Bachelor of Education Admission Requirements

The B.Ed. degree is a generalist program where B.Ed. students learn through exposure to a variety of pedagogies and through extended practicum and other field experiences. Students can apply to one or both pathways of the program: Teaching Children and Teaching Adolescents. Once enrolled, B.Ed. students will be able to personalize their studies through elective courses during the Summer Institute and through their selection of a Community Field Experience.

Admission Requirements: Teaching Children

To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Education program, applicants must have completed a four-year (minimum 120-credit) bachelor's degree or equivalent at an accredited post-secondary institution.

In addition, applicants must have a minimum of 75 hours of practical experience (volunteer or paid) working with young people, preferably at the age range they are proposing to teach.

The following admission criteria must also be met:

• Admission average: a minimum average of 65% in the last 30 credits of transferable post-secondary coursework passed, failed, and/or repeated;
• English requirement: 6 credits of English literature and composition with a minimum average of 65%. A minimum of 3 of the 6 English credits must be English literature. The 6 credits of English literature and composition may be satisfied with coursework at the 100, 200, 300, and/or 400 level. Courses in creative writing, technical or business writing, or communication are not acceptable;
• Canadian Studies: 3 credits that have significant Canadian content. Note: the Teacher Regulation Branch defines Canadian content requirements as the following: "The focus of a Canadian studies course must be on understanding the Canadian experience. The Canadian content must be central to the conceptual thesis of the course rather than existing only in exemplar supporting concepts of another academic discipline";
• Lab science: 3 credits in a laboratory science. Note: lab science courses are normally selected from the following:
   
  • Astronomy
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth and Environmental Science
  • Physical Geography
  • Physics
     
• A 3-credit lab science is typically scheduled for three hours of lecture and two or three hours of labs per week.
• Mathematics: 3 credits of Mathematics. Note: Statistics courses are not acceptable.
• 15 credits of 300- and/or 400-level coursework in one or a combination of the following subjects taught in BC public schools
   
  • Anthropology
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Dance
  • Economics
  • English
  • Environmental Science
  • French
  • Geography
  • Health Studies
  • History
  • Human Kinetics
  • Indigenous Studies
  • Mathematics
  • Music
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Sociology
  • Theatre
  • Visual Art

Applicants wishing to have coursework considered in a discipline not listed should consult with an Education Academic Advisor.

All required coursework must be completed by April 30, prior to commencement in the program.

Admission to the Okanagan School of Education is competitive and the Bachelor of Education has limited enrolment. Satisfying the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission.

Admission from NITEP

Students who complete the Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP) Elementary & Middle Years Option offered through the Faculty of Education at UBC’s Vancouver campus through the UBC Okanagan field centre can be admitted to the Teaching Children pathway of the Okanagan School of Education’s Bachelor of Education. To be eligible for admission, applicants must have completed 90 credits of core academic and Indigenous concentration courses as outlined below.

¹Students should consult with NITEP regarding course planning. All courses must be university level.

NITEP Elementary Education students who are admitted to the Bachelor of Education degree are eligible for the British Columbia Professional Teaching Certificate after completing all prescribed courses and practica.

Admission Requirements: Teaching Adolescents

To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Education program, applicants must have completed a four-year (minimum 120-credit) bachelor's degree or equivalent at an accredited post-secondary institution.

In addition, applicants must have a minimum of 75 hours of practical experience (volunteer or paid) working with young people, preferably at the age range they are proposing to teach.

The following admission criteria must also be met:

• Admission average: a minimum average of 65% in the last 30 credits of transferable post-secondary coursework passed, failed, and/or repeated;
• English requirement: 6 credits of English literature and composition with a minimum average of 65%. A minimum of 3 of the 6 English credits must be English literature. The 6 credits of English literature and composition may be satisfied with coursework at the 100, 200, 300, and/or 400 level. Courses in creative writing, technical or business writing, or communication are not acceptable;
• Canadian Studies: 3 credits that have significant Canadian content. Note: the Teacher Certification Branch defines Canadian content requirements as the following: "The focus of a Canadian studies course must be on understanding the Canadian experience. The Canadian content must be central to the conceptual thesis of the course rather than existing only in exemplar supporting concepts of another academic discipline";
• Lab science: 3 credits in a laboratory science. Note: lab science courses are normally selected from the following:
   
  • Astronomy
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth and Environmental Science
  • Physical Geography
  • Physics
  • a 3-credit lab science is typically scheduled for three hours of lecture and two or three hours of labs per week
  • Mathematics: 3 credits of Mathematics. Note: Statistics courses are not acceptable.

Teachable Subject Requirements

• 24 credits of academic coursework in any one of the following teachable subjects taught in BC public schools. Because certain subjects are not widely taught in BC secondary schools, students preparing to teach a subject marked with an asterisk (*) must have a teachable subject in at least one without an asterisk. Note: Preference will be given to applicants with academic coursework in two teachable subjects. Teachable subjects are:  
   
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • English
  • Environmental Science
  • French¹
  • General Science²
  • Geography
  • History
  • Indigenous Studies
  • Mathematics
  • Music³
  • Physical Education
  • Physics
  • Social Studies⁴
  • Theatre³
  • Visual Art³
  • Business Studies*
  • Computer Science*

Applicants wishing to have coursework considered in a discipline not listed should consult with an Education Academic Advisor.

¹If the teachable subject is French, students must also successfully complete an oral and written French language competency assessment to the level specified for French as a second language. Please see the French Language Competency Assessment for more information.

²If the teachable subject is General Science, the 24 credits of academic coursework can be a combination of Biology, Chemistry, and/or Physics courses. Other science courses may be included in the 24 credits upon approval.

³If the teachable subject is Music, Theatre, or Visual Art at least 6 of the required 24 credits must be studies in theory (i.e., non-studio).

⁴If the teachable subject is Social Studies (Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, or Sociology) the 24 required credits must include the following:

• 3 credits of Canadian Studies (already required for the Teaching Adolescents stream),
• 3 credits of Geography, 
• 3 credits of History, and  
• 15 credits of academic coursework in one or a combination of the following disciplines:
• Anthropology
• Economics
• Geography
• History
• Political Science
• Sociology 

Coursework relating to the disciplines above in the areas of Canadian Studies, Cultural Studies, Asian Studies, Gender and Women's Studies, Indigenous Studies, Religious Studies (of a non-doctrinal nature), Classical Studies, Urban Studies, or Environmental Sciences may be considered provided an examination of the course syllabi reveals such a relationship.

All required coursework must be completed by April 30, prior to commencement in the program.

Admission to the Okanagan School of Education is competitive and the Bachelor of Education program has limited enrolment. Satisfying the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Applicants’ teachable subject(s) will be considered when determining admissibility.