Teacher Education (PDP)
This one year teacher education program is an integral component of the bachelor of education requirements. 間眅埶AV is by application. Declaration of BEd as a degree goal does not guarantee acceptance into the Professional Development Program (PDP).
The Professional Development program is also available in French, for students aspiring to teach in Core French, French Immersion or Programme Francophone. See .
間眅埶AV Requirements
Applicants must be attending 間眅埶AV or be admissible.
All candidates are required to complete the on-line Professional Development Program application form located at
Candidates who have not attended 間眅埶AV previously, or who have not attended in any of the three terms prior to intended enrolment, must apply for admission or readmission.
All applications must be submitted to the PDP admissions office by January 15 for the fall term and May 15 for the spring term.
All applicants pay the PDP application fee on-line at or directly to the PDP admissions office, Faculty of Education.
Elementary Applicants
Elementary applicants must, one full semester prior to the start of PDP, have completed a minimum of 76 units of courses acceptable for credit at 間眅埶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 four-year degree with a teachable major subject or two teachable minor subjects prior to commencing PDP.
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
*see requirements sheet in the Faculty of Education
Students planning to teach at the secondary level must complete requirements prior to commencing PDP, except BEd candidates who cannot complete their degree until they have successfully completed PDP. These BEd candidates complete one teachable major or two teachable minors prior to commencing PDP. Students from other institutions may apply prior to degree completion.
Secondary applicants must complete six English units (a maximum of three units of English composition may be included) one full term prior to starting PDP.
It is recommended that applicants have credit for at least one EDUC course before applying for admission.
All Applicants
All PDP applicants are required to submit the following.
- a minimum of two reference letters, and no more than three (one should describe the candidate’s experience in teaching/instructional related functions)
- a written assignment (described further on the PDP website at
- a resumé
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.
If the number of PDP applicants exceeds facilities and staffing capabilities, the admissions committee will select the best qualified candidates.
間眅埶AV selection is generally given to students whose applications show experience with and commitment to community service that may include teaching or other helping roles.
Because of the number of well qualified PDP applicants, it is most improbable that candidates who have been unsuccessful in four previous competitions will be considered favorably in any subsequent competition. Those who have been unsuccessful in gaining entry on at least four occasions are discouraged from further application.
Program Description
The program’s duration is three terms.
Professional studies and activities are arranged in the following sequence.
In the first term, students complete both of
A half term of observation and experience in a BC school during which two students work as a team with a teacher selected by school authorities and appointed by 間眅埶AV as a school associate. Students observe, teach and participate in school routines and programs. Grading is on a pass/withdraw basis. Prerequisite: 間眅埶AV to Professional Development Program. Students must successfully complete a Criminal Record Check. Students with credit for EDUC 403 may not take EDUC 401 for further credit. Writing.
A half term of study which provides students with workshops, seminars, and lectures designed to introduce them to basic curriculum and methods appropriate for the age/grade level in which they expect to teach. Students will also be given an introduction to generic teaching skills, as well as to current issues in educational theory and practice. Grading is on a pass/withdraw basis. Prerequisite: 間眅埶AV to PDP or PLP program. Students must successfully complete a Criminal Record Check. Writing.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD |
These courses are offered as an integrated program, combining theory and practice in both on-campus seminars and in-school practice in the first term of PDP. This is accomplished by alternating blocks of classroom teaching with workshops and instruction on campus.
During EDUC 401, students are assigned to a teacher (school associate) identified by school authorities and supervised by a faculty associate appointed by the University. Students observe, teach and participate in school routines and programs.
During EDUC 402, students participate in the study of teaching, learning to make meaning of the complex world of educational practice, informed by extensive study of pedagogical literature.
In the second or third term, students complete
A full term of classroom experience supervised by University appointed school associates. The school placement is appropriate to the grade level and subject specialties which the student expects to teach after graduation. Grading is on a pass/withdraw basis. (Not offered in summer term.). Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or EDUC 402/403. Students must successfully complete a Criminal Record Check.
This course is a term of classroom experience supervised by University appointed faculty associates. The school placement is appropriate to the educational level and subject specialties in which the student expects to obtain certification. Students assume a large measure of responsibility and participate in a wide range of teaching and supervisory activities. School placements are made in school districts throughout the Lower Mainland.
In the second or third term, students complete
Students undertake 15 upper division units in Education to complete the professional development program requirements. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or corequisite EDUC 403.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | |||
| TBD | |||
| TBD | |||
| TBD |
Students complete registration in this course in consultation with the undergraduate program advisor, faculty members, and the student’s faculty associate, to ensure that professional, academic and certification requirements are satisfied, or to satisfy the educational requirements of designated PDP modules. Students undertake 15 units of study in education (18 units if no previous recognized education course has been completed).
Students completing degrees from the Faculties of Applied Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Business Administration or Science may apply credit for EDUC 404 to that degree.
To be recommended for certification, in EDUC 404 the student must achieve a 2.0 grade point average.
See for prerequisites and grading.
* not offered in Summer Term
** this zero-unit course functions as an umbrella course where the student completes 15-18 units of course work
French Education
French immersion, programme cadre and basic French for kindergarten to grade 12 are normally available. The majority of the program in immersion and programme cadre is in French.
General Regulations
Students complete normal 間眅埶AV enrolment procedures before commencing studies in any term of the professional development program.
Successful applicants will be required to undergo a criminal record check. If the check indicates the applicant has a criminal record, that may preclude continuation in PDP.
Students must meet program goals, as outlined in the Professional Development Handbook which is available .
Those with valid reasons may be given permission by the professional programs director to interrupt their program participation. A formal request must be submitted in writing to the director. A program interruption requested by a student may normally last no longer than two years.
Students who indicate their intention to undertake a given PDP term and then do not honour this commitment are considered to have withdrawn from the program. Permission to re-enter is not given automatically.
Readmission
Students who withdraw from EDUC 401/402 must re-apply to the admissions committee.
Students may apply for EDUC 405 re-entry by completing a re-entry application and submitting it and supporting documents to the Professional Programs director. Deadlines for re-application: March 15 for fall term; September 15 for spring term.
Permission to re-enter the program will be granted if the student has satisfactorily met the conditions for re-entry established when he/she interrupted or withdrew from the program and if space is available in the term for which the student applies.
After being withdrawn from EDUC 405 for a second time, a student may not re-enter the program unless by appeal.
Students who withdraw from PDP may apply for re-entry within two years of withdrawal. Students who do not re-enter within the specified time must reapply to the program and must meet the admission requirements at the time of reapplication.
Students who wish to re-enter EDUC 404 must apply to re-enter the program no later than six weeks prior to the beginning of the term. An application for re-entry to PDP must be completed.
Recommendation for Certification
The academic and professional records of all students who have completed the three professional development program terms will be subject to review by the faculty before a recommendation for certification is forwarded to the Teacher Regulation Branch (TRB).
Course Challenge
Students with a minimum of one year of full-time teaching experience in Canada or in a school setting where English or French was the normal language of instruction, and where the curriculum was reasonably similar to a Canadian public school curriculum, may challenge EDUC 405 subject to the following.
- Course challenge applicants will be considered according to generally established requirements and procedures.
- Normally, students can enrol in course challenge for EDUC 405 only while enrolled in EDUC 401/402. Additional full fees will be levied for challenging EDUC 405 regardless of whether the challenge is successful.
- Course challenge credit for EDUC 405 will not be granted before successful completion of EDUC 401/402.
- Applications, available from the Professional Programs director, must be submitted by: May 15 for the fall term; September 15 for the spring term.
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 as upper division work.