Colin Chasteauneuf, Assistant Professor and Co-Chair
Peter MacMillan, Associate Professor and Co-Chair, Graduate Programs
Bryan Hartman, Professor
Judith Lapadat, Professor, and Regional Chair, Northwest Region
Corinne Koehn, Associate Professor, and MEd Counselling Coordinator
Linda Selby, Associate Professor and Regional Chair, Peace River-Liard
Lantana Usman, Associate Professor
Willow Brown, Assistant Professor, and MEd Leadership (MDL) Coordinator
Yvon Cloutier, Assistant Professor
Tina Fraser, Assistant Professor
Edward Harrison, Assistant Professor
Andrew Kitchenham, Associate Professor, and Post Baccalaureate Coordinator
Verna Lynn McDonald, Assistant Professor, and BEd Coordinator – Northwest Region
Greg Nixon, Assistant Professor
Linda O’Neill, Assistant Professor
Dennis Procter, Assistant Professor
John Sherry, Assistant Professor
Alexander Lautensach, Assistant Professor
William Hay, Lecturer
Trudy Mothus, Lecturer
Jim World, Lecturer
James Ryan, Senior Lab Instructor
Practicum Placement Coordinator (Prince George): Ricci Dalton
Practicum Placement Coordinator (Terrace): Christine Eide
UNBC's Bachelor of Education degree (BEd) program and Bachelor of Education degree completion program are offered at the Prince George and Terrace campuses. At the Prince George campus, the BEd program offers
both the Elementary (Grades K-7) and Secondary (Grades 8-12) streams. At the Terrace campus, only the Elementary Stream is offered. The BEd degree is a two-year program that consists of 73 credit hours in Education course work, of which 20 credit hours is classroom experience. The BEd degree completion program is available only to applicants who have completed a UNBC Education Diploma in a First Nations Language and Culture and consists of an additional 53 credit hours of Education course work, of which 17 credit hours is classroom experience. All Education courses within the BEd degree program and the BEd degree completion program are required; there are no elective courses offered.
Subject to the admission
requirements for Elementary (Grades K-7), students may apply to enter the BEd
Elementary program with, as described in the Admission Requirements, one of the following: (a) an acceptable three- or four-year bachelor's
degree or (b) a minimum 90 credit hours of undergraduate course work or (c) a
UNBC Education Diploma in a First Nations Language and Culture (minimum 92
credit hours). Students applying for
admission under item (c) will be admitted to the BEd Elementary degree
completion program and must complete, prior to graduation, the required
Education courses not taken as part of the Education Diploma program and sufficient
additional credit hours in a teachable field to attain a minimum 150 credit
hours of combined academic, Education Diploma and BEd course work. Upon completion of the two-year BEd program or
the two-year BEd degree completion program, students graduate with a Bachelor
of Education degree.
Subject to the admission
requirements for Secondary (Grades 8-12), students may apply to enter the
Secondary program after having completed a four-year Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor
of Science, or Bachelor of Commerce degree (120 credit hours) or the equivalent as described in the Admission Requirements.
Upon completion of the two-year BEd
program, students will graduate with a BEd degree.
UNBC's BEd program provides
students with the course work and classroom experience to prepare them to be
qualified teachers. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are recommended
to the British Columbia College of Teachers (BCCT) for professional
certification. Certification by the BCCT is required for employment in the
British Columbia public school system.
The Elementary and Secondary programs in Prince George begin in
September of each year. The Elementary program in Terrace begins in September
of each odd-numbered year. The
application deadline for all Education programs is March 15 of the year in which students intend to begin their program. Students
needing advice about the application process or about admission requirements are
encouraged to contact either the Student Recruitment and Advising Centre or the
School Experience Office in the School of Education. Students who are interested
in applying to the BEd program at the Terrace campus may also contact the Northwest
Regional campus for information.
Elementary (Grades K-7)
The Elementary stream prepares teacher candidates to work with the
unique learning needs of children who are beginning their school years.
This model reflects current thinking about optimizing the match between
educational theory and children's levels of cognitive and social
development. The Elementary stream is designed to educate teachers to
combine pedagogical excellence across disciplinary areas with a
learner-centered approach to practice. Philosophically, the program is
designed around constructivist principles, and it emphasizes approaches
to practice such as inquiry-based learning, strategies for instruction,
integration of language across the curriculum, inclusion of diverse
learners and perspectives, the development of caring and respectful
communities of learners, and reflective practice. Successful applicants
to the Elementary stream are assigned to a cohort group of
students and normally take their Education courses with that
cohort group over the two years.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the BEd degree Elementary
stream must have completed (with a minimum grade point average of C+ on the most
recent 60 credit hours of university credit hours completed) one of the following:
(a) an acceptable three- or four-year bachelor's degree of which 60 credit hours,
including 30 senior level credit hours, must be in Arts, Science, or other teachable fields relevant to the BC School system or
(b) a minimum of ninety (90) credit hours of undergraduate
course work,
of which sixty (60) credit hours, including 30
senior level credit hours, must be in Arts, Science, or other teachable fields
relevant to the BC School system.
Applicants to the BEd degree
completion program must have completed a UNBC Education Diploma in a First
Nations Language and Culture (minimum 92 credit hours).
Transfer credit for course work
relating to the ninety (90) credit hours that has been completed prior to UNBC
registration shall not be subject to the ten-year provision in the university
calendar regulation regarding Time
Limit for Transfer Credit but shall be determined by the School of
Education.
In addition to the admission requirements described above, the following
requirements must be met (see note following):
Successful completion, with a C+ average, of six (6) credit hours
of acceptable English literature and composition at any level (one of the
following: (a) three (3) credit hours of
English literature and three (3) credit hours of English composition or (b) six
(6) credit hours of acceptable English literature). Courses in linguistics,
language study, grammar, technical or business writing, communication, or
English as a second language are not acceptable to meet the English
requirement.
Three (3) credit hours in mathematics (not including
Statistics).
Three (3) credit hours in a laboratory science. Laboratory
science credit hours are normally selected from Biology, Chemistry, Physical Geography,
or Physics.
Six (6) credit hours of approved Canadian Studies, at any level,
applicable to teaching in the British Columbia school curriculum. Credit hours
will normally be selected from Anthropology, First Nations Studies, Geography,
History, Northern Studies, or Political Science courses that contain
significant Canadian content (upon review, credit hours from other disciplines
may be recognized as meeting the Canadian content requirement).
Submission of the completed application forms including the Experience
with Children and Youth statement, three (3) Confidential Reference Forms, and
the Personal Statement.
Note: Applicants who do not meet the requirements
in items 1-4 above but who otherwise meet the admission requirements may be
admitted provisionally to the BEd program with the approval of the Chair if
they have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of the required course
work. Applicants admitted provisionally
to the program under this section will not be recommended to the British Columbia
College of Teachers for certification until they successfully complete the
course work requirements.
Program Requirements
Elementary (K-7)
Entry route, with
60 credit hours of acceptable undergraduate course work in a teachable field,
via one of (a) an acceptable three- or four-year Bachelor's degree or (b) a minimum 90 credit hours
of acceptable course work:
Entry route via a UNBC Education Diploma in a First Nations Language and Culture:
Note: Students entering via this route must have completed, prior to graduation, sufficient additional elective credit hours in a teachable field to attain a minimum 150 credit hours of combined academic, Education Diploma and BEd course work.
* The EDUC 391-3 practicum is required only if it has not been taken previously as a component of the Education Diploma in a First Nations Language and Culture.
Note: Students entering via this route may opt to take some or all of their 12 senior credits prior to entering the Elementary BEd Degree Completion Program.
Secondary (Grades 8-12)
The Secondary program is a two-year
after-degree program that prepares individuals to teach in grades 8 through 12
in specialty areas. This model reflects current thinking about optimizing the
match between educational theory and children's levels of cognitive and social
development. The Secondary stream is
designed to educate teachers to combine pedagogical excellence across
disciplinary areas with a learner-centered approach to practice.
Philosophically, the program is designed around constructivist principles, and
it emphasizes approaches to practice such as inquiry-based learning, strategies
for instruction, integration of language across the curriculum, inclusion of
diverse learners and perspectives, the development of caring and respectful
communities of learners, and reflective practice. Successful applicants to the
Secondary stream are assigned to a cohort
group of approximately 35 students and normally take all of their courses with
that cohort group.
Admission Requirements Applicants to the Secondary stream must have
completed, with a minimum grade point average of C+ on the most recent 60
credit hours of university credit hours completed, a four-year Bachelor of
Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Commerce degree (120 credit hours) or the equivalent (i.e., a three-year Bachelor's degree with a teachable major plus 30 additional university credits) with a minimum of
ninety (90) credit hours in Arts, Science,
or Business Administration or in other teachable fields relevant to teaching in
the BC School system. The remaining credit hours
may come from any discipline.
In addition to the
entry requirements described above, the following requirements must be met (see
note following):
Successful completion, with a C+ average, of six (6) credit hours of acceptable English literature and
composition at any level (one of the
following: (a) three (3) credit hours of
English literature and three (3) credit hours of English composition or (b) six
(6) credit hours of acceptable English literature). Courses in
linguistics, language study, grammar, technical or business writing,
communication, or English as a second language are not acceptable to meet the
English requirement.
One
of the following:
One teachable major and one teachable minor, or
Two (2) teachable minors, or
One teachable major
Submission
of the completed application forms that include the Experience with Children
and Youth statement, three (3) Confidential Reference Forms, and the Personal
Statement.
Note: Applicants who do not meet the English
requirement in item 1 above but who otherwise meet the admission requirements
may be admitted provisionally to the BEd program with the approval of the
Chair. Applicants admitted provisionally
to the program under this section will not be recommended to the British
Columbia College of Teachers for certification until they successfully complete
the English requirements.
The following is a list of teachable majors and minors that have been
approved by the British Columbia College of Teachers, are widely taught
in British Columbia secondary schools, and that can be completed at the
University of Northern British Columbia (graduates of equivalent
programs at other recognized universities are also eligible for
consideration to the program). In order for applicants to be eligible
for the Secondary Stream Bachelor of Education program, they must meet
the requirements for one teachable major, a teachable major and minor,
or two teachable minors from the following list:
Subject area
Major
Minor
Biology
X
X
Business Education
X
X
Chemistry
X
X
Computer Science
X
X
English
X
X
First Nations Studies
X
General Science
X
X
Geography
X
X
History
X
X
Mathematics
X
X
Physics
X
X
Social Studies
X
X
Applicants to the Bachelor of Education program should recognize that
the credit levels for the following teachable majors and minors meet
the British Columbia College of Teachers accreditation requirements,
and may not be equivalent to the formal requirements for a UNBC major
or minor. Applicants should refer to the appropriate section of the
UNBC Calendar in order to ensure that they are meeting all of the
course work required to successfully complete UNBC degree requirements.
A teachable minor normally consists of eighteen (18) credit hours of
upper division courses (numbered 300 or 400 and taken in the third and
fourth year of study), in addition to required lower division courses.
A teachable major normally consists of thirty (30) credit hours of
upper division courses (numbered 300 or 400 and taken in the third and
fourth year of study), in addition to required lower division courses.
Biology Major and Minor
Bachelor of Education applicants to the Secondary Stream planning to
meet the Biology teachable minor requirement must have completed a
minimum of six (6) credit hours of introductory (100 level) course work
in each of biology, chemistry (at least one course with a lab
component), mathematics (at lease one course, but preferably two
courses, in calculus), and physics (at least one course with a lab
component). Applicants must also complete an additional six (6) to
twelve (12) credit hours of study in biology at the lower division, and
eighteen (18) credits of upper division course work in biology. The
course work must demonstrate both lecture and laboratory studies.
Applicants planning to meet the Biology teachable major requirement
must complete an additional twelve (12) credit hours of upper division
course work in biology.
Business Education Major and Minor
Bachelor of Education applicants to the Secondary Stream planning to
meet the Business Education teachable minor requirement must complete a
minimum of eighteen (18) upper division credit hours of specialized
courses in accounting, marketing, commercial law, and management
information systems in addition to introductory (100 level) courses in
computer science, economics, and mathematics.
Applicants planning to meet the Business Education teachable major
requirement must complete an additional twelve (12) credit hours of
upper division course work in accounting, finance, marketing, and
management information systems.
Chemistry Major and Minor
Bachelor of Education applicants to the Secondary Stream planning to
meet the Chemistry teachable minor requirement must have completed a
minimum of six (6) credit hours of introductory (100 level) course work
in each of biology, chemistry (at least one course with a lab
component), mathematics (at least one course, but preferably two
courses, in calculus), and physics (at least one course with a lab
component). Applicants must also complete an additional six (6) to
twelve (12) credit hours of study in chemistry at the lower division,
and eighteen (18) credits of upper division course work in chemistry.
The course work must demonstrate both lecture and laboratory studies.
Applicants planning to meet the Chemistry teachable major requirement
must complete an additional twelve (12) credit hours of upper division
course work in chemistry.
Computer Science Major and Minor
Bachelor of Education applicants to the Secondary Stream planning to
meet the Computer Science teachable minor requirement must complete a
basic lower division course load in computer programming, computer
structures, and mathematics in addition to eighteen (18) credits of
upper division Computer Science course work covering advanced
programming, systems design, and programming languages.
Applicants planning to meet the Computer Science teachable major
requirement must complete an additional twelve (12) credit hours of
study in upper division Computer Science course work.
English Major and Minor
Bachelor of Education applicants to the Secondary Stream planning to
meet the English teachable minor requirement must complete a basic
lower division course load that focuses on English literature and
composition in addition to twenty-four (24) credit hours of upper
division English courses including six (6) credits from each of the
following: English literature,
pre-twentieth century literature, and contemporary literature.
Applicants are also strongly encouraged to complete courses both in
Canadian literature and Shakespeare.
Applicants planning to meet the English teachable major requirement
must complete an additional six (6) credit hours of upper division
course work in English.
First Nations Minor
Bachelor of Education applicants to the Secondary Stream planning to
meet the First Nations teachable minor requirement must complete a
basic lower division course load that focuses on general First Nations
studies, First Nations language, and First Nations culture courses in
addition to eighteen (18) credit hours of upper division First Nations
Studies or related approved courses (related course work may come from
Anthropology or History).
General Science Majors and Minors
Teachable areas that can be included within the General Sciences Major
and Minor include Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, and
Physics.
Bachelor of Education applicants to the Secondary Stream planning to
meet the General Sciences teachable minor requirement must complete six
(6) credit hours of study in introductory (100 level) course work in
each of biology, chemistry (at least one course with a lab component),
mathematics (at least one course, but preferably two courses, in
calculus), and physics (at least one course with a lab component).
Applicants must also complete a minimum of six (6) credit hours of
upper division study in three of the four teachable areas: Biology,
Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, and Physics.
Applicants planning to meet the teachable major requirement in General
Sciences must complete an additional twelve (12) upper division credit
hours or course work from the four teachable areas: Biology, Chemistry,
Environmental Sciences, and Physics.
Geography Major and Minor
Applicants to the Geography Major or Minor programs must include
courses from both cultural and physical geography within their program,
as well as course work in regional and environmental studies.
Bachelor of Education applicants to the Secondary Stream planning to
meet the Geography teachable minor requirement must complete a minimum
of six (6) credit hours of introductory (100 level) or survey courses
in each of geography, history, and a social science.
Applicants must also complete a minimum of an additional six (6) credit
hours lower division geography course work and eighteen (18) credit
hours of upper division geography. A minimum of six (6) credits must have a significant Canadian content.
Applicants planning to meet the Geography teachable major requirement
must complete an additional twelve (12) credit hours of upper division
course work in geography.
History Major and Minor
Applicants to the History Major or Minor programs must include both
Canadian and European history course work within their program, as well
as the history of any region other than Canada or Europe.
Bachelor of Education applicants to the Secondary Stream planning to
meet the History teachable minor requirement must complete a minimum of
six (6) credit hours of introductory (100 level) or survey courses in
each of geography, history, and a social science.
Applicants must also complete a minimum of an additional six (6) credit
hours of lower division history course work and eighteen (18) credit
hours of upper division history. A minimum of six (6) credits must have a significant Canadian content.
Applicants planning to meet the History teachable major requirement
must complete an additional twelve (12) credit hours of upper division
work in history.
Mathematics Major and Minor
Bachelor of Education applicants to the Secondary Stream planning to
meet the Mathematics teachable minor requirement must complete a
minimum of thirty (30) credit hours of study of which at least eighteen
(18) credit hours must be at the upper division level. The upper
division credits must include at least one course in three of the
following areas: algebra, calculus, probability and statistics,
geometry, and number theory.
Applicants planning to meet the Mathematics teachable major requirement
must complete an additional twelve (12) credit hours of upper division
Mathematics course work in the above listed disciplines.
Physics Major and Minor
Bachelor of Education applicants to the Secondary Stream planning
to meet the Physics teachable minor requirement must have completed a
minimum of six (6) credit hours of introductory (100 level) course work
in each of biology, chemistry (at least one course with a lab
component), mathematics (at least one course, but preferably two
courses, in calculus), and physics (at least one course with a lab
component). Applicants must also complete an additional six (6) to
twelve (12) credit hours of study in physics at the lower division, and
18 credits of upper division course work in physics. The course work
must demonstrate both lecture and laboratory studies.
Applicants planning to meet the Physics teachable major requirement
must complete an additional twelve (12) credit hours of upper division
course work in physics.
Social Studies Majors and Minors
Teachable areas that can be included within the Social Studies
Major and Minor include Geography, History and acceptable Social
Sciences (Anthropology, Economics, Environmental Studies, First Nations
Studies, International Studies, Northern Studies, Political Science, Sociology, and Women's Studies).
Bachelor of Education applicants to the Secondary Stream planning to
meet the Social Studies teachable minor requirement must have completed
a minimum of twelve (12) upper division credit hours in a social
science teaching area (including: Anthropology, Economics,
Environmental Studies, First Nations Studies, International Studies,
Northern Studies, Political Science, Sociology, and Women's Studies)
acceptable in British Columbia secondary schools.
In addition, applicants must meet the minimum requirements for
Geography (nine (9) credit hours of which three (3) credit hours must
be at the upper division level, three (3) credit hours must be Canadian
Geography, and three (3) credit hours can be at any level), and History
(eighteen (18) credit hours of which six (6) credit hours must be at
the upper division level, three (3) credit hours must be in Canadian
history, three (3) credit hours must be in European history, three (3)
credit hours must be in a region other than Canada or Europe, and three
(3) credit hours can be at any level).
Applicants planning to meet the Social Studies teachable major
requirements must complete an additional fifteen (15) credit hours at
the upper division level course work (three (3) credit hours must be in
geography, three (3) credit hours must be in history, and six (6)
credit hours must be in the social sciences, and three (3) credit hours
can be in history, geography, or the social sciences).
Access Initiative
The Education Program at UNBC has initiated a program designed to
give access to individuals who are members of groups in our society,
which have historically been under-represented, in the teaching
profession in British Columbia. 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 UNBC's teacher education program must submit a Personal
Statement. Applicants who wish to apply under the Access Initiative may
identify themselves in their Personal Statement Form to be considered
under the Access Initiative.
Criminal Records Review
In addition to the admission application requirements outlined
above, applications are required to undergo a criminal record review and provide evidence of this prior to being considered for admission.
Refer to Undergraduate Regulations and Policies (Academic Regulation
#20) in this Calendar.
Admission Decisions
Applications for admission can be obtained from either the Office
of the Registrar, or from the School Experience Office. For further
information concerning the application process, please contact either
the School Experience Office or the Office of the Registrar.
Admissions rankings are determined by a combination of GPA, experience with children, personal statement scores, and letters of reference.
Notes on Certification
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.
Education Diploma in a First Nations Language and Culture (Elementary Years)
The Education Diploma in a First Nations Language and Culture is a minimum 92 credit hour
teacher education program that prepares individuals to teach an approved First Nations
language and culture at the Elementary Years level.
This program of study has been developed in partnership with the
Language Authority for each First Nation. This model reflects the
current thinking about building on the rich linguistic and cultural
heritage of students to optimize the match between educational theory,
children's level of cognitive and social development, and the
particular First Nations language and culture. Successful completion of
this program of study
will lead to a recommendation to the British Columbia College of
Teachers that a Developmental Standard Term Certificate in the specific
First Nations
Language and Culture be granted. The Education Diploma in a First
Nations Language and Culture is designed to educate teachers to
combine
pedagogical excellence across disciplinary areas with a
learner-centered approach to practice. Philosophically, the program is
designed around constructivist principles, emphasizes approaches to
practice such as inquiry-based learning, strategies for instruction,
integration of language and culture across the curriculum, inclusion of
diverse learners and perspectives, and the development of caring and
respectful practice.
Programs of study
leading to recommendation for this teaching credential are available
for Gitksan Language and Culture, Nisga'a Language and
Culture, Ts'msyen Language and Culture, and Carrier Language and Culture. The Education Diploma in a First Nations Language and
Culture (Gitksan) has been developed in partnership with the
Siwiixo'osxwim Wilnatahl Gitksanimx Society. The Education
Diploma in a First Nations Language and Culture (Nisga'a) has been
developed in partnership with the Nisga'a Language Authority of Wilp
Wilxo'oskwhl Nisga'a (WWN), and is offered at the WWN campus.
The Education
Diploma in a First Nations Language and Culture (Ts’msyen Sm’algyax) has been
developed in partnership with the Ts’msyen Sm’algyax Language Authority and is
offered at the Prince Rupert campus. The Education Diploma in a First
Nations Language and Culture (Carrier) has been developed in partnership with
the College of New Caledonia and with the Carrier Linguistic Society (Ft. St.
James) and the Lake Babine Education Authority (Burns Lake) and is offered in
Ft. St. James and Burns Lake respectively.
Admission Requirements
Students selected for this
program of study will be admitted according
to the “Undergraduate Admissions” categories, criteria, and processes
established by UNBC and specified in the early sections of this
Undergraduate Calendar. In addition to the specified entrance
requirements, applicants are encouraged to identify their fluency in
the specific language (Gitksanimx, Nisga'a, Ts'msyen Sm'algyax, or Carrier language) and their
knowledge of Gitksan culture and history, Nisga'a culture and
history, Ts'msyen culture and history, or Carrier culture and history.
Advanced placement in language courses may be considered for speakers
who are able to demonstrate their fluency in the language.
There
are two points of entry to this program of study: following the
completion of the Diploma in First Nations Language, or concurrently
while completing the required First Nations Studies and general
academic coursework. Students must be admitted to this program of
study prior to beginning their professional education courses.
The Certificate in First Nations Language, and the Diploma in First
Nations Language are described in the First Nations Studies section of
the calendar.
Criminal Records Search
In addition to the admission
application requirements outlined for
admission to UNBC, applicants are required to undergo a criminal record
search and provide evidence of this prior to being considered for
admission to the Education Diploma in a First Nations Language and
Culture (Elementary Years). Refer to Undergraduate Regulations
and Policies (Academic Regulation #18) in this Calendar.
Program Requirements
First Nations Studies Credits:
The
required First Nations Studies credits can be met by completing a
Diploma in First Nations Language. Students will need to include
the following First Nations Studies language, linguistics and culture
courses in their program of study:
The required general academic coursework of 18 credit hours can be met with the following courses. (Some of these credits may be completed as part of the Diploma in First Nations Language):
3 credit hours English Composition - Suggested: ENGL 170-3 or equivalent
Classroom Practice and Seminar: First Nations Language and Culture
Diploma and BEd Academic Regulations
For the purpose of determining eligibility for recommending a teacher
candidate for certification by the BCCT, the minimum requirements
include successful completion of the education program with a “C+” on
each education course taken while enrolled in the Program. Courses for
which a grade of lower than a “C+” was received must be repeated.
The School of Education reserves the right at any time to require any
teacher candidate to withdraw from UNBC if it believes on consideration
of academic, professional fitness or professional conduct that the
student is unsuitable for the teaching profession. Unsatisfactory
performance in any aspect of the program may be considered reason to
require a teacher candidate to withdraw from the program.
Regular attendance is expected of all teacher candidates in all
courses. An instructor can initiate procedures to debar a teacher
candidate from attending classes and from final examinations where
unexcused absences exceed three hours of scheduled classes in one term.
If re-admission is approved following required or voluntary withdrawal
from a practicum and/or program, the teacher candidate will normally be
re-admitted on probationary status.
Appeals should first be submitted to the BEd Admissions and Standards
Committee. If a teacher candidate is not satisfied with the outcome of
that process, he/she may then file an appeal with UNBC's Senate
Committee on Academic Appeals (see “Appeals Process” Academic
Regulation #50 under Regulations and Policies).
Teacher candidates are not allowed to use 600, or higher, level courses
from the Education Program, or any other program to meet degree
requirements.
Students who plan to undertake work at other institutions are required
to seek prior approval from the Office of the Registrar and the Chair
of Education if they wish such courses to be credited toward a BEd
degree at UNBC.
Diploma and BEd Teaching Practicum Regulations
*All arrangements for school placements are made through the School Experience Office.
Teacher candidates taking the Classroom Practice & Seminar courses
must be prepared to travel to any regional school district. In order to
do this, teacher candidates should budget for transportation. Practica
may be arranged in other selected districts. Extra expenses will be
involved and teacher candidates should budget accordingly.
Teacher candidates must successfully complete all first year courses
before they will be allowed to proceed to second year courses and
commence their second year field placements. These requirements include
the completion of core assignments designed to link theory and practice.
UNBC's School of Education reserves the right to approve or disapprove
any school placement for teacher candidates, to place teacher
candidates in schools, and to change any placement assigned to a
teacher candidate. The teacher candidate must be informed in writing of
the reasons for any required change in placement. UNBC bears no
responsibility for the costs associated with a change in placement.
The School of Education is responsible for seeking a sufficient number of
school placements to serve the needs of all enrolled teacher
candidates. A teacher candidate may be required to withdraw from a
Classroom Practice & Seminar course if none of the available
schools will accept that particular teacher candidate.
UNBC's School of Education reserves the right to provide information to
the principal of a school for a practicum placement for a particular
teacher candidate where it is deemed necessary for the principal to
have the information in order to carry out his/her duties as a
principal. The School Experience Office must inform the principal if
concerns have been raised within the School of Education or in a previous
practicum placement about a more than usual potential for a negative
impact on the quality of the learning and/or working in the classroom
and/or school as a result of the presence of the candidate teacher. The
Practicum Placement Co-ordinator and/or the Stream Co-ordinator must
inform the teacher candidate in writing of the reasons for the concerns
giving rise to such notification to the principal.
The dates of the practica will be made known to the teacher candidates
at the beginning of each term. Placement locations will be made
available as soon as possible after classes have begun.
The expectations of teacher candidates during the practica will be
published and distributed to all teacher candidates, Faculty Advisors,
and Co-operating Teachers at the start of each year in the course
outlines for the Classroom Practice & Seminar courses. Regular
attendance during the practica is required. Teacher candidates are
required to notify the school whenever classroom experience
appointments cannot be kept and also inform their Faculty Advisor.
Teacher candidates will be disbarred from the Classroom Practice &
Seminar course if they have more than three unexcused absences.
All teacher candidates in the program placed in schools for classroom
experience are subject to the provisions of the Schools Act, School
Regulations, the British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF) Code of
Ethics, and any regulation and/or code of behaviour applicable to
teachers and staff in the school. Any teacher candidate may be required
to withdraw from a classroom experience for violation of any part of
the School Act, School Regulations, the BCTF Code of Ethics, or upon
written notice from the school principal or the superintendent in the
district where the teacher candidate is placed.
Faculty Advisors or Co-operation Teachers who refuse teacher
candidates' continued participation in a practicum experience for
misconduct or repeated absence must immediately discuss the matter with
the Practicum Placement Co-ordinator, who shall then either inform the
teacher candidate of the conditions under which they may resume
participation in the practica or inform the teacher candidate that the
Chair of Education or Chair's designate is being advised that the
teacher candidate's performance in the classroom experience is
considered unsatisfactory by those responsible for supervision of the
practicum experience.
Denial and Withdrawal
Teacher candidates will be denied the practica placement if their
preparatory course work is considered to be unsatisfactory (e.g. below
“C+” work, or incomplete work) by the Stream Co-ordinator.
Teacher candidates may be required to withdraw from a practicum
experience if their performance in their school placement is considered
to be unsatisfactory by the Stream Co-ordinator (based on written
assessments by Faculty Advisor and/or Co-operating Teacher).
Teacher candidates seeking voluntary withdrawal from a practicum
placement, whether permanent or temporary, must receive permission to
do so from the Chair of Education. Teacher candidates should make this
decision only after careful consideration of the possible impact on
their practicum experience-based assignments.
Failure to give appropriate notice of withdrawal during a practicum
placement, without consultation and approval of the Practicum Placement
Co-ordinator, and/or Stream Co-ordinator, will result in withdrawal
from UNBC's the School of Education. Teacher candidates who withdraw
voluntarily from a practicum placement must notify the Practicum
Placement Co-ordinator in writing at least one week in advance of the
commencement of the classroom placement. Teacher candidates who are
required to withdraw from a practicum placement must make an
appointment to see Practicum Placement Co-ordinator and the Chair of
Education.
Teacher candidates who have withdrawn for any reason from a Classroom
Practice & Seminar course, or who wish to re-enter, or re-take, the
course must apply to the BEd Admissions and Standards Committee for
re-admission to the course. Teacher candidates should not assume that
re-admission would automatically be granted. The number of times a
teacher candidate can be re-admitted to Classroom Practice &
Seminar courses is limited to once except in cases where there are dire
circumstances beyond the teacher candidates' control as set out in the
UNBC “Conditions of Academic Standing” (Academic Regulation #48). Teacher candidates will only be
re-admitted to a Classroom Practice & Seminar course when, in the
opinion of those responsible for the supervision of the previous
attempt, there was evidence of significant progress toward meeting the
outcomes for the practicum placement. Teacher candidates will not be
re-admitted to any single Classroom Practice & Seminar more than
once. Teacher candidates will not be re-admitted to a Classroom
Practice & Seminar course if they have previously been re-admitted
to any other Classroom Practice & Seminar course in any of UNBC's
BEd programs.
Part-Time Students in the BEd Program
The
Bachelor of Education program at UNBC is a full-time study program with
a program fee. It is expected that all students registered in
this program will be enrolled on a full-time basis. However,
under exceptional circumstances, where students are unable to fulfill
full-time study for family, personal, or health reasons, students may
be allowed to continue the program on a part-time basis.
Application to continue on a part-time basis must be made in writing to
the Program Chair of Education and approved by the Dean of the College
of Arts, Social and Health Sciences. Where this is approved, the
student's fees will be assessed on a pro-rated basis using the Current
Bachelor of Education program fee for the semester.
BEd Graduation Requirements
To be eligible for a Bachelor of Education degree the candidate must normally have earned:
a passing grade in each of the courses comprising the degree
program, and no lower than a “C+” grade on all Education courses; and,
a minimum “C+” GPA.
The British Columbia College of Teachers: Current legislation
requires that every person appointed or retrained as a teacher in a
public school be a member of the British Columbia College of Teachers
and hold a valid certificate of qualification issued by the BCCT. It is
the responsibility of the individual to make an application to the
Registrar of the British Columbia College of Teachers for initial
certification, or for a change in certification, and to provide all
documentation.
The Teacher Qualification Service: Salary categories for teachers
are established by the Teacher Qualification Service upon application,
and only when a British Columbia teaching credential has already been
granted by the British Columbia College of Teachers. Categories are
assigned on the basis of completed years of academic and professional
preparation. Partial years are not considered.
Procedure and Documentation: Application forms for the British
Columbia College of Teachers and the Teacher Qualification Service are
available from the School Experience Office, as well as directly from
the agencies.
