Education Programs

Bachelor of Education—Post Baccalaureate Degree (full-time)

• 1½-year Post-Degree Program – 3 full-time semesters
• Program Fees: Domestic Students, International Students
• Apply for Admission: Forms and Information

The Program

This Teacher Education program is designed for university graduates who have earned an appropriate discipline-based under-graduate degree and who wish to become teachers. This is a 1½-year (compressed 2 year program in 3 semesters) post-degree, 60 credit professional under-graduate degree that can only be earned as a second degree. Normally the course work and field experience is compressed into three full-time semesters. The VIU Teacher Education Degree program provides course work and field experiences designed to prepare graduates to be well-qualified beginning teachers. Certification by the British Columbia College of Teachers is required for employment in the B.C. public school system. Upon successful completion of the requirements for the Bachelor of Education degrees, candidates are recommended to the British Columbia College of Teachers for certification.

Coursework will have either an elementary or secondary focus with supporting practicums.

Admission Requirements

Applicants will apply for the elementary or secondary teaching option.

Elementary Teaching Option:

The Admission requirements for the elementary teaching option will be as follows:

• Degree from a recognized university or university-college acceptable in content to the VIU Faculty of Education, Admissions, Adjudication and Appeals Committee, and to the B.C. College of Teachers;
• Minimum grade point average of 4.0 (“C+”) on the most recent 60 credits attempted as of the end of the Fall term;
• Six credits, or equivalent undergraduate Composition and Literature courses;
• Three credits of approved sciences;
• Three credits of approved mathematics;
• Three credits of approved Canadian studies;
• Submission of a satisfactory Personal Profile form.

Note: Review the Student Admission Information Checklist for important information.

Secondary Teaching Option:

The Admission requirements for the secondary teaching option will be as follows:

• Degree from a recognized university or university-college acceptable in content to the VIU Faculty of Education, Admissions, Adjudication and Appeals Committee, and to the B.C. College of Teachers;
• Minimum grade point average of 4.0 (“C+”) on the most recent 60 credits attempted as of the end of the Fall term;
• Six credits, or equivalent undergraduate Composition and Literature courses;
• Submission of a satisfactory Personal Profile form.

Note: Review the Student Admission Information Checklist for important information.

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted starting November 15, 2009.

The following documents are due by:

• Due February 19, 2010:
• Application form
• Due February 26, 2010:
• Personal Profile form.
• Transcripts must be submitted from each post-secondary institution attended, excluding VIU. Photocopies/faxed copies of transcripts are not acceptable.
• For students who have not completed prerequisite courses interim–transcripts must be submitted, excluding VIU. Photocopies/faxed copies of transcripts are not acceptable.
• Due May 31, 2010:
• Final transcripts of completed prerequisite courses must be submitted, excluding VIU. Photocopies/faxed copies of transcripts are not acceptable.

Personal Profile

Applicants who have applied to the Bachelor of Education program and received an acknowledgement letter will be able to access the Personal Profile form through their online student record. On the Personal Profile form, applicants will be asked to describe their reasons for pursuing a career in teaching and to document life experiences relevant to teaching (e.g. employment and training, volunteer or community service; work with diverse groups of children or adults; languages spoken; special skills or talents; leadership roles). Note: Applicants whose Personal Profile is rated as "unacceptable" by two of the three Personal Profile raters, will not be admitted to the Bachelor of Education program. Personal Profiles can be edited and revise any time up to the February 26th deadline for submission.

Notes on Admissions

• Contact the Faculty of Education Advising for details on admissions and program at 250-740-6223.
• Applicants are advised that competence is required in the areas of oral and written communications, inter-personal skills, computation and computer applications. Candidates for completion of the program must have established competency in these areas.
• Admission rankings are determined by a combination of GPA and personal profile scores.
• Applicants will indicate their preference for the elementary or secondary teaching option. Applications for the secondary option will be considered in relation to provincial shortages in specific specialty areas. Eligibilty for these secondary seats will be determined by undergraduate course work.

Access Initiative

The Faculty of Education Access Initiative is designed to give access to individuals who are members of groups in our society and have historically been under-represented in the teaching profession in B.C. In order to achieve this objective we encourage applicants who have confronted identifiable barriers to post-secondary education to apply under the Access Initiative. All applicants for the VIU Teacher Education Program must submit a Personal Profile. Applicants who wish to apply under the Access Initiative may identify themselves on the Personal Profile form and must submit an Access Initiative Information Form to be considered under the Access Initiative.

Notes on Certification

• Applicants are advised that all applicants for teacher certification in B.C. must authorize the College of Teachers to conduct a criminal record review check.
• To ensure that student teachers in the VIU Teacher Education Program are suited to work in schools, VIU can require all student teachers be screened to the satisfaction of the school districts.
• Applicants to the VIU Teacher Education Degree program who have been convicted of a criminal offense or given an absolute or conditional discharge must consult with, and be deemed eligible for certification by, the B.C. College of Teachers prior to making application to the program. Applicants are strongly advised to keep all records of correspondence with the BC College of Teachers in case it is necessary to demonstrate compliance.
• Applicants who are otherwise eligible for British Columbia College of Teachers Certification but who are not Canadian citizens are required to provide evidence of landed immigrant status or hold a valid work authorization to teach in Canada, before they may be issued a British Columbia teaching credential.

Program Outline: Post Baccalaureate (full-time)

* EDTE 611 is a year–long course.

* Students in the Secondary Stream will select EDPB 512.
** Students in the Elementary Stream will select EDTE 523.

Updated March 15, 2010