TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN CANADA

Credential · Bachelor of Education (BEd) · Bachelor of Adult Education and Training (BAET) · Bachelor of Religious Education (BRE) · Combined Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (BA/ BEd) · Combined Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education (BSc/ BEd) · Combined Bachelor of Physical Education and Bachelor of Education (BPE/ BEd) · Combined Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education (BMus/ BEd) · Associate of Arts (AA) · Diplomas/certificates Program Length · 5 years for concurrent combined degrees · 4 years for bachelor's degrees · 1-2 years for consecutive education programs  · 2 years for associate's degree · 2-3 years for diplomas · 12-52 weeks for certificates Entry · Consecutive degrees: 1-2 years of post-secondary study · Bachelor's degrees: 1-2 years of post-secondary study; direct entry · Concurrent combined degrees: 1-2 years of post-secondary study; direct entry · Associate's degrees: direct-entry · Diplomas and certificates: direct-entry Areas of Study · General studies, arts, sciences, education, community services · Specialization areas include elementary, secondary and adult education; teaching English as a second language (TESL); language and literacy; drama; Indigenous education; physical education; music; religious education; early childhood education; educational psychology; special education; fine arts; history; math/science; biological sciences, chemistry, geography, physics; Jewish studies; social sciences; visual studies; career/trades and technology; moral/ethical education; health education; human ecology.  Special Features · internship/ in-school placement Everywhere in the world teachers play an essential, foundational role in building our society. Therefore, the many undergraduate university teacher education programs in Canada prepare international students for all kinds of career options. The four-year Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree in Canada has two main routes: elementary education and secondary education. In the elementary route you can choose a minor in early childhood education, educational psychology, English or French as a second language, French immersion, fine arts, language and literature, math/science, music, native education, Jewish studies, physical education, social sciences, special education, visual studies, or second language. Possible majors and minors in the secondary route include art, biological sciences, career and technology studies, chemistry, drama, English language arts, general science, mathematics, music, physical education, physics, social studies, health education, native education, religious and moral/ethical education, second languages and history. Availability of particular majors and minors depends on the university. A Bachelor of Adult Education and Training (BAET) may also be available. In addition, there are two main ways to take a Bachelor of Education degree in Canada. Entering directly from high school international students can take the concurrent BEd, while studying in another Faculty at the same time. Or, they can take the BEd consecutively, meaning after undertaking a previous degree: in consecutive study, students generally apply to the non-education Faculty, and then after two or three years, depending on the program, transfer to the Education Faculty for the remaining two years. In both cases students graduate with two degrees. The most common combined degrees are Bachelor of Education with Bachelor of Arts (BA/BEd), Bachelor of Science (BSc/ BEd), Bachelor of Physical Education (BPE/BEd), or Bachelor of Music (BMus/ BEd). Within these degrees further specializations are possible depending on the BA or BSc major, such as drama, native studies, biological science, chemistry, geography, math, physics or human ecology. There are also specific Aboriginal/ First Nations teacher training programs--sometimes whole departments within a university--offering specific Indigenous elementary and secondary routes as well as certificates in Aboriginal special education assisting and classroom assisting. Programs like NORTEP (Northern Teacher Education Program) are offered at various regional centres affiliated with different universities. International students interested in teaching religion or Christian studies might consider pursuing a BEd or a Bachelor of Religious Education (BRE) at a Christian university in Canada, which might also have two-year university transfer programs in elementary or secondary education. Usually bachelor's degrees in education lead to teacher certification in that province, or can also lead into graduate and doctoral programs in education.  But it's not all about degrees: in the field of teacher education, universities in Canada offer a larger number of one- to two-year diplomas and certificates than in many other areas of study. Sometimes education courses are part of the Faculty of Health and Education, and diploma and certificate programs are offered in literacy instruction, special education teacher assistant or early childhood care and education. Or, within a Faculty of Education, there may be a specialty department dealing with special education or educational and counselling psychology offering diplomas and concentrations in developmental disabilities/ autism, behavioural disorders and infant development. Other specialty departments may exist for literacy education, curriculum and instructional studies. Virtually all teacher education programs in Canada include some kind of practicum or work placement component. At the community college level, you'll find one- to two-year diploma and certificate programs in early childhood education, educational/ teacher assistant, Aboriginal education and special education assistant. You will need to do some hunting, though, since these programs can be tucked away in Faculties of Education, Teacher Education, Health and/ or Human Services, Social Development, Community Care, Community Services, Community Studies, Applied Arts, Human Studies, Aboriginal Studies, even Theology. Two-year university transfer programs in education are also often available, and Christian colleges may also have TESL, early childhood education, and educational assistant programs as well as Bachelor of Arts and Associate of Arts (AA) degrees with a major or minor option in Christian Education.  Private career colleges in Canada also offer programs in teacher education, such as basic or advanced early childhood education, educational/ teacher assistant, and TESL or TEFL. Don't discount a school because it's called a business college! Many of these and other general career colleges offer teacher education diplomas and certificates. Specialty colleges also exist for languages, Native education, human services or early childhood education.  TEACHER EDUCATION MAJORS In Canada, a major (also known as a major concentration or concentration) is a term for the specific group of courses that give you a basic knowledge of a field of study, which is in addition to your core curriculum. A major is a term most commonly applied to a program of study leading to a bachelor's degree. The Faculty of Education or teacher education school will define a framework for this specialized portion of your studies, including a certain number of required courses and a certain number of "elective" courses relevant to the major. The school will also define your general education or foundation education requirements. Some majors effectively define your full course of study; many others allow you considerable latitude both within your field of study and in their other courses. Although many international students choose their major before entering a university or college in Canada, many others will select it during their first or second year of a three- or four-year program. Typically schools do not allow you to officially declare your major until the end of your second year so that you experience a broad range of courses that will help you choose the most appropriate major. If you are interested in a major that requires a lot of classes, or classes that are limited to students in that major, you might have to declare earlier than usual (i.e., the fall semester of your second year). As well, for some majors international students may need to take specific courses (pre-requisites) during first and second year before being considered eligible for upper level courses. Some teacher education majors have limited enrolment, so in fact you may even be required to apply to get the major you want, including attending an interview or writing an essay. Community college programs in Canada generally do not have majors as such. Their 1- to 3-year diploma and certificate programs carry a designation, for instance Diploma in Early Childhood Education, which is much more specific than, say, Bachelor of Education. Often, students in a community college program--sometimes all the students in the department--will take a common set of core foundational courses in the first year (or term, in the case of shorter programs) which then enables them to pursue a specialized area of study. But generally the field of study at the community college level is career-focused to the point where students do not take "elective" courses as they do for bachelor's degrees. Hence the designation of the diploma effectively stands in for the "major." TEACHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION Accreditation is a form of independent, professional certification that assures international students and their parents that a Canadian school or program adheres to high quality standards. It means the programs are delivered by qualified faculty and are constantly updated to follow the changes and meet the needs of the working world. Therefore, attending an accredited school or program is often thought to make you more competitive in the job market.  While there is no national accrediting body in Canada for teacher education schools and programs, the government of each province or territory in Canada is responsible for regulations regarding teacher training. For example, the British Columbia College of Teachers will have different program accreditation requirements than those of the Ontario College of Teachers. You may also find provincial accreditation bodies for specializations within the field of teacher education, such as the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO). International students can also look at whether a school or program has any memberships in, or endorsements by, discipline-specific professional associations which reflect certain standards of quality, but this is not the same as official accreditation. Why Accreditation? The goal of accreditation and professional memberships is to ensure that the education provided meets acceptable levels of quality. Accrediting agencies, which are educational associations of regional, national or international scope, develop evaluation criteria and conduct peer evaluations to assess whether or not those criteria are met. Institutions and/or programs that request an agency's evaluation and that meet an agency's criteria are then "accredited" by that agency.  PREPARING FOR TEACHER EDUCATION SCHOOL If you are considering studying teacher education in Canada, your post-secondary planning process should begin as early as high school. Since teacher education programs in Canada are rigorous and can be competitive, it is important to plan your high school courses accordingly. Admittance to teacher education programs is typically in the third year; therefore, international students will need to complete pre-education courses. Make sure that you takes courses in communications, math, and an array of electives that reflect the area in which you might wish to teach (science, history, applied arts, etc.) to ensure that that you are well prepared for the schools and programs that make your list. Make sure that you can meet the minimum English or French proficiency requirements by taking any English or French classes.If you are still in high school, and are thinking about becoming a teacher, there are several additional things that you can do to prepare and increase your chances for being accepted into the program of your choice: UUndertake to read and study independently. This is a good way for international students to develop interests, expand knowledge and improve the vocabulary and reading comprehension skills needed for school in Canada. This will also help you if admission requirements include a personal essay, since you will be able to impress the committee with the knowledge you have built up of terms and issues specific to this area of study. Admissions committees are often interested in international students' extracurricular activities and personal qualities. Consider joining school clubs, athletics, musical activities, and arts and drama, especially if you have excelled in one or more of these areas. This is also a good way to develop demonstrated leadership skills which are an important aspect of a competitive application. Work experience--paid or volunteer--can also increase your chances of being admitted and is an achievement often regarded highly by teacher education schools and faculties in Canada. HOW TO EVALUATE TEACHER EDUCATION SCHOOLS Choosing a teacher education school or program in Canada can be a difficult and time-consuming choice for international students. At first you will need to make many decisions: whether you wish to pursue a degree, diploma or certificate; study on a full-time or part-time basis; what majors and areas of specialization interest you; how important special features such as co-op are to your decision; and the importance of cost, location and other similar factors. Once you have decided on these, you will still need to undertake a significant exploration and consultation to focus your interests and choice of a school and teacher education program. Here is a step-by-step process to help international students evaluate each school or program: Visit the university's, college's, school's or program department's website. Most institutions provide detailed information about their programs, such as which degrees/diplomas/certificates are offered, amount of tuition and fees, admission requirements and intake times, student demographics, faculty qualifications, industry experience and research accomplishments, and more! Often the institution's website will provide a "Q&A" or FAQ page which will answer the most common international student questions about it and its programs.  Speak with or email an admissions counsellor or academic advisor: they have a thorough knowledge of the curriculum and study programs that can lend a perspective to your decisions, and sometimes lead you in new directions. Research other sources of information.  There is a wealth of things that you can do here: IFind or ask to be put in touch with past graduates of the university, college, school or program and talk with them about their experiences while a student. Consult the school's international student office as well to see if they can put you in touch with any current or former international students in the program. Confirm which school districts and other organizations have recruited graduates in the past and contact their human resources departments to determine their satisfaction with the institution's graduates and programs, whether they continue to recruit from the university, college or school and whether they value it over others on a regular basis.  Search the Internet for information on awards and achievements bestowed on specific teacher education schools and programs in Canada - competitions won, faculty honours, research grants, etc.  Consult Facebook and other social networking sites that may provide testimonials and other student comments on specific teacher education programs and the universities, colleges, schools and program departments that offer them. Then match these facts and figures against the Canadian schools and teacher education programs you are evaluating. APPLYING TO TEACHER EDUCATION SCHOOL Teacher education relates to everything we know! Which mean there's a lot for prospective teachers to study. This variety of options, therefore, affects the application process to the different teacher education programs at the university, community college or private career college level.  Admission to undergraduate university programs in teacher education is typically competitive and admission is granted based on academic requirements and personal qualities. There are two main ways to take a Bachelor of Education degree: entering directly from high school, or transferring from another university degree program. The concurrent BEd is taken while studying in another Faculty at the same time, while the consecutive BEd involves applying to the non-education Faculty, and then after two or three years transferring to the Education Faculty. Some programs may require a prior post-secondary diploma. The most common combined degrees are Bachelor of Education with Bachelor of Arts (BA/BEd), Bachelor of Science (BSc/ BEd), Bachelor of Physical Education (BPE/BEd), or Bachelor of Music (BMus/ BEd). Aboriginal teacher education programs like NORTEP (Northern Teacher Education Program) may be offered at various regional centres affiliated with different universities, which means there is some real flexibility in terms of where you take your actual classes.  Students should apply using the using the post-secondary application service of their respective province, if relevant, or directly to the institution. University application also usually includes a non-refundable application fee of anywhere between $25-$100, as specified by the institution, as well as official high school transcripts. Intake is normally in September and January, but students are advised to apply early for the more competitive programs. In terms of academic requirements needed for university admission (whether directly to an Education Faculty or to another Faculty prior to transferring to Education), you need Grade 12 completion with a certain grade (generally around 70%) in each of the required courses, which typically include English and math. Other courses will be required depending on the specific teaching subjects you intend to specialize in. A student's overall academic average or Grade Point Average (GPA) is also considered, and the competitive GPA can change from year to year depending on the quality of the applicant pool and the number of places available. Additional potential requirements include reference letters, questionnaire, current résumé, proof of English proficiency, personal essay or letter of intent and possibly health clearance. You may be asked to participate in an interview or meet with an admissions counselor. If you are interested in pursuing a BEd or a Bachelor of Religious Education (BRE) at a Christian university may be required to provide additional application materials, such as a reference from your church, or you may be asked to sign the school's statement of belief.  Community colleges generally have open admission in which students are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. However, admission to most community college diploma and certificate programs in teacher education is competitive--requiring Grade 12 completion with satisfactory standing in English and math--and generally follow application procedures similar to university programs. These are often direct-entry programs that you can apply to straight from high school.  Career colleges differ in that some offer continuous enrolment with programs starting every month; others operate on a more traditional semester system with a fall and/ or winter intake. Many career colleges therefore don't have as defined admission deadlines and instead process applications all year round. Others have specific deadlines after which applications are no longer considered. Both community colleges and career colleges with internal scholarships and bursaries may encourage early application in order to qualify for these awards and financial assistance. At this level as well, application consists of an official application form (usually downloaded), a fee, transcripts, and any of the additional requirements mentioned above.  TEACHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP GUIDE Need money to become a teacher? Many universities, colleges, schools and program departments in Canada offer student scholarships and bursaries for international students applying to teacher education studies. Entrance scholarships for students entering teacher education programs from high school and other post-secondary institutions are typically awarded to outstanding new students, and are usually also available to international students. Awards typically range in value from $250 - $5,000, but may go as high as $16,000 over the course of a degree. These awards are often renewable and are based on outstanding academic achievement or a combination of outstanding academic achievement and leadership qualities. As well, international teacher education students may be eligible for bursaries, which typically are based on financial need or a combination of academic achievement and financial need and/or achievement in other areas such as leadership and community service. Work-study programs (involving part-time work for full-time students on campus) may be another source of money for school. These scholarships may cover tuition and residence costs. In some cases, no application is required as students are automatically considered when they apply to a given institution. Financial awards may be offered by high schools, university and college education schools, professional organizations, local businesses and national chains, and charitable foundations. Start your search by talking to your high school career counselor to learn what kinds of scholarships and bursaries may be available from your home country. Most teacher education schools offer entrance awards either directly or through benefactors and foundations that support them. International students should contact an admissions advisor at the school itself or look on the university's, college's, school’s or program department's website to identify the awards that are offered. Some scholarships and bursaries are program-specific and are limited to applicants to particular majors, diplomas or certificates within the field of teacher education. Many local businesses and national chains offer some kind of funding, either in the form of scholarships or bursaries, and international students may be eligible for some of these awards. Many professional organizations will provide scholarships as a way of promoting their profession and ensuring the development of future education professionals. And finally, there are a variety of charitable organizations, both in Canada and internationally, that provide literally millions of dollars of awards to post-secondary students. For more general information on international student scholarships and financial aid, check out the articles on international student scholarships under each school type.