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11.1 Bachelor of Education (After Degree) in Elementary Education 2021/2022

11.1 Bachelor of Education (After Degree) in Elementary Education

11.1.0 Learning Outcomes: Faculty of Education

Concordia University of Edmonton has designed its Elementary Education program to graduate students who:

  1. Apply the requirements for teacher certification in the Province of Alberta
  2. Commit to the teaching profession and strengthen their identity as career‐long learners
  3. Articulate a philosophy of teaching and learning which bridges theory and pedagogy
  4. Establish an inclusive learning environment
  5. Teach effectively in a wide range of subject areas integrating cross‐curricular connections
  6. Apply organization and communication skills required for effective teaching and engagement with children, families, professional associates, and community
  7. Practice ethical leadership and on‐going service to the community
  8. Engage in comprehensive school health and wellness
  9. Adopt a duty to learn and act upon foundational knowledge of Indigenous peoples, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit

11.1.1 Bachelor of Education (After Degree)

Concordia University of Edmonton’s Bachelor of Education (After Degree) program is a two-year program leading to a degree that fulfills the requirements for certification as a teacher in Alberta. Students in this innovative program will be mentored by both faculty members and accomplished teachers in the field. Space is limited and admission is competitive, students are asked to refer to Section 3.4.1 of the Academic Calendar so students should apply early [Approved by the Faculties Council of the Faculty of Education on March 17, 2021]. Students with questions regarding their eligibility for admission should contact an Admission Advisor in Student & Enrolment Services.

A. General Academic Requirements

Candidates for Concordia University of Edmonton’s Bachelor of Education (After Degree) program:

  1. Must complete a total of 60 credits.
  2. May transfer into the program up to 9 credits from other institutions, but must complete a minimum of 51 credits at Concordia University of Edmonton (Residency Requirement, section B).
  3. May not use for transfer credit a course completed as part of a first degree.
  4. Must maintain a Grade Point Average of 2.3. A review of candidates’ academic standing is conducted at the end of each semester. Candidates with less than a 2.3 GPA may be required to withdraw or may be allowed to continue in the program on a probationary basis.
  5. Must maintain satisfactory standing in each practicum of the program. Assessment of standing will be the responsibility of the candidate’s cooperating teacher. Candidates who do not maintain a satisfactory standing in each practicum may be asked to withdraw from the program or may be allowed to continue on a probationary basis and provided one additional opportunity to successfully complete the practicum.
  6. Are expected to be in full-time attendance during their student teaching terms. Students who attend other semesters on a part-time basis, or who do not maintain continuous registration, need to seek individual advice to assist in course selection. All students are subject to Concordia University of Edmonton’s Statute of Limitations, section 9.1.1.
  7. Will be eligible for recommendation for certification by the Dean of the program upon completion of all degree requirements. Certification is subject to the following restrictions:
    1. Persons who have been convicted of an indictable offence under the Criminal Code will be ineligible.
    2. Persons whom the Registrar of Alberta Education has reason to believe should not be issued a certificate will be ineligible.
  8. Persons recommended must observe the Code of Professional Conduct of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, and are expected to refer to the Alberta Teachers’ Association website, www.teachers.ab.ca, for the Code of Professional Conduct related to students, school authorities, colleagues, and the profession.
  9. Must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.3 in the 60 credits applicable to the degree.

B. Residency Requirement

Candidates for Concordia University of Edmonton’s Bachelor of Education (After Degree) must complete the specified credits toward their degree at Concordia University of Edmonton (section A.2). Students who plan to take courses at other institutions must first follow the procedures for Visiting Student Permission, section 4.4.3.A.

C. Program Requirements

Year One: Semester One – Foundation
Students acquire the knowledge, skills, and attributes that the profession has identified as being the foundation of successful teaching.  

Year One: Semester Two – Instruction I
Students acquire the knowledge, skills, and attributes in instruction that the profession has identified as effective in the elementary school classroom.  

Year Two: Semester One – Instruction II
Students apply the knowledge, skills, and attributes acquired regarding instruction, with accountability in an actual classroom.  

Year Two: Semester Two – Integration
Students demonstrate, through their synthesis of ideas and experiences, the creativity, ingenuity, and insight needed to solve contemporary educational problems. Each student will be expected to design a lifelong approach to professional development.  

D. Field Experience Procedures

  1. Only those students who have registered in a field experience course through the Registrar’s Office and with the field experience office in the Faculty of Education will be placed in a field experience.
  2. The student must complete a field experience survey that is available from the Field Experience Coordinator. Student preferences with respect to field placements will be considered.
  3. Students who have identified special circumstances/needs must consult with the Field Experience Coordinator prior to placement in a field experience. Access to transportation is not a primary consideration in making placements in the Greater Edmonton area.
  4. Student teachers are normally granted a maximum of two opportunities to successfully complete a Field Experience. If a student is not successful in his/her second attempt of a Field Experience, whether it is deemed a withdrawal or failure, he/she is required to withdraw from the Faculty of Education.
  5. Information and regulations pertaining to the field experience are contained in the Field Experience Handbook.
  6. Students in schools during the field experience are expected to conduct themselves according to the Alberta Teachers’ Association Code of Professional Conduct (www.teachers.ab.ca) and the Concordia University of Edmonton guidelines on Educational Decorum (section 9.2.8).
  7. Field experience courses are not normally offered during Spring/Summer sessions.
  8. Prior to being considered for a Field Experience placement, students are required to obtain one or more types of Record Checks. A Criminal Record Check is the most common type of background check required by school districts in Alberta. It is obtained through the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) for residents of Edmonton or through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for those residing outside of Edmonton. Several districts require a Vulnerable Sector Check, which is a part of the EPS or RCMP Information Check. Additionally, a few districts still require an Alberta Intervention Record Check that is completed through Children’s Services. General information about record checks will be addressed in a fall semester Field Experience seminar.
    The record check is to be kept by the student and presented to school jurisdictions upon request. Each case is reviewed on an individual basis to determine if the record check brings into question the suitability of the person to enter a field experience placement in that district. A decision to accept or not accept a student for placement is made based on the results of the record check and each school district’s threshold.
    Students should be aware that a current Criminal Record Check is one of the required support documents in the application for an Alberta Interim Professional Certificate to teach in Alberta.
    It is the student’s sole responsibility to ensure that she/he can satisfy the requirements for a record check. The requirements for a record check are not in Concordia University of Edmonton’s control, but rather depend on the requirements of school districts, the teaching profession, as well as other factors. If a student cannot satisfy the requirements, it may affect that student’s ability to participate in a field placement, to complete the degree, or to obtain employment.
    Students with concerns about their ability to clear the records check, should contact the Field Experience Coordinator.

E. Bridges Bursary Program

Concordia University of Edmonton’s Bachelor of Education Bridges Bursary Program is an optional professional development opportunity that is available to new graduates in May and June. The Bridges Bursary Program is one way to support early career teachers by providing transition experiences from the pre-service education program to the field. Concordia University of Edmonton offers a bursary to graduates of the Bachelor of Education (After Degree) program to fund volunteer time in the classroom following completion of their studies. The Bridges Bursary Program is an opportunity to refine knowledge, skills, and attributes as a volunteer in a supervising teacher’s classroom.

The Bridges Bursary Program program is a voluntary post-graduation experience and therefore is not an additional practicum nor included as part of the formal field experiences required by Alberta Education.

Assignment time frames are typically four weeks (full time) during the month of May, or eight weeks (half-time) during the months of May and June. Full-time assignments in the month of June are not encouraged.

F. Graduation requirements

Students who complete the program requirements are eligible to graduate in the Spring Convocation. Students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.3 in the 60 credits applicable to the degree. For further information, see Graduation Requirements, section 9.7.1.