Bachelor of Education - Post Baccalaureate

Post Baccalaureate (full-time)

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

*** TERM 3 starts during the final two weeks of August and may be delivered as an interdisciplinary integrated term taken as a whole entity (i.e. courses do not run as 'stand alone' units). Course work is delivered synchronously online with the final practicum running face-to-face for 10 consecutive weeks as outlined in the Field Experience schedules.  

Application can be made to both the elementary and secondary teaching options. Each program requires a separate VIU Application Form. Please read all the details below and for a summary of all application details, please consult the Application Information & Checklist for important information. 

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, VIU Admissions and Registration, and the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care Teacher Regulation Branch;
  • See the Summary of Elementary Teaching (Kindergarten to Grade 7) Prerequisites for more information;
• A minimum grade point average of 2.33 (“C+”) on the 60 most recent credits attempted;
• Six credits, or equivalent of approved undergraduate Composition and Literature courses;
• Three credits of approved undergraduate sciences;
• Three credits of approved undergraduate mathematics;
• Three credits of approved undergraduate Canadian studies;
• Submission of official transcripts, including those for interim course work, from all post-secondary institutions attended (excluding VIU), as per VIU application procedures. Photocopies/faxed copies of transcripts are not acceptable.
• Completion of the Casper test.
• Completion of an Applicant Profile.

Secondary Teaching Option:

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

• Degree from a recognized university or college acceptable in content to the VIU Faculty of Education, VIU Admissions and Registration, and the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care Teacher Regulation Branch;
  • See the Summary of Secondary Teaching (Grades 8 to 12) Prerequisites for more information;
• For trades teaching applicants, a Red Seal acceptable in content to the VIU Faculty of Education, VIU Admissions and Registration, and the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care Teacher Regulation Branch.
• A minimum grade point average of 2.33 (“C+”) on the 60 most recent credits attempted;
• Six credits, or equivalent of approved undergraduate Composition and Literature courses;
• Submission of official transcripts, including those for interim course work, from all post-secondary institutions attended (excluding VIU), as per VIU application procedures. Photocopies/faxed copies of transcripts are not acceptable.
• Completion of the Casper test.
• Completion of an Applicant Profile.

Note: Review the Application Information & Checklist for important information. 

Access Initiative

Vancouver Island University is committed to the recruitment, retention and graduation of Indigenous students. The University also recognizes that Indigenous applicants have traditionally been under-represented in teacher education, as articulated in the Accord on Indigenous Education (2010).

The Faculty of Education’s Access Initiative is designed to give access to individuals who are members of groups in our society who have historically been under-represented in the teaching profession in BC. In order to achieve this objective, we encourage Aboriginal applicants to self-identify and apply under the Access Initiative housed within the Applicant Profile.

Notes on Admission

• Enrolment in this program is limited. Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program.
• For advice on program admission, pending course work selection, support in application or review of credentials, and transfer credit acceptability, please consult with Faculty of Education Advising.
• Applicants are advised that competence is required in the areas of oral and written communications, inter-personal skills, computation and computer applications.
• The Applicant Profile is accessed online in the VIU Student Record and asks applicants to document how they have met BC Ministry of Education and Child Care Teacher certification requirements and to identify potential teachable areas. The Applicant Profile can be revised any time up to the deadline.
• Admission rankings are determined by a combination of GPA (60%) and Casper test results (40%).
• Applicants applying to both programs will indicate their teaching preference (secondary or elementary) within the Applicant Profile.
• Prior to placement in field experience and/or practicum placements applicants will require a satisfactory Criminal Record Check which VIU will process through the British Columbia Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General in conjunction with the Criminal Records Review Act. A check completed through the RCMP is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the Act.
• To ensure applicants are suited to work in schools, the Faculty of Education may require additional screening to the satisfaction of individual school districts. This may include individuals re-entering the program.
• Applicants 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 BC Ministry of Education and Child Care Teacher Regulation Branch (TRB) prior to making an application to the program. Applicants are strongly advised to keep all records of correspondence with the TCB in case it is necessary to demonstrate compliance.
• Applicants to the secondary option will be considered in relation to provincial shortages in specific specialty areas. Eligibility for these secondary seats will be determined by undergraduate course work.
• To meet the needs of the teaching profession, from time to time, it may be necessary to give preference to applicants with discipline specialties/focus areas in high need areas such as French immersion, Indigenous education and Special Education.
• Applicants are advised that the Faculty of Education utilizes a variety of technologies, online services, and tools in providing an array of pedagogical experiences. An up-to-date laptop will be an asset to the student experience.

Notes on Program Progression

• Students must be able to demonstrate appropriate professional behaviour befitting the teaching profession as outlined in the Professional Standards for BC Educators BC Ministry of Education document.
• For program progression, all EDFE, EDPB, and EDTE course work must be completed with a minimum grade of "C+" in each course.
• All practica must be completed satisfactorily.

Notes on Professional Certification

• Upon successful graduation from the program, graduates must apply to the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care Teacher Regulation Branch (TRB) for professional certification. All associated fees, documents, transcripts, etc. are the responsibility of the graduate.
• As articulated by the TRB, professional certification is "valid for teaching B.C.'s Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system". Graduates hoping to gain employment in a BC public school are advised to check with the local school district(s) for any additional required qualifications and/or teaching restrictions.
• Upon successful graduation from the program, graduates are strongly encouraged to also apply to the Teacher Qualification Service (TQS) to assist in establishing qualifications for salary purposes in BC public schools. All associated fees, documents, transcripts, etc. are the responsibility of the graduate.
• Graduates are advised to keep original hard copies of important documents (i.e., Field Experience/Practicum reports) as the Faculty of Education does not store copies and cannot provide additional copies. 

Domestic (Canadian)

International