Vancouver Island University's Faculty of Education

Bachelor of Education - Post Baccalaureate Degree (full-time)

  • Program Length
    18 Months
  • Credential
    Bachelor Degree
  • Location Offered
    Nanaimo

Program Overview

This program is designed for university graduates who have earned an appropriate discipline-based undergraduate degree and who wish to become professionally certified teachers. This is a 1½-year post-degree, 62 credit professional program leading to a Bachelor of Education that can only be earned as a second degree. The Secondary option is also available to applicants without an undergraduate degree who hold Red Seal certification in acceptable teaching areas. Course work and field experience is completed over three full-time semesters with intake only occurring in the Fall of each academic year. All academic courses are delivered on campus in Nanaimo and does not run during the summer months.

Applicants can apply for the elementary and/or secondary teaching option(s). Coursework will have either an elementary or secondary focus with supporting practicums. Either option will prepare applicants for teaching at the middle school level.

The program is designed to prepare graduates to be well-qualified beginning teachers. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be recommended to the Teacher Certification Branch (TCB) at the BC Ministry of Education for ‘professional certification’. This certification is required for employment in any BC public, independent or BC Offshore school.

Application can be made to both the elementary and secondary teaching options. Each program requires a separate VIU Application Form. Please read all the details below and for a summary of all application details, please consult the Application Information & Checklist for important information

Elementary Teaching Option:

The Admission requirements for the elementary teaching option will be as follows:

  • Degree from a recognized university or university-college acceptable in content to the VIU Faculty of Education, VIU Admissions and Registration, and the BC Ministry of Education Teacher Certification Branch;
  • A minimum grade point average of 2.33 (“C+”) on the 60 most recent credits attempted;
  • Six credits, or equivalent of approved undergraduate Composition and Literature courses;
  • Three credits of approved undergraduate sciences;
  • Three credits of approved undergraduate mathematics;
  • Three credits of approved undergraduate Canadian studies;
  • Submission of official transcripts, including those for interim course work, from all post-secondary institutions attended (excluding VIU), as per VIU application procedures. Photocopies/faxed copies of transcripts are not acceptable.
  • Completion of the Casper test.
  • Completion of an Applicant Profile.

Secondary Teaching Option:

The Admission requirements for the secondary teaching option will be as follows:

  • Degree from a recognized university or college acceptable in content to the VIU Faculty of Education, VIU Admissions and Registration, and the BC Ministry of Education Teacher Certification Branch;
  • For trades teaching applicants, a Red Seal acceptable in content to the VIU Faculty of Education, VIU Admissions and Registration, and the BC Ministry of Education Teacher Certification Branch.
  • A minimum grade point average of 2.33 (“C+”) on the 60 most recent credits attempted;
  • Six credits, or equivalent of approved undergraduate Composition and Literature courses;
  • Submission of official transcripts, including those for interim course work, from all post-secondary institutions attended (excluding VIU), as per VIU application procedures. Photocopies/faxed copies of transcripts are not acceptable.
  • Completion of the Casper test.
  • Completion of an Applicant Profile.

Note: Review the Application Information & Checklist for important information. 

Access Initiative

Vancouver Island University is committed to the recruitment, retention and graduation of Aboriginal students. The University also recognizes that Aboriginal applicants have traditionally been under-represented in teacher education, as articulated in the Accord on Indigenous Education (2010).

The Faculty of Education’s Access Initiative is designed to give access to individuals who are members of groups in our society who have historically been under-represented in the teaching profession in BC. In order to achieve this objective, we encourage Aboriginal applicants to self-identify and apply under the Access Initiative housed within the Applicant Profile.

Notes on Admission

  • Enrolment in this program is limited. Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program. 
  • For advice on program admission, pending course work selection, support in application or review of credentials, and transfer credit acceptability, please consult with Faculty of Education Advising
  • Applicants are advised that competence is required in the areas of oral and written communications, inter-personal skills, computation and computer applications. 
  • The Applicant Profile is accessed online in the VIU Student Record and asks applicants to document how they have met BC Ministry of Education Teacher certification requirements and to identify potential teachable areas. The Applicant Profile can be revised any time up to the deadline.
  • Admission rankings are determined by a combination of GPA (60%) and Casper test results (40%).
  • Applicants applying to both programs will indicate their teaching preference (secondary or elementary) within the Applicant Profile.
  • Prior to placement in field experience and/or practicum placements applicants will require a satisfactory Criminal Record Check which VIU will process through the British Columbia Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General in conjunction with the Criminal Records Review Act. A check completed through the RCMP is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the Act. 
  • To ensure applicants are suited to work in schools, the Faculty of Education may require additional screening to the satisfaction of individual school districts. This may include individuals re-entering the program. 
  • Applicants who have been convicted of a criminal offense or given an absolute or conditional discharge must consult with, and be deemed eligible for certification by the BC Ministry of Education Teacher Certification Branch (TCB) prior to making an application to the program. Applicants are strongly advised to keep all records of correspondence with the TCB in case it is necessary to demonstrate compliance.
  • Applicants to the secondary option will be considered in relation to provincial shortages in specific specialty areas. Eligibility for these secondary seats will be determined by undergraduate course work.
  • To meet the needs of the teaching profession, from time to time, it may be necessary to give preference to applicants with discipline specialties/focus areas in high need areas such as French immersion, Indigenous education and Special Education.
  • Applicants are advised that the Faculty of Education utilizes a variety of technologies, online services, and tools in providing an array of pedagogical experiences. An up-to-date laptop will be an asset to the student experience.

Notes on Program Progression

  • Students must be able to demonstrate appropriate professional behaviour befitting the teaching profession as outlined in the Professional Standards for BC Educators BC Ministry of Education document. 
  • For program progression, all EDFE, EDPB, and EDTE course work must be completed with a minimum grade of "C+" in each course.
  • All practica must be completed satisfactorily.

Notes on Professional Certification

  • Upon successful graduation from the program, graduates must apply to the BC Ministry of Education Teacher Certification Branch (TCB) for professional certification. All associated fees, documents, transcripts, etc. are the responsibility of the graduate.
  • As articulated by the TCB, professional certification is "valid for teaching B.C.'s Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system". Graduates hoping to gain employment in a BC public school are advised to check with the local school district(s) for any additional required qualifications and/or teaching restrictions. 
  • Upon successful graduation from the program, graduates are strongly encouraged to also apply to the Teacher Qualification Service (TQS) to assist in establishing qualifications for salary purposes in BC public schools. All associated fees, documents, transcripts, etc. are the responsibility of the graduate.
  • Graduates are advised to keep original hard copies of important documents (i.e., Field Experience/Practicum reports) as the Faculty of Education cannot provide additional copies. 

Post Baccalaureate (full-time)

TERM 1 (Fall semester)Credits
EDPB 503 - (Child and Youth Development: Educational Implications)3
EDPB 505 - (Methods: Language Arts/English Parts I & II) 3
EDPB 507 - (Science Methods)3
EDPB 513 - (Principles of Teaching & Learning I)3
EDTE 613 - (Instructional Design: Evaluating and Reporting)3
EDFE 515 - (Seminar and Field Experience: Post Baccalaureate Initial Practicum)2
EDTE 330 - (Issues in Aboriginal Education)3
EDPB 520 - (Introduction to Arts in Education)3
Total Credits23
TERM 2 (Spring semester)Credits
EDPB 506 - (Mathematics Methods)3
EDPB 508 - (Social Studies Methods)3
EDPB 509 - (Physical Education Methods)3
EDPB 512 - (Secondary Teaching Specialties)* or,
EDTE 523 - (Methods: Language Acquisition)**
3
EDPB 514 - (Principles of Teaching & Learning II)3
EDFE 520 - (Field Experience: Post Baccalaureate Spring Practicum)3
EDPB 530 - (Instructional Design: Application of Education Technology)3
Total Credits21

* Students in the Secondary Stream will select EDPB 512.
** Students in the Elementary Stream will select EDTE 523.

TERM 3 (Fall semester)***Credits
EDPB 600 - (Planning and Professional Development: E–portfolio)3
EDTE 519 - (Foundations of Education in British Columbia)3
EDPB 614 - (The Inclusive Classroom: Social Justice Issues in the Classroom)3
EDTE 615 - (The Inclusive Classroom: The Special Needs Learner)3
EDFE 610 - (Field Experience: Post Baccalaureate Final Practicum)6
Total Credits18
Total Program Credits62 
 

*** TERM 3 is an interdisciplinary integrated term taken as a whole entity (i.e. courses do not run as 'stand alone' units). 
 

 

Domestic Fees | International Fees

Domestic Fees

Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees

When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.

When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.

Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.

Year 1 - 45 credits Amount
Tuition (45 credits x $166.40 per credit) 7,488.00
Student Activity fee (8 months x $19.97 per month) 159.76
Student Services fee (8 months x $22.05 per month) 176.40
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) 220.80
Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) 285.00
Year 1: Books and supplies 950.00
Year 2 - 17 credits Amount
Tuition (17 credits x $166.40 per credit) 2,828.80
Student Activity fee (4 months x $19.97 per month) 79.88
Student Services fee (4 months x $22.05 per month) 88.20
VIU Students' Union fee (4 months x $27.60 per month) 110.40
Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) 285.00
Year 2: Books and supplies 350.00
Notes

EDPB 501 has an additional supply fee.

The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.  

Textbooks and/or course packages are required for each course. Contact the Education Department at 250.740.6223 for further information regarding books and supplies. 

All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.


International Fees

Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees

When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.

When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.

Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.

Year 1 - 45 credits Amount
Tuition (45 credits x $799.77 per credit) 35,989.65
Student Activity fee (8 months x $19.97 per month) 159.76
Student Services fee (8 months x $22.05 per month) 176.40
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) 220.80
Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) 285.00
Year 1: Books and supplies 950.00
Year 2 - 17 credits Amount
Tuition (17 credits x $799.77 per credit) 13,596.09
Student Activity fee (4 months x $19.97 per month) 79.88
Student Services fee (4 months x $22.05 per month) 88.20
VIU Students' Union fee (4 months x $27.60 per month) 110.40
Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) 285.00
Year 2: Books and supplies 350.00
Notes

EDPB 501 has an additional supply fee.

The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.  

Textbooks and/or course packages are required for each course. Contact the Education Department at 250.740.6223 for further information regarding books and supplies. 

All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.

Domestic (Canadian)

Program Start Date Accepting Applications Campus Options

International

Program Start Date Accepting Applications Campus Options

Can I teach at a Secondary School if I am accepted into the Elementary Program?

The short answer is yes. Depending on your previous degree and your teachable areas, some teachers who complete the elementary program and receive their professional certification will end up teaching at the secondary level. Working in a secondary school once you graduate will depend on each individual school and district's requirements. 

VIU Student Studying

Inquiry-based Learning Year 6

In your final semester, learning will be largely inquiry-based. As a certified BC teacher, you will take part in self-directed professional development and professional development provided by your school district. This semester is preparing you for a career in the educational field where you will be continuously learning. In this final semester, students will choose topics related to education that interest them and expand upon their knowledge independently before sharing what they learn with their fellow students and instructors. 

Embedded Field Experience

Our embedded field experience model allows students to learn about classroom procedures before beginning their practicum and teaching. Students will have the opportunity to observe and interact with a practicing teacher in their classroom. Witness reading time, math lessons, transitions between subjects, and then return to your instructor and cohort members to discuss what you noticed and learned. This form of hands-on practical learning means a tangible understanding of how textbook material and theory are used in the classroom.

Learn more about Field Experience

Practicum Teacher in Classroom

Practicum Placements

Through Vancouver Island University's Post Baccalaureate program, you will have two main practicum placements as a student-teacher. We strive to find the right placement for each student in their desired community and grade level. The first practicum is a shorter placement, and the final practicum takes place in the fall of your final semester. These extended practicum placements allow student-teachers to fully experience what the role of full-time teaching will feel like while still having assistance and resources to help.

VIU education student

Stephanie Brown

“I loved the Post Baccalaureate program at Vancouver Island University. I made lasting friendships with my fellow cohort students that will be beneficial throughout my years as a teacher. My practicum placements were amazing and the faculty was always understanding and supportive.”