Bachelor of Education (Elementary) Degree

• Two-year degree program (four academic semesters plus practicum placements). Focus on elementary (i.e., primary) education.
• Requires at least three years of previous post-secondary study for admission (previous degree preferred).
• The initial teacher education program integrates two academic years of pedagogical studies and practicum school experiences.

Within the two-year program, students extend their education by exploring pedagogical theory and practice, applying their understanding in teaching practice and building a foundation for leadership in the classroom and the community.

Courses

Semester 1

EDPR 3100 Practicum I
EDCO 3100 Communications I
EDPY 3100 Child Development and Teaching
EDEF 3100 History of Education
EDLL 3100 Language and Literacy I
EDMA 3100 Mathematics I
EDPE 3100 Physical Education Methods    
EDTL 3100 Teaching and Learning I

Semester 2

EDPR 3200 Practicum II
EDLL 3200 Language and Literacy II
EDMA 3200 Mathematics II
EDSC 3200 Science Methods
EDSO 3200 Social Studies Methods
EDTL 3200 Teaching and Learning II
EDEF 3200 Theoretical Frameworks of Education

Semester 3

EDPR 4100 Practicum III
EDHC 4100 Health & Career Education
EDPY 4100 Special Education
EDTL 4100 Teaching and Learning III
EDVP 4100 Drama
EDVP 4110 Music
EDVP 4120 Visual Arts
EDSL 4200 ESL/Second Language
Plus Elective

Semester 4

EDPR 4200 Practicum IV
EDEF 4200 School Organization    
EDFN 4200 Teaching First Nations Children   
EDCO 4200 Communications II
Plus Elective

Elective Courses

EDLL 4150 Children’s Literature
EDPE 4150 Elementary Physical Education: Instruction
EDSC 4150 Environmental Education
EDSO 4150 Global Education
EDIT 4150 Information Technology Across the Curriculum
EDVP 4150 Music Curriculum and Instruction: Elementary
EDVP 4160 Arts and Media Literacy
EDSC 4160 Problem Solving in Science and Mathematics
EDEF 4150 Social Foundations of Education: Gender and Education
EDEF 4160 Rural or Small Schools in British Columbia
EDPY 4150 Special Education: Specific Learning Disabilities

Practicum Placements

Practicum I, EDPR 3100, consists of four half and four full days. It takes place once a week in the fall and is an orientation to schools. This is the first opportunity for Teacher Candidates to link courses with actual teaching experiences. Teacher Candidates are placed in pairs in a Kamloops classroom. They engage in guided observation activities, teach four language arts mini-lessons and attend weekly seminars.

Practicum II, EDPR 3200, takes place in the last two weeks of Year 1. Again, teacher candidates are placed in pairs in Kamloops classrooms. They plan and teach two four lesson mini-units in mathematics and either science or social studies. Teacher Candidates teach one full morning and one full afternoon (on separate days) and are active observers.

Practicum III, EDPR 4100, occurs in the first three weeks in September. Teacher Candidates are placed individually in classrooms in seven school districts from the Cariboo-Chilcotin in the north to the Okanagan Similkameen in the south. The foci are on September start-up procedures and classroom management. Teacher Candidates plan and teach a short unit and are teaching two hours a day by the third week.

For Practicum IV, EDPR 4200, Teacher Candidates return to their EDPR 4100 classroom for ten weeks from January to March. They integrate previous practica experiences and course work into designing and teaching units in all subject areas. By week six, Teacher Candidates carry a minimum 80% load and demonstrate the competency and expertise expected of a teacher by the end of the ten weeks.