PACE Program
PACE (Professional Adult Christian Education) is designed especially for learners who are balancing full-time commitments.
Each PACE course meets one night a week for 6 weeks and students take one course at a time. Coursework emphasizes reflection and life experience instead of memory-based exams. Students can attend class in-person or online via Zoom.
Professional Studies Certificate
6 courses; 1 year
This program is designed to provide students with foundational knowledge, attitudes, and practices for the specialization of the student's choice: Biblical Studies, Business/Nonprofit, Counselling, or Pastoral Care.
Diploma of Christian Ministry
20 courses; 2 years
This diploma is designed for students seeking to develop lives of meaning, purpose, and faith. The goal is spiritual formation that shapes the heart, soul, mind, and body towards missional living that will change the world. Students will be able to choose a specialization of their choice: Biblical Studies, Business/Nonprofit, Counselling, or Pastoral Care.
Bachelor of Christian Ministry
40 courses; 4 years
This program is designed to prepare individuals for pastoral and educational leadership in Christian communities, as well as providing the basis for continuing higher education. Students will be able to choose a specialization of their choice: Biblical Studies, Business/Nonprofit, Counselling, or Pastoral Care.
Bachelor of Christian Ministry
(After Degree or Degree Completion)
20-30 courses; 2-3 years
This accelerated program is designed to prepare individuals with previous, qualifying post-secondary studies for pastoral and educational leadership in Christian communities, as well as providing the basis for continuing higher education.
Choose your ministry specialization:
Biblical Studies
For those who want to dive deeply into God's word
Non-Profit Leadership
For those who want to develop leadership and planning skills to lead organizations that make a difference
Counselling
For those who want to provide compassionate and informed psychological and spiritual care
Pastoral Care
For those who want to minister to others in the church and beyond
PACE Program
Tech Requirements
Alberta Bible College’s PACE program is offered both in-person and online. Course assignments and interactions take place in both formats. To be successful, students must have access to a laptop computer, word processing and presentation software, and high-speed internet connection (available on campus). Online students are expected to attend class via Zoom with their camera on to be counted as present.
PACE is designed to meet the unique educational needs of adults who…
Are highly motivated to earn their degree or diploma or to pursue a new career or ministry path
Wish to complete their degree or a diploma through a conveniently scheduled and accelerated program
Have the self-discipline to keep pace in an accelerated education program
Desire to study in an environment with supportive Christian faculty
Students in the PACE program will be able to:
- Attend class one evening per week
- Study in a seminar format that encourages discussion, interaction, and collaborative learning
- Build cohesive community as they attend classes together either in-person or online
- Be prepared, upon successful completion of the Bachelor’s degree, for graduate study
The Diploma and Bachelor’s Degree require 3 credits of Practicum. The purpose of Practicum is to:
Develop skills by serving in situations that require application of classroom learning
Strengthen communication skills
Explore and develop areas of expertise that will be valuable for personal, career and ministry opportunities
There are 3 semesters in the PACE academic year:
- Fall semester September – December,
- Winter semester January – April,
- Spring/Summer semester April – August (break in July)
An appeal for a change of final grade or assignment mark must be made in writing to the Academic Dean within four weeks of receiving official notification of the grade/mark.
Students at ABC are expected to complete their academic work with academic integrity that reflects their growing maturity in Christ.
If the Academic Dean and the faculty are satisfied that the student is guilty of academic dishonesty, the normal penalty will be failure of the course and academic probation. If a student is found guilty of further academic dishonesty, the student may be placed on administrative probation or administrative suspension.
A student may repeat a course in which a low grade was received. (Usually only an “F” or “D” grade would cause a student to repeat a class.) The following conditions apply:
A course may be repeated once without faculty approval. Repeating a course a second time requires the permission of the Academic Dean and instructor.
The highest grade will be used in calculating the cumulative GPA.
The lower grade(s) will remain on the transcript, but will not be used in calculating the cumulative GPA.
Students who choose to withdraw from a course must complete a Course Withdrawal Form with the Registrar. This form must be completed and signed by the student, as well as the instructor of the course.
Students are responsible for full course tuition and fees unless they withdraw seven (7) days prior to the start date of the course. No refunds are available after that date. Textbooks and materials are not refundable.
ABC believes that class attendance and participation are required to adequately meet identified learning outcomes.
Students are expected to attend at least 80% of the time; for PACE students this means four out of five weeks. Students with more than a 20% absentee rate (2 or more unexcused class sessions) in a course may receive a failing grade and will be required to repeat the course.
Weekly assignments are due by 6:00 p.m. on the day the class meets. A penalty of 3 to 5% per day is applied to all late assignments.
Due to the compressed nature of a PACE course, extensions are not given for weekly assignments, except in extenuating circumstances. In those rare circumstances, see the Academic Dean.
On rare occasions, extensions may be given for the final exam. While the initiative to request an extension rests with the student, the approval for granting an extension is at the discretion of the professor. Completion of a Request for Extension Form must be handed in.
Because of the accelerated nature of the PACE program, Incompletes are not granted except for compassionate reasons.
Students who are granted an Incomplete are counselled to not register for the next course because of the required pre-session studies.
Individuals desiring to transfer credit courses to their programs must have transcripts sent directly from the institution where course credit was received.
Previous studies at the undergrad level may qualify students for the After Degree or Degree Completion options available for the Bachelor of Christian Ministry (PACE) and Bachelor of Christian Studies (College) program.
For more information on transferring in, click here.
For students entering the Bachelor of Christian Ministry program with less than 60 credit hours of transfer credit, additional credit may be received through the Credit by Demonstrated Competency process.
CDC requires preparation of a portfolio documenting specific work, activities, and life experience and then describing the learning gained through these experiences.
The Credit by Demonstrated Competency fee is $100 per credit hour. Contact the Academic Dean for information.
ABC PACE program
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements are applicable for both College and PACE program applicants.
Please contact the Enrollment team for any inquiry at [email protected].
General Requirements
Our application process for any applicant includes the following requirements:
- Application form. This form provides basic information about the applicant and their
desired program, as well as other required information for the process, and can be found
and submitted online at https://www.abccampus.ca/apply-now/. - Application fee. $50 CAD for domestic applicants. $100 CAD for international applicants.
This fee is a non-refundable cost. - Professional Reference. A person who knows the applicant, who is not a relative, and who is
over the age of 25, would be sent an email from our Enrollment Team with information on
how to submit a reference form. They may be a work supervisor, teacher, guidance
counsellor, or family friend who has known the applicant for at least two years. - Pastoral Reference. A person who knows the applicant, who is not a relative, and who is
over the age of 25, would be sent an email from our Enrollment Team with information on
how to submit a reference form. They may be a youth leader, teacher, church elder, or
pastor who has known the applicant for at least two years in a church leadership or
mentoring manner. - Personal Journey Essay. An essay at least 500 words in length written by the applicant that
describes their faith journey, why they are applying to study at Alberta Bible College, and
what they want to do once their program is completed. - Official Transcript. Official transcripts from previous secondary and post-secondary schools
to ABC. If the applicant has previous post-secondary studies from outside Canada that they
would like considered for transfer credit, the applicant will need to include an International
Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) (https://www.alberta.ca/iqas-overview.aspx) or
World Education Services (WES) (https://www.wes.org/ca/) full assessment. Home School applicants must provide official documentation substantiating that they have completed high school. For further information contact the Registrar
([email protected]). - Proof of English Proficiency. If the assessment of the transcript includes English courses
with sufficient grades, then the applicant may not be required to supply further
documentation. Otherwise they will need to provide one of the following:
> Duolingo English Test – 120 overall with no component less than 90
https://englishtest.duolingo.com/home
> Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) – 70 with no band less
than 60
> Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB): Level 8 in each of Reading, Writing, Listening,
and Speaking
> Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): Listening, Level 8;
Reading, Level 8; Writing, Level 8; Speaking, Level 8
> International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic – 6.5 with no band
less than 6.0
> Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic – 60 in all skills
> Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT – 90 with no section less than 21
> Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Paper-based – 560
> WAEC (West African Examinations Council) English Score – C5
ABC PACE Program
Non-Academic Entrance Requirements
- Agreement with ABC’s Statement of Faith
- Agreement with ABC’s Community Rule of Life o See https://www.abccampus.ca/students/student-life/spiritual-life/.
- Successful completion of an admissions interview with ABC staff
Technology Requirements
Because of the highly technical nature of higher education, ABC recommends that applicants:
- Have access to a laptop computer.
- Are able to use word processing and presentation software.
- Have access to high-speed internet service
Course Transfer from Another Institution
Alberta Bible College seeks to maximize the amount of transfer credit given for students provided the credit accepted for transfer meets the objectives of the chosen program.
Individuals who seek transfer credit must request that official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions be sent directly to the Registrar. When transfer of credits is requested during the application process, the Registrar and/or Academic Dean will perform a transfer credit audit as part of the application review. The results of the transfer credit audit will be reported in ABC’s acceptance letter, so the applying student can take their transfer credit status into account when they are deciding whether or not to confirm their attendance at ABC. Please see the Academic Policies section for details.
Individuals not possessing a high school diploma or its equivalent may apply for studies at ABC provided they:
- Are at least twenty-one years of age.
- Are intent on learning more of God and the Christian Scriptures.
- Have made a profession of faith in Christ and desire to learn about service to Christ and people; or, who recognize that ABC is a Christian institution, and agree that if admitted, they will comply with/be guided by ABC’s Statement of Faith as well as
ABC’s Community Rule of Life. See https://www.abccampus.ca/students/studentlife/spiritual-life/.
For students admitted under these provisions, their first semester is considered a probationary period. Continuation at ABC is contingent upon attaining a 2.0 G.P.A. in the initial semester. Canadian students under age twenty-one are expected to attain their high school diploma or equivalent prior to receiving a degree or diploma from ABC.
Conditional Acceptance
Prospective students who do not meet all requirements may have their applications individually considered by the Academic Services Team for a conditional acceptance. Applicants granted conditional acceptance will be encouraged to create an action plan in order to fulfill the necessary requirements, including maintaining a 2.0 G.P.A. (a grade of C or higher) for the first semester (College) or two courses (PACE). Failure to maintain a 2.0 G.P.A. may require the student to work with an Academic Coach in order to continue their studies at ABC. For more information, contact the Registrar ([email protected]).
Application Deadlines
- For the Fall semester: August 1 (May 1 for International Students).
- For the Winter semester: November 15 (September 1 for International Students).
- For the Spring semester (PACE Only): March 1 (January 1 for International Students).
Applicants should expect that the admissions evaluation process can take up to six to eight weeks, especially if they have transfer credits to be evaluated. Submitting applications that are complete in every respect will speed up the admissions evaluation process. Applicants who confirm their enrollment at least two weeks before the application deadline are eligible for early admission scholarships.
Unclassified Students
Before declaring a specific College or PACE program, students may take up to a maximum of five courses as a way of sampling a specific course and/or meeting a specific training or interest. For more information, contact [email protected].