Concordia University College of Alberta
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Undergraduate Admission Requirements 2009-2010 Academic Year
Bachelor of Arts
Concordia admits students directly into Bachelor of Arts programs through one of the admission tracks described in this section. Applicants should consult the track that best fits their qualifications. International applicants should also consult 3.1.1.B.
Concordia's four-year Psychology (Applied Emphasis) is not a direct-entry program. Applicants who wish to enter this program should consult the admission requirements found in Admission to the Four-Year Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Applied Emphasis) .
High School Student Admission
The admission average is calculated using the best five Grade 12 subjects required for admission to the degree program of the applicant's choice. For Alberta applicants, admission averages are calculated using the blended grade which appears on the official Alberta Education transcript.
Bachelor of Arts Programs
Applicants to three- or four-year Bachelor of Arts degree programs who present high school qualifications when seeking admission to the first year of university studies must present a minimum admission average of 60% with a passing grade in each subject.
To be considered for admission, applicants must present the following course requirements:
- English 30 or English Language Arts 30-1
- One subject from Group A or Pure Mathematics 30 in lieu of a 30-level Language Other than English (see Classification of Alberta Grade 12 Subjects, table 3.2.1)
- One subject from Group A or B
- One subject from Group A or C
- One subject from Group C
Note:
- It is recommended that courses include Social Studies 30 and a 30-level Language Other than English.
- Applicants intending to complete an area of concentration in Political Economy are required to present Pure Mathematics 30.
- Applicants intending to complete a minor in Business, Computing Science, Economics, Mathematics, Political Economy or Physics are required to present Pure Mathematics 30.
- Applicants intending to complete a major, area of concentration, or minor in Psychology or Sociology, or who plan to enter the Bachelor of Education (After Degree) program are strongly recommended to present Pure Mathematics 30.
International Baccalaureate
Concordia recognizes course work completed in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. When an applicant presents both a high school Grade 12 subject and the corresponding IB course for admission, the higher grade will be used in the admission average calculation. IB course grades are converted in the following manner:
| IB Grade | Grade 12 Percentage |
|---|---|
| 7 | 98% |
| 6 | 90% |
| 5 | 82% |
| 4 | 73% |
| 3 | 55% |
| 2 | 45% |
| 1 | less than 45% |
Applicants may be eligible to receive transfer credit for IB courses with a grade of 5 or higher. A list of approved courses for transfer credit follows; other courses may be considered on an individual basis:
| IB Course | Concordia Equivalent | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Art/Design (higher level) | * | |
| Biology (higher level) | BES 107 | 3 |
| Chemistry (higher level) | CH 101/102 | 6 |
| Chemistry (standard level) | CH 101 | 3 |
| Computing Science (higher level) | CMPT 111 or CMPT 1XX** | 3 |
| Computing Science (standard level) | CMPT 1XX or CMPT 111** | 3 |
| Economics (higher level) | ECO 101/102 | 6 |
| English A1 (higher level) | ENG 100 or 110 | 6 |
| French A or B (standard or higher level) | FR 203 | 6 |
| Geography (standard level) | ENSC 101 | 3 |
| Geography (higher level) | EAS 101 | 3 |
| German A or B (standard or higher level) | GERM 210 | 6 |
| Greek (higher level) | GRK 101/102 | 6 |
| History: European (higher level) | HIS 111/112 | 6 |
| History: Islamic (higher level) | HIS 1XX | 3 |
| Japanese AB | LOE 1XX | 6 |
| Japanese B (standard or higher level) | LOE 1XX | 6 |
| Latin (standard or higher level) | LAT 101/102 | 6 |
| Mathematics (standard or higher level) | MAT 113 or 114*** | 3 |
| Mathematics with Further Mathematics | MAT 113 or 114 | 3 |
| Music (higher level) | **** | |
| Philosophy (higher level) | PHIL 1XX | 3 |
| Physics (standard level) | PHY 121 | 3 |
| Physics (higher level) | PHYS 121/122 | 6 |
| Psychology (higher level) | PSY 104 | 3 |
| Social and Cultural Anthropology (higher level) | SOC 1XX | 3 |
| Spanish A (standard or higher level) | SPA 101/102 | 6 |
| Spanish B (higher level) | SPA 101/102 | 6 |
| Theatre Arts (higher level) | DRA 101 | 3 |
| Visual Arts (higher level) | Fine Arts 1XX | 6 |
Advanced Placement
Concordia recognizes course work completed in the Advanced Placement (AP) program. When an applicant presents both a high school Grade 12 subject and the corresponding AP course for admission, the higher grade will be used in the admission average calculation. AP course grades are converted in the following manner:
| AP Grade | Grade 12 Percentage |
|---|---|
| 5 | 90% |
| 4 | 72% |
| 3 | 57% |
Applicants may be eligible to receive transfer credit for AP courses with a grade of 4 or 5. A list of approved courses for transfer credit follows; other courses may be considered on an individual basis:
| AP Course | Concordia Equivalent | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Art History | ARTH 101/102 | 6 |
| Art Studio (Drawing) | Fine Arts 1xx | 3 |
| Art Studio (General) | Fine Arts 1xx | 6 |
| Art Studio (2-D Design) | Fine Arts 1xx | 6 |
| Art Studio (3-D Design) | Fine Arts 1xx | 6 |
| Biology | BIO 100 | 3 |
| Calculus AB | MAT 113 or 114 | 3 |
| Calculus BC | MAT 115 | 3 |
| Chemistry | CH 101/102 | 6 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | LOE 2xx | 6 |
| Computing Science A | CMPT 111 | 3 |
| Computing Science AB | CMPT 111/112 | 6 |
| Economics (Macroeconomics) | ECO 102 | 3 |
| Economics (Microeconomics) | ECO 101 | 3 |
| English (Language & Composition) | ENG 1xx(ntt ENG 100/110) | 3 |
| English (Literature & Composition) | ENG 1xx(ntt ENG 100/110)* | 6 |
| Environmental Science | ENSC 101 | 3 |
| French (Language) | FR 2xx** | 6 |
| French (Literature) | FR 2xx** | 6 |
| German Language | GERM 1XX | 6 |
| Government and Politics (Comparative) | PSCI 101 | 3 |
| Government and Politics (United States) | PSCI 1xx | 3 |
| History (European History) | HIS 1xx | 3 |
| History (United States History) | HIS 1xx | 6 |
| History (World History) | HIS 1xx | 3 |
| Human Geography | ARTS 1xx | 3 |
| Italian Language and Culture | LOE 2xx | 6 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | LOE 2XX | 6 |
| Latin (Vergil,Catullus & Horace) | LAT 101/102 | 6 | Latin (Vergil) | LAT 1xx(ntt LAT 101/102) | 3 | Latin (Literature) | LAT 1xx(ntt LAT 101/102) | 3 |
| Music (Listening/Literature) | MUS 101 | 3 |
| Music (Theory) | MUS 211 | 3 |
| Physics B | PHY 121/122 | 6 |
| Physics C (Electricity & Magnetism) | PHY 1xx | 3 |
| Physics C (Mechanics) | PHY 131 | 3 |
| Physics C (Mechanics/Electricity & Magnetism ) | PHY 131/1xx | 6 |
| Psychology | PSY 104 | 3 |
| Spanish (Language) | SPA 2xx | 6 |
| Spanish (Literature) | SPA 2xx | 6 |
Out-of-Province Admission
Applicants who have been educated outside the province of Alberta but within Canada should consult the Out-of-Province High School Equivalency Chart 
, (Table 3.2.1.F in the Calendar). Applicants must present the equivalent Grade 12 subjects required for their chosen program.
International Admission
1. American High School Equivalents
Applicants educated in the United States of America must present a Grade 12 diploma, the appropriate admission average, and course equivalents to Alberta Education Grade 12 subject requirements for their chosen program.
British Education System
Applicants educated in a country that follows the British Education System must present a combination of five courses from the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and the General Certificate of Education - Advanced Level (GCE-Advanced) subjects. Those applicants using the GCSE for admission must present a minimum grade of C in each subject.
Admission to Bachelor of Arts programs requires at least two passes at the GCE-Advanced level (normally, English and one additional subject). Admission to Bachelor of Science programs requires three passes at the GCE-Advanced level (normally, English, Mathematics [Algebra], and one Science - Biology, Chemistry, or Physics). Admission to the Bachelor of Management program requires three passes at the GCE-Advanced level (normally, English, Mathematics [Algebra], and one additional subject).
Additional acceptable education certificates include, but are not limited to, Caribbean Examination Council Secondary Education Certificate, Hong Kong Certificate of Education, Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination, Uganda Certificate of Education, Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education, West African School Certificate or Senior Secondary School Certificate and Higher School Certificate. For information regarding other acceptable certificates, contact Admissions and Financial Aid in Student and Enrolment Services.
Other Jurisdictions
Applicants educated in a jurisdiction other than those noted above must submit all academic transcripts as defined in section 3.1.1.C. For additional information regarding acceptable educational credentials, contact Admissions and Financial Aid in Student and Enrolment Services.
Home-Schooled Student Admission
Concordia considers applications from home-schooled, including home-educated, applicants. All applicants are assessed on an individual basis and are treated on their own merits.
Home-schooled applicants are offered the following admission routes:
- Admission to an Arts, Management or Science degree program by presenting the appropriate Grade 12 requirements for admission to the program of their choice (section 3.2.1, High School Student Admission).
- Admission to the Open Studies program (section 3.6, Open Studies Student Admission). Open Studies students are eligible to register in a maximum of nine credits each semester to a life-time maximum 30 credits (section 4.1.3, Open Studies Students). However, after they have completed 24 university-level credits with the appropriate admission grade point average (AGPA), Open Studies students may apply for admission to an undergraduate degree program (section 3.2.5, Transfer Student Admission).
- Admission to an Arts, Management, or Science degree program by completing a minimum of one year of full-time study in a diploma program at a recognized college, technical institute, or bible college in addition to their home-schooling program. Applicants must achieve a satisfactory academic standing in that course work.
- Admission to an Arts, Management, or Science degree program by presenting a Home-School Portfolio with the application for admission. The Home-School Portfolio must contain the following elements:
- A detailed description of the high school curriculum used in the home-schooling program and the methodology used in the applicant’s acquisition of knowledge, including a complete list of all texts studied, course syllabi, and measures used to evaluate academic performance.
- Samples of academic work performed such as book reports or essays in English literature, science laboratory reports, and examinations.
- A complete transcript of all grades achieved in Grade 10, 11, and 12 courses.
- A statement outlining their educational goals and relevant extracurricular activities, including visual and performing arts activities (e.g., grade levels completed through the Royal Conservatory of Music), athletics, and community service, as they pertain to university preparation.
- A confidential letter of recommendation from an impartial source, such as a home education coordinator, indicating the applicant’s academic readiness for a university-level program of studies. The referee would normally hold a professional designation (certified educator or academic counsellor) and be personally familiar with the applicant’s high school curriculum.
Home-schooled applicants who are admitted to a Concordia undergraduate degree program under routes 1 and 2 are eligible for entrance award consideration; those admitted under routes 3 and 4 are ineligible unless they present the appropriate SAT or ACT score. However, after the completion of their first year of study at Concordia, home-schooled applicants are eligible to be considered for in-course awards (section 7, Awards).
Special Admission
Applicants to Arts and Science degree programs who do not meet standard admission requirements may be admitted to a first-year deficiency program.
Concordia reserves the right to assess applications for special admission on an individual basis. Entrance to deficiency programs is at the discretion of Admissions and Financial Aid.
Students admitted under special admission requirements are placed on academic probation, may be required to reduce their course load in the first semester of study, and may not withdraw from courses they are taking to fulfil Grade 12 subject deficiencies.
There are two types of deficiencies:
A. Course Deficiency
To qualify for the Combined University Matriculation Upgrading Program (CUMUP), applicants must present an average of at least 70% in four appropriate Grade 12 subjects including English, and must have successfully completed the appropriate Grade 11 prerequisite for the deficient Grade 12 course.
Students must clear any course deficiency during the first semester after admission by achieving a passing grade in the deficient course so that their admission average is at least 60%. Students must maintain satisfactory academic standing (section 9.3.4 of the Calendar); the Registrar reviews their academic status at the end of the first semester and at the end of the academic year.
Space in Grade 12 courses for CUMUP students is limited. Applicants who wish to be considered for the course deficiency program should apply early.
B. Average Deficiency
In very special circumstances, applicants who have five Grade 12 subjects with an admission average of slightly less than 60% may be permitted to enrol in university programs. Students remove an average deficiency by achieving satisfactory academic standing (section 9.3.4 of the Calendar); the Registrar reviews their academic status at the end of the first semester and at the end of the academic year.Non-Matriculated Student Admission
Applicants who will be 21 years of age by the end of the semester in which they are seeking admission and who cannot present the normal high school qualifications may be admitted under reduced requirements. Please note that students presenting international high-school credentials are ineligible for admission as non-matriculated students.
Bachelor of Arts Programs
Non-matriculated applicants who seek admission to three- or four-year Bachelor of Arts degree programs must present a minimum admission average of 60% with a passing grade in each subject.
To be considered for admission, non-matriculated applicants must present the following course requirement:
- English 30, English Language Arts 30-1, or a minimum grade of C in Concordia's English 110 or equivalent.
Transfer Student Admission
Transfer students must have completed a minimum of 24 transferable credits (normally, eight semester courses) from a recognized post-secondary institution (university, college or technical institute). Applicants with fewer than 24 transferable credits must present the normal high school qualifications or a combination of high school and post-secondary course work.
A transferable course is defined as a course that Concordia accepts for credit toward a Concordia degree program. For more complete information on transfer credit, see section 3.1.2.
The Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) is calculated using the most recently attempted 24 credits; all grades used in calculating the AGPA are adjusted according to Concordia's grade conversion scale. Normally, courses completed in the spring and summer sessions immediately preceding the semester of entry are not calculated in the AGPA.
Applicants who have been required to withdraw from a post-secondary institution are not eligible to apply to Concordia for 12 months after the date they were required to withdraw. Applicants to Arts or Science degree programs who present an AGPA of less than 2.0 or who have completed the 12-month waiting period after being required to withdraw may be considered for admission. If admitted, applicants are placed on academic probation and may be required to reduce their course load. Applicants who are not successful in gaining admission to a degree program may consider applying to Open Studies to improve their AGPA.
Applicants who have been required to withdraw more than once in their academic careers may be considered for admission only through an appeal. The letter must be submitted with their application for admission and contain the reason for their previous unsatisfactory performance, their accomplishments since they were required to withdraw, and the strategies they have developed to ensure success if they re-enter university studies.
A. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Programs
Transfer students seeking admission to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree programs must present a minimum AGPA of 2.0.
B. Bachelor of Management Program
Transfer students seeking admission to the Bachelor of Management program must present a minimum AGPA of 2.3. In addition, transfer students are required to present Applied Mathematics 30 or Pure Mathematics 30 (or equivalent).
Graduates of recognized two-year diploma, or three- or four-year applied degree programs in business, management, or related area must present a minimum AGPA of 2.3 in the final year of their program and may be eligible for a block transfer of up to 60 credits toward the program. Transfer students admitted with a 60-credit block transfer are not required to present a Grade 12 mathematics course. Contact Admissions and Financial Aid for a list of recognized programs.
Applicants to the Management program are reminded that admission is competitive; meeting the minimum AGPA does not guarantee admission.