丁香园AV

School of Criminology | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
丁香园AV Calendar 2013 Spring

This master of arts (MA) program is primarily for students intending to practice as Notaries Public in the province of British Columbia. The degree is granted upon the successful completion of the required number of courses and a final examination, and prepares students for admission to notarial practice (subject to further requirements), prescribed by the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia and for business and public service.

The number of individuals entering notarial practice in British Columbia is ultimately governed by the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia. Conferral of this degree is no guarantee of a position in the society's post degree professional training programs or in notarial practice.

丁香园AV Requirements

Applicants should regard their satisfaction of the entrance requirements as meaning only that they are eligible for selection. Since there is competition for admission, a regular applicant should have an undergraduate academic average substantially higher than the minimum in order to have a reasonable chance of admission. Certain factors such as financial hardship, learning disabilities or other disadvantages, may be considered in the discretionary category. Note that only a limited number of positions will be available each year in the discretionary category.

To be eligible for selection, an applicant must have

• obtained an undergraduate degree in an approved course of study from a degree granting institution with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 or higher, or obtained an undergraduate degree from a degree-granting institution with a CGPA of less than 3.0 and have subsequently completed an approved course of study at a degree-granting institution resulting in the award of either a certificate, diploma or other approved qualification with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher, or a recognized professional qualification relevant to notarial practice, such as accounting, or
• successful completion of 90 or more units of an approved course of study leading to an undergraduate degree at a degree-granting institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher, and possess sufficient and appropriate work experience relevant to notarial practice that, in the view of the admissions committee, compensates for the lack of a completed degree, or practiced as a Notary Public for a period of at least 10 years, be in good standing with the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia, and have successfully completed an approved course of study at a degree-granting institution resulting in the award of a certificate, diploma or other approved qualification with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher, or
• met the criteria for discretionary applicants as set out below

Applicants are responsible for providing full documentation. Incomplete applications will not be evaluated.

Discretionary Applicants

Special life factors may impede the ability of an otherwise promising candidate to satisfy some of the regular admission criteria. Accordingly, the admissions committee may consider factors such as age, disability, financial disadvantage, membership in an historically disadvantaged group, or any other factors that the applicant identifies. These factors are considered in the context of the applicant鈥檚 life achievements and work experience, including community or charitable volunteer work.

Discretionary applicants must have completed the first two years of an approved course of study leading to an undergraduate degree at an approved college or university. A personal statement, two reference letters and, where appropriate, documentation such as medical reports are required. Each applicant is considered individually on their merits. An interview before the admissions committee may be required.

Application

Potential applicants who wish to enter notarial practice in British Columbia are strongly encouraged to contact the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia before submitting an application to ensure that they are likely to be eligible for admission to practice in the province.

The following must be submitted by February 1st each year, for admission to the program in the fall of that year.

To be considered for admission for the fall term, the applicant must

• complete the online application which is available on the Dean of Graduate Studies website
• submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
• pay the application fee
• submit other documentation as required (e.g. letters of reference, medical certificates, special circumstances letters, or other supporting documentation for discretionary applicants)

Degree Requirements

The following ten graduate courses are required. Courses are normally offered in the following sequence.

Fall Term

• ALS 601-3 Canadian Law and Legal System
• ALS 602-3 Legal Research and Writing
• ALS 603-3 Legal Philosophy

Spring Term

• ALS 610-3 Contracts
• ALS 611-3 Real Property I
• ALS 620-3 Selected Topics in Applied Legal Studies

Summer Intersession

• ALS 612-3 Real Property II
• ALS 615-3 Personal Planning

Fall Term

• ALS 630-6 Topics in Legal Practice
• ALS 631-3 MA Examination

The courses taught in the first fall term usually employ a mixed mode of delivery where students attend campus for two weeks at the start of the term, and for one week at the end. Weeks three through 12 are delivered online and by distance education. Spring term courses are usually delivered by online and distance education. Students attend campus for the summer intersession (usually from mid May to mid June). The final capstone course in the fall term follows the same mixed delivery mode. Students also complete a final examination (normally at the end of the fourth term) that shows mastery and critical engagement with the depth and breadth of the program鈥檚 subject matter.

While students are encouraged to complete the degree program within 16 months, it is possible to take courses and complete the program on a part-time basis over a longer period. It should be noted, however, that some courses must be taken sequentially, and that all the requirements for the degree must be completed within five years. Students wishing to complete the program on a part-time basis should contact the associate director responsible for the school's graduate programs for further information.

Those who do not wish notary public accreditation, or who are practicing notaries, may be permitted to substitute up to nine units of courses with the approval of the associate director responsible for criminology graduate programs. Only one of these courses may be a directed readings course.

Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations

All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations (residence, course work, academic progress, supervision, research competence requirement, completion time, and degree completion), as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled, as shown above.

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