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The equivalent of 13-15 hours per week at the Field site over one or two semesters or in intensive format, totally 260 – 300 hours
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Naming of a mentor who can appropriately guide and evaluate the experiential and academic aspects of the Experience, or of two mentors for those components respectively who agree to coordinate their supervision of the student
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Establishment and reading of a relevant bibliography, averaging 50 pages/week
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Establishment and accomplishment of evaluative exercises—written, oral, or per-formative, with a guideline of 12-15 pages per semester or the equivalent
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Specification of a Learning Covenant at the beginning of the Field Experience, setting out the learning goals and agreements between the student and the mentor(s)
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A mid-term evaluation by the student and mentor(s)
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A final evaluation by the student and mentor(s)
Duration This degree is a 45-credit hour program and can be completed in the equivalent of two years of fulltime study. However, if a student wishes to study part time, all courses required for this degree must be completed in seven years from the date of first registration. Students admitted may be credited for courses of up to fifty per cent of credits already completed elsewhere in satisfaction of the core requirements. Location In most cases, at least one-half of the degree courses will be provided on the VST campus or at approved extension sites or in conjunction with web-based course delivery. It is anticipated that students will also be engaged in learning and research projects at off site locations which have the appropriate instructional, research and peer community resources consistent with and supportive of the student’s course of study. Admission Admission requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution or the educational equivalent. For indigenous students, Yuu hadaax will be part of the assessment consultation. For others seeking recognition of equivalent experience or work, an assessment tool will be used. Distinctive Resources In addition to its own core and adjunct faculty, VST has available a range of resources for the program. The Iona Pacific Inter-religious Center offers expertise in the Abrahamic traditions and will bring Visiting Scholars, post-doctoral Fellows and other specialists to the degree courses. VST’s partnership with the Center for Indian Scholars, the Native Ministries Consortium and Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a makes available a number of traditional and academic educators in the field of indigenous knowledge. Proximity to Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia and other Vancouver-area postsecondary institutions affords other research interactions. Educational Evaluation Students will have two options for their culminating evaluative exercise: A Directed Studies project and oral examination A 75 – 90 page thesis
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