¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

Professional Linking Program (PLP)

Faculty of Education
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar 2013 Summer

This is a four term, part-time program for employed para-professionals, para-educators, adult educators and teachers (Francophone, trades, independent) who are operating on letters of permission issued from the British Columbia College of Teachers (BCCT) and who are seeking certification as teachers in British Columbia.

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Requirements

PLP applicants must be admissible to ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV. Those who have never attended ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV, or who have not attended in any of the previous three terms prior to their intended enrolment, must apply for university admission. See Undergraduate ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV.

Applicants complete the Professional Linking Program (PLP) application form available from Faculty of Education. Mail application and supporting documents to: Faculty of Education, Surrey campus, Special Programs Advisor, 250-13450 102nd Avenue, Surrey BC, V3T 0A3.

All PLP applications must be submitted to the PLP admissions office by January 15 for the summer term, and fall term.

In addition to the standard requirements for admission to the University, PLP requires candidates to have a minimum of two years of work experience in their fields at the time of application.

Elementary Applicants

Elementary applicants must, by the date of application, have completed a minimum of 76 units of courses acceptable for credit at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV (should include 16 units of upper division) including the following prerequisite courses.

  • six units in English (a maximum of three units of English composition may be included)
  • one course (three units) in each of Canadian history, Canadian geography, and laboratory science
  • MATH 190
  • elementary applicants should have education, fine and performing arts and kinesiology courses

Secondary Applicants

Applicants who plan to teach at the secondary level must fulfil the requirements of a teachable major subject or two teachable minor subjects prior to commencing PLP.

Teachable Majors or Minors

  • biology
  • Canadian studies (minor only)*
  • chemistry
  • computing science (minor only)
  • dance (FPA) (minor only)
  • earth sciences
  • English
  • English and French literatures (joint major)
  • First Nations (minor only)*
  • French
  • French, history and politics (joint major)*
  • geography*
  • history*
  • humanities (minor only)*
  • kinesiology
  • mathematics
  • music (FPA)
  • physics
  • social studies*
  • theatre (FPA) (minor only)
  • visual art (FPA)
  • world literature

*specific requirements available from the Faculty of Education.

Students planning to teach at the secondary level must complete requirements prior to commencing PLP, except BEd candidates who cannot complete their degree until they have successfully completed PLP. These BEd candidates complete one teachable major or two teachable minors prior to commencing PLP. Students from other institutions may apply prior to degree completion, but must have completed the degree one full term prior to commencing PLP.

Secondary applicants must complete six English units (a maximum of three units of English composition may be included) one full term prior to starting PLP.

It is recommended that applicants have credit for at least one EDUC course before applying for admission.

All Applicants

All PLP applicants are required to have

  • a minimum of two years of work experience in their current role as a paraprofessional, paraeductor, adult educator or letter of permission teacher
  • a minimum of two reference letters, and no more than three (one should describe the candidate’s experience in teaching/instructional related functions)
  • completed the written assignment specific to PLP
  • a resumé detailing the roles, responsibilities, duration and location of related work experience

Before program admission, applicants must demonstrate competence in written and oral English (and written and oral French for French immersion and French as a second language programs).

Students may be asked to submit evidence of good health before being considered for admission.

Students may be interviewed before being considered for program admission.

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV selection is based favorably on students whose applications show employment experience of working collaboratively with school professionals and community stakeholders in their roles and responsibilities to the children in their care. Commitment to community service is also given consideration both in teaching and other helping roles.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

The University’s residency requirement stipulates that, in most cases, total transfer and course challenge credit may not exceed 60 units, and may not include more than 15 units as upper division work.

Program Requirements

The program’s duration is four part-time terms.

Students complete all of

  • EDUC 402W-7 Studies of Educational Theory and Practice*
  • EDUC 403-11 Studies in Teaching and Learning
  • EDUC 404-0 Coursework Semester
  • EDUC 405-15 Teaching Semester

*the summer session offering of this course is reserved for PLP students

During EDUC 402W (full or part-time studies), students participate in the study of teaching, while learning to make meaning of the complex world of education practice, informed by extensive study of pedagogical literature. Summer PLP students attend full time four days a week, four hours per day during the summer term. Spring PLP students attend part time during evening and Saturday classes while maintaining full-time work.

During EDUC 403 (part-time studies), students are placed for two days each week in a school with a supervising teacher, while maintaining a three-day work schedule in their most recent position. Students also atttend seminar classes each week on Saturdays. The course integrates in-school experiences with theoretical concepts discussed in seminars which are held during evenings and weekends. Students observe, practice teach and reflect on experiences in their practice teaching placement, and use these to further their understanding and practices as future teachers.

During EDUC 405 (full time studies; not offered in the summer term), students gain classroom experience while being supervised by University appointed faculty associates. The school placement is appropriate to the educational level and subject specialties in which the student expects to gain certification. Students assume a large measure of responsibility and participate in a wide range of teaching and supervisory activities. School placements are generally made in school districts in the Lower Mainland.

See EDUC courses for prerequisites and grading.

See the Faculty of Education's Professional Development Program for further details.

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