Discovering the Spirit of Education

If you are thinking about a career in education, there’s a good chance that someone, at some time in your life, helped you to discover a love of learning, a thirst for knowledge and a desire to share that knowledge with others. There’s an equally good chance that the person who led you to that discovery was a teacher.

Good teachers can change people’s lives. They’re leaders and mentors. They challenge and inspire. They help us to discover how we can strive to become the best we can be. St. Thomas University’s Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree program will help you become that kind of teacher by combining professional courses with extensive practical experience in the classroom. We’ll help you to explore cooperative learning and to experience what it’s like to work as a member of a team. And we’ll introduce you to a variety of teaching techniques that you’ll be able to draw on to enrich the learning experience of the next generation of students.

Building on Your Experience

The St. Thomas BEd is a post-baccalaureate degree program that builds on your previous undergraduate education in arts, science, commerce or other comparable program. In other words, we expect our students to have well-developed analytical, research and communication skills before they enter the BEd program. In addition, we’ll expect you to have enough background and expertise within a particular subject area to teach content. The BEd program is designed to provide you with a professional education to allow you to effectively share your knowledge and apply your skills in the classroom and other educational settings.

Learning in an Intensive Programme

The St. Thomas BEd is an intensive 60 credit-hour programme delivered in one calendar year. It offers you the opportunity to concentrate in one of the three teaching areas - elementary (k-5), middle and secondary (6-12), or second language (French). The BEd curriculum consists of nine credit hours in academic foundations, 15 credit hours in professional foundations, 15 credit hours in community-based internship experiences, and 21 credit hours in teaching and learning methods.

The program is designed to encourage cross-disciplinary approaches to teaching. One component explores the use of technology for teaching and planning. Faculty have a very close relationship with BEd class members, carefully supervising internships and taking an active interest in students’ professional development.
As a member of the BEd class, you should anticipate a high level of interaction with your BEd peers. Because of the intensive nature of this course of study, you will find that the program’s demands on your time, energy, and abilities simulate the kind of work expected of public school teachers.

Making the Grade

Competition for admission to the BEd Program is keen and enrolment is limited. The minimum academic requirements are often far exceeded by a majority of the applicants.
However, a strong academic record by itself is not enough. Evidence of professional suitability, substantiated by letters of reference, is considered on an equal basis with your academic record. Most students who are admitted to the program have considerable experience working with young people in leadership roles.

To be considered for admission to the program you must satisfy three minimum academic requirements.

1. For admission in September 2005, you must hold a four-year (minimum 120 credit hours) bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or be a May 2005 candidate for the degree.
2. Your academic record must show evidence of above-average ability. Your cumulative grade-point average, calculated on your most recent 60 credit hours attempted, must be at least 2.70 on a scale where 4.3 is the highest mark attainable. This is roughly equivalent to an average of B- or 70 per cent in other grading systems.
3. For admission you must also be eligible for teacher certification at Level 5 with the New Brunswick Department of Education. This will require a four-year undergraduate degree of 120 credit hours.

Applicants must have either 30 credit hours as a major in one university subject area or 24 credit hours in one major subject area, and 18 credit hours in a minor university subject area.

Note: If your major is in Spanish or German, you must offer a second major in another university subject area.

Candidates who satisfy these minimum academic requirements will then be assessed on the basis of professional suitability and academic preparation. Academic records, letters of intent and reference letters will be reviewed for evidence of academic strength, teaching-related experience and those qualities likely to contribute to teaching success. Prior to final acceptance, candidates may be interviewed either in person or by telephone.

Given the keen level of competition for admission to the program, it is important to remember that possession of minimum requirements does not guarantee you a place in the program. To strengthen your application, you may consider taking steps to improve both your cumulative grade point average and your experience profile. Volunteer experiences in schools over a period of time strengthens applications. You should also select your referees judiciously. For advice regarding the application process, contact the Admissions Office or Education Department.

CERTIFICATION BRANCH LIST (2004)

Note:

• Social Studies recognition must include course work in History and Geography. This may be obtained in the education program if offered.
• ** Recognition of Spanish and German languages as majors must include a second major in another university area.
• In the case of applications to the Elementary stream, students will take course work in Mathematics, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, Physical Education, Health, Music, and Art, resulting in an Elementary major.
• Applicants must have either 30 credit hours as a major in one university subject area or 24 credit hours in one major subject area, and 18 credit hours in a minor university subject area.

Putting Together Your Application

Your application to the BEd program should be sent to the university's director of admissions. Required documents include:

You will need the free program 'Adobe Acrobat' to view and print the following PDF documents.

1. a completed application form for admission to the university;
2. a completed supplementary BEd application form;
3. a non-refundable application fee of $35;
4. a letter in which you discuss your interest in becoming a teacher, your teaching preference (elementary, middle/secondary or second-language French), your reasons for applying to the program, any formal or informal teaching experience you may have had, and any skills or qualities you have that should be considered in assessing your application; (Guidelines for Letter of Intent)
5. three letters of reference which assess your suitability for the teaching profession in terms of your personal qualities and your ability to work with young people (referees who can speak directly about your ability to work with children are preferred); and
6. official transcripts of marks from all post-secondary institutions you have attended (if you're currently enroled in university, please ensure that a transcript of your mid-year grades reaches the admissions office by January 15th and that you make arrangements to have your final transcript of marks forwarded after graduation).

Application Deadline

All applications and supporting documentation must be submitted to the admissions office by January 15.

Thinking About Costs

St. Thomas has a history of strong financial management. As a result, we've never had a deficit and our tuition and residence fees are among the lowest in Atlantic Canada. The tuition for the BEd program in 2004-2005 was $5,900. Annual fees are announced in May.

Finding Out More

If you have questions that aren’t answered by this monograph, contact the admissions office and we’ll do our best to provide you with the information you need to make an informed choice. .

Admissions Office
St. Thomas University
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
E3B 5G3
Tel: (506) 452-0532
Fax: (506) 452-0617

Email: Admissions Office

Request for information and/or application to be sent by mail.

To find out more please use the following link:

Education Department