The Faculty admits students on the basis of merit and is committed to admitting qualified candidates who reflect the ethnic, cultural, and social diversity of British Columbia. Applications are encouraged from persons of Aboriginal ancestry (see Canadian Aboriginal Students), visible minorities, persons with disabilities, women in subject areas in which they are under-represented, and men interested in primary school teaching. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.
A criminal records check will be required of all teacher candidates admitted to the B.Ed. program.
The Bachelor of Education, Elementary & Middle Years Teacher Education option prepares students to teach Kindergarten to Grade 8. Applicants must have completed a minimum three-year degree (academic equivalent to a UBC Bachelor's degree) at an accredited post-secondary institution. The applicant must present the following 30 credits of specific coursework, which may be included within the initial degree.
In addition, applicants must present a minimum average of 65% on the most recently completed 60 credits.
Applicants to the French specialization must pass an oral and written French diagnostic test at an appropriate level prior to admission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to have taken university-level coursework in French grammar and composition.
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.
Individuals interested in Middle Years Teacher Education apply through the Elementary & Middle Years Teacher Education option.
The Secondary Teacher Education option prepares students to teach Grades 8 through 12. Applicants must have completed a minimum three-year degree (academic equivalent to a UBC bachelor's degree) at an accredited post-secondary institution. In addition to the requirements noted below, the applicant must present required coursework in specific teachable subjects as stipulated in the Teachable Subject Requirements below, which may be included within the initial degree. For additional information please refer to the self-assessment worksheets provided on the Teacher Education website (Teacher Education Office).
Applicants to the French specialization for teachable subjects other than French must have completed, in addition to the above requirements, a minimum of 9 credits (or equivalent) of French at the second-year level, including 3 credits in each of French literature, French grammar, and French composition. Applicants to the French specialization and applicants presenting French as their teachable subject must also demonstrate oral and written French proficiency at an appropriate level prior to admission.
Please refer to French subject area worksheets on the Teacher Education Office website.
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 is a list of secondary teachable subjects. At least one must be a subject widely taught in BC secondary schools. Because certain subjects are not widely taught in BC secondary schools, students preparing to teach a subject marked with an asterisk (*) must prepare to teach at least one without an asterisk.
Field | ||
---|---|---|
Art | ||
Biological Sciences | ||
Business Education | ||
Career Preparation (CHEF Education) | ||
Chemistry | ||
Mandarin Chinese* | ||
Computer Science* | ||
Earth Science | ||
English | ||
English Language Learner Education* | ||
French | ||
Geography | ||
German* | ||
History | ||
Home Economics | ||
Italian* | ||
Japanese* | ||
Korean* | ||
Mathematics | ||
Music | ||
Physical Education | ||
Physics | ||
Punjabi* | ||
Russian* | ||
Social Science*1 | ||
Spanish* | ||
Technology Education | ||
Theatre | ||
1 A social science other than history or geography. |
The teachable subject requirements for admission to the B.Ed. (Secondary) are listed below. A teachable subject normally consists of 18 credits of senior courses (numbered 300 or higher and taken in years three and four) in addition to specified junior courses (numbered below 300). Students preparing for secondary teaching should have completed all junior and senior requirements for their intended teachable subjects(s) before seeking admission to the teacher education program.
As indicated below, a number of schools and departments of the University have designed undergraduate degree programs for prospective secondary teachers; the detailed requirements of such programs are listed in the faculty and school entries. Graduates of equivalent programs at other recognized universities are, of course, eligible for consideration.
For Art as a teachable subject, students must have completed at least 6 credits in Art History (non-studio coursework), and 12 credits of first- and second-year visual art in at least three studio art areas; 18 credits of third- and fourth-year art, including a minimum of 12 credits of visual art in at least two different areas. Applicants with at least 3 credits in Indigenous ways of knowing, History, or politics are preferred. The majority of coursework must cover 2D and 3D studio art areas such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, graphic/communication design, ceramics, and textiles. The remaining 6 credits may include courses in areas such as digital arts, photography, animation, film/video/TV production and socially engaged art.
For Business as a teachable subject, students must have completed introductory courses in economics and mathematics and also 18 credits of specialized courses in accounting, marketing, commercial law, and management information systems.
For Computer Science as a teachable subject, students must have completed first- and second-year courses in computing and mathematics; 18 credits of third- and/or fourth-year level courses in computer science and/or computing or computer-related topics such as programming, computer applications, computer information systems/technology, and/or the impact of technology on society.
For English as a teachable subject, students must have completed coursework showing breadth and depth of study as follows: 1) 6 credits of first- and second-year English; and 2) 24 credits of third- and fourth-year English, including the following: 3 credits of English language, and 6 credits each of English literature before 1900, and English literature after 1900. Courses that fulfill the English language requirement include those focussing on the history of structure of English, rhetorical theory, or approaches to discourse; however, the admissions committee will consider extensive coursework in English beyond the minimum 30 credits in lieu of this requirement. It is recommended that prospective applicants also complete courses in Canadian literature and composition.
For English Language Learner as a teachable subject, students must have completed a minimum of 6 credits in World Literature or Literature in a language other than English. 6 credits in Linguistics at the third- and fourth-year level or English Linguistics, and 6 credits in the study of the English language at the third- and fourth-year level.
All applicants to the French specialization must submit proof of French language proficiency, oral and written. Applicants who have acquired and use French as an additional language will be required to submit results of the Diplôme d'études en langue française (DELF) or Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF) exam. Applicants whose education was conducted in French are advised to contact the Teacher Education Office to obtain further information regarding French language competency.
For French as a teachable subject, students must take first- and second-year courses in both the language and the literature of French; 18 credits in French at the third- and fourth-year level, at least 6 of which must be French grammar and French composition and must be completed with second class or higher standing.
Applicants normally hold one of the following degrees: a Bachelor of Applied Design, a Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies, a Bachelor of Home Economics or Human Ecology, or a Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition and Health. Students holding other degrees will also be considered if they have met the following admission requirements.
For Home Economics as a teachable subject, applicants must have completed 12, preferably 18, credits of first- and/or second-year level courses in at least two areas from family studies, food studies, and/or textiles studies. In addition, applicants must have completed a minimum of 18 credits at third- and/or fourth-year level. These 18 credits must include 9 credits in one area from family studies, food studies, and textiles studies, and 9 credits in one of or a combination of the two remaining areas.
Family studies must include courses in family resource management, family relationships, and human development. Food studies must include courses in food and nutrition. Textiles studies must include courses in textiles, apparel construction, and social/cultural aspects of clothing.
Applicants may, at the discretion of the Faculty, be required to provide a statement indicating what they have done in formal and informal settings which has contributed to enhancing their skill levels in apparel construction or food preparation or both.
For Mathematics as a teachable subject, students must have completed 30 credits of mathematics (at least 18 credits of which must be at the third- and fourth-year level) including at least one course in three of the following five areas: algebra, probability and statistics, geometry and topography, discrete math, and number theory.
Languages include Mandarin Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, and Spanish. Applicants will be required to demonstrate oral and written proficiency in their selected language(s) either prior to admission or early in the program. However, there is no proficiency test required for these languages.
For Modern Languages as a teachable subject, students must take first- and second-year courses in both the language and the literature of the selected language; 18 credits in the selected language at the third- and fourth-year level, at least 6 of which must be language study and must be completed with second class or higher standing. Applicants who present a language other than French as one teaching field must present a second teaching field which is not one of the languages listed above; French and one such language is an acceptable combination as is English and one such language.
Applicants normally hold a Bachelor of Music with a Major in General Studies (Secondary Education). Applicants must have completed 4 credits of classroom instrumental techniques in three of the following areas: brass, woodwinds, percussion, and bowed string instruments taught in a group situation. A minimum of 3 credits in instrumental or choral ensembles or comparable experience is also required.
Applicants will normally have completed the Physical and Health Education Option within the Bachelor of Kinesiology program.
Teachable subject must include:
Students holding a Bachelor of Kinesiology, a Bachelor of Human Kinetics, a Bachelor of Physical Education, or an equivalent degree from other institutions, who have completed courses equivalent, or similar to, the above may also apply for a teachable subject.
Areas include biological sciences, chemistry, earth science, and physics.
All science applicants must have completed 6 credits of introductory courses in each of chemistry (at least one course with a lab component), mathematics (one or preferably two courses in calculus), physics (at least one course with a lab component), biology, and geology. Applicants presenting a science other than a biological science or an earth science may complete an appropriate course to satisfy the biology requirement and the geology requirement respectively within the program.
Applicants must have completed an additional 6 to 12 credits of first- and second-year level courses and 18 credits of third- and fourth-year level courses in the selected science. The set of courses for each selected science must include both lecture and laboratory studies.
Teachable Subject Requirements
Emphasis on geography, history, or a social science. Applicants may present more than one social studies teaching field. Social science applicants must present a second teaching field (either geography, history, or another subject widely taught in BC secondary schools).
For Social Studies as a teachable subject, students must have completed 6 credits of introductory or survey courses in each of geography, history, and a social science; a further 6 credits of first- and second-year courses and 18 credits of third- and fourth-year level courses in the discipline of emphasis. The total program must include 6 credits with a significant Canadian content. An applicant's program should satisfy the following conditions for the chosen discipline of emphasis:
For Technology Education as a teachable subject, students must have completed 60 credits of recognized technical courses1, including:
Please see Technology Education Program Option.
1The University does not itself offer these technical courses but recognizes certain courses offered by the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
For Theatre as a teachable subject, students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits of junior theatre courses and 18 credits at the third and fourth-year level. The total program must cover acting, directing, theatrical production, and history of theatre.
Dual degrees are not open to students with a previous degree. Students have the opportunity to begin teacher education at the secondary level while concurrently enrolled in specific bachelor's degree studies at UBC in:
All students will initially be accepted on a provisional basis. Admission will be confirmed only after successful completion of both Year 2 and the in-school practicum in May following the second year of their undergraduate program.
For more details please see information posted on the Pre-Admission Advising page of the Calendar.