Released on January 19, 2015
Today Advanced Education Minister Kevin Doherty announced that Briercrest College and Seminary has received authorization to grant Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and History.“I’m pleased that Briercrest will now deliver two new programs to its students,” Doherty said. “Our government places a high priority on providing Saskatchewan students access to high quality post-secondary education.”
The Saskatchewan Higher Education Quality Assurance Board conducts a rigorous review of applications for new degree granting programs before they are considered for approval.
“We’re thrilled to add degrees in History and English to the 80 years Briercrest has provided Canada with premium Christian education," Briercrest College and Seminary President Michael Pawelke said. “We applaud the Ministry of Advanced Education’s work in moving Saskatchewan forward and recognizing Briercrest’s important contribution in providing excellent options alongside our universities.”
Approval of theses degrees is provided under The Degree Authorization Act and The Degree Authorization Regulations, which came into effect in 2012. Prior to this, only the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina had the authority to grant degrees, other than theological degrees, in the province.
In 2013, the government of Saskatchewan granted the college authorization to provide a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, the first time authorization had been given to an institution outside of the province’s two universities. Briercrest will be able to provide a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Arts in History effective July 1, 2015. The authorization will be reviewed formally in five years.
Briercrest College and Seminary is located in the town of Caronport 25 kilometres west of the City of Moose Jaw.
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For more information, contact:
Aimee Pascua
Advanced Education
Regina
Phone: 306-798-3170
Email: aimee.pascua@gov.sk.ca