policy paper, a curriculum, a preaching series, a healthcare protocol, a mission project, an organizational strategy, a public speech, a newspaper article, a non-fiction book, a training program, etc.) and to reflect on it theologically.
WHAT TO EXPECT
You must be able to communicate, in a manner appropriate to the subject matter, at a level that is excellent within the relevant field. This means the project must be at least potentially publishable, ready for presentation—to clients, investors, the public, or an audience of professional peers. In addition to communicating the project in a final form, you must submit any additional explanatory material plus a critical essay of 20 to 30 pages engaging in theological and cultural reflection on the genre and the cultural and theological context in which the project is done.
In order to do an integrative project, you must first be admitted to either the MA Theological Studies program, and you must have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.3.
Read the Integrative Project Guidelines for more information.
GRADING
The passing grade for the integrative project is B.
HOW TO REGISTER
- Read the Integrative Project Guidelines .
- Approach a member of faculty to discuss the possibility of him or her supervising your project. As part of this discussion, you should share a recent copy of your transcript or grade report to show (i) what courses you have taken, (ii) that you have been admitted to the MA Theo Studies program, and (iii) that you have at least a 3.3 GPA.
- Prepare a written proposal to be approved by your supervisor.
- Submit to Reception a Final Project Form signed by your supervisor, a regular Registration/Course Change Form and payment for the course. You will register for all 6 credits of the integrative project in one term. The tuition will be payable either by the Payment Deadline for the term (i.e., the Friday before the beginning of classes), or at the time of registration, whichever is later.
UPCOMING DEADLINES
For upcoming registration and submission deadlines, please see the Important Dates section of the website.
If you plan to graduate this year, note on the Important Dates page the deadline for submitting all materials.
COMPLETION TIMELINE
Beginning from September 1 following the registration for the integrative project, you have a maximum of three years to complete your project. 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 within the time limit
- a schedule for how you plan to complete, together with a proposed date for completion
- a letter of support from your supervisor
Extensions are by no means guaranteed.
You can find the refund schedule for dropping an integrative project here.
MALTS Capstone Project (6 credits)
The Capstone Project provides an opportunity for MALTS students to complete their program with a project that blends theological reflection, creative expression, and practical application. This requirement embodies the idea that leadership characterised by faith involves not only the witness of one’s life and the proclamation of faith but also the generation of cultural goods of truth, beauty, and goodness. The project outcomes should be communicated in a way appropriate to the subject matter, at a level that is excellent within the relevant field. The project must be potentially implementable or ready for presentation to clients, investors, the public, or an audience of professional peers.
Read the Capstone Project Guidelines.
WHAT TO EXPECT
At the end of the first year of the program, between your second and third residencies, you should discuss with your mentor possible options for your Capstone Project and present them to the Program Director for approval.
As part of your project, you will complete a critical essay of 5,000 words engaging in theological reflection on the project, bringing what you've learned in the MALTS program to bear on the project.
The shape and form of your project will develop out of discussion with your mentor and the Director of the MALTS program. It is expected that implementation of your project in your workplace would be possible, even if such implementation is not pursued during your time in the MALTS program.
Your capstone projects include a sharing of the finished work with the MALTS community of peers and professors through a presentation at the Capstone Retreat.
GRADING
The passing grade for the Capstone Project is B.
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