Mennonite Studies

Mennonite Studies certificate

UFV’s Mennonite Studies certificate provides students with the foundational knowledge and experience required for community work and for participation within regional, national, and/or international Mennonite initiatives. After grounding themselves in the history, perspectives, and diversity of Mennonite peoples, students apply their learning in the field, participating in local experiential learning opportunities within Mennonite organizations. Elective options give students the opportunity to expand their knowledge in particular areas related to their long-term goals. Graduates of the program will be well-situated to continue to participate within Mennonite organizations related to relief work and/or peacebuilding initiatives. Graduates may also apply their credits towards a variety of programs at UFV, including Peace and Conflict Studies.

Note: Students who were completing courses towards the previous version of the certificate should contact the Mennonite Studies Coordinator for more information.

Program learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Mennonite Studies certificate, students will be able to:

• Articulate the origins, history, and development of Mennonite peoples and faith.
• Link Mennonite experiences to social, cultural, historical, and religious contexts.
• Trace the development of Mennonite initiatives in a variety of sectors.
• Describe Mennonite approaches to relief, development, and peacebuilding work at the regional, national, and international levels.
• Analyze Mennonite perspectives on relief, development, and peacebuilding initiatives.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of Mennonite methods in relation to relief work, development, and other peacebuilding initiatives.

Entrance requirements

Option 1: Secondary school (for students with secondary school graduation only)

1. B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent.
2. A minimum grade of C+ in English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 (see Note).

Note: Students may also present English 12, English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, AP English, IB English A (standard level or higher level), or out-of-province equivalent.

Option 2: University entrance (for students who have attended some post-secondary school)

1. Completion of nine or more post-secondary credits with a minimum CGPA of 2.00 on all post-secondary credits attempted.
2. Applicants must meet the Entry-level English language proficiency requirement. For details on how this requirement may be met, see the English language proficiency requirements section of the calendar.

Option 3: Mature students

Students who will be 19 years of age or older who do not meet entrance under Option 1 or Option 2 should contact the Mennonite Studies Coordinator to seek special permission for entrance. All applicants must meet the Entry-level English language proficiency requirement.

When to apply

Applications are accepted for entrance to the Fall semester only. For application deadlines, see Specific intake application process.

How to apply

1. Apply online at ufv.ca/admissions/apply.

   Additional documents required for a complete application:

   • Official transcripts (or interim transcripts) from all post-secondary institutions attended showing grade/course achievement as per entrance requirements. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to UFV from the originating institution; see the Transfer Credit section for details.
2. Applicants will be advised of an admission decision and, if accepted, will be provided with registration information. A deposit is required prior to registration (see the Fees and Other Costs section) and will be applied toward tuition fees.

Fees and additional costs

See the Fees and Other Costs section. Books and additional supplies cost approximately $100 per course.

Program duration

Students may complete the certificate within three semesters of study. In the Fall semester, students complete MENN 100, PACS 100, and one elective. In the Winter semester, students complete MENN 300, PACS 200, and their second elective. In the Summer semester, students complete their internship.

Program outline

Required courses: 16 credits

Elective courses: 6 credits

Courses at other institutions

UFV students who wish to take courses at another institution for credit toward the Bachelor of Arts must obtain permission in advance from an Academic Advisor. A Letter of Permission request is available at ufv.ca/registrar/forms or can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. Students must be in good standing (CGPA > 2.00) to receive a Letter of Permission. When approval has been granted, the Office of the Registrar will issue a Letter of Permission to the student. Residency and transfer credit policies apply.

Policies relevant to the Mennonite Studies certificate

Course Repeat policy (86): Students may not register for a course more than twice without the permission of the department head/director for the discipline or their designate. All attempts will be recorded on the transcript, but only the highest grade will be included in the GPA. Transfer courses are considered in the number of attempts. A “W” or “AU” course is not counted as a duplication. Multiple repeats of the same course count as a single duplication.

Undergraduate Continuance policy (92): Students must have a CGPA of at least 2.00 to remain in good academic standing. Failure to meet or maintain a 2.00 will result in restrictions on registration and may lead to academic suspension.

Transfer Credit policy (107) and Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) policy (94): Students who successfully complete academic course work at another post-secondary institution can transfer this credit to UFV to satisfy some of the Mennonite Studies certificate requirements. They can also earn academic credit through an assessment of prior learning.

Residency

Students must complete at least 12 of the 22 credits required in the certificate at UFV. Transfer credits and credits earned through prior learning assessment do not meet this requirement. See UFV's Credentials policy (64) for more information.

Graduation requirements

Students are responsible for ensuring they are eligible to graduate, and should regularly consult with an Academic Advisor. To be eligible to graduate, students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.50 in all courses applied to the certificate.

Students must apply for graduation by completing the Graduation Request form available at ufv.ca/registrar/forms, or from the Office of the Registrar. This should be done in the first month of the final semester. The final deadline for students who wish to attend the June Convocation ceremony is April 1 of each year, with all program requirements completed by the Winter semester grade deadline (see Important Registration Dates) of each year.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.