Chair, Department of Educational Studies
Kamini Jaipal-Jamani
Director, Teacher Education Program
Dolana Mogadime
Assistant Director
Margo Shuttleworth
Program Co-ordinators
TBA (Primary/Junior/Intermediate)
TBA (Intermediate/Senior)
Monique Somma (Practice Teaching)
Shannon Welbourn (Technological Teacher Education)
General Information
Administrative Co-ordinators
St. Catharines Campus
Alyssa Beaupre
905-688-5550, extension 4236
Welch Hall 110
Burlington Campus
Wendy Muir
905-688-5550, extension 3610
Burlington Campus 144
Administrative Assistant
St. Catharines and Burlington Campuses
Sophia Bailey
905-688-5550, extension 3605
Burlington Campus 143
Placement Manager
St. Catharines and Burlington Campuses
Michelle Smythe
905-688-5550, extension 4967
Welch Hall 111
Placement Officer
St. Catharines and Burlington Campuses
Liz Kirk
905-688-5550, extension 6213
Welch Hall 115
Administrative Assistant, Practicum
St. Catharines and Burlington Campuses
TBA
905-688-5550, extension 5746
Welch Hall 109
Manager, Academic Advising
Professional and Undergraduate Programs
Ethna Bernat
905-688-5550, extension 5041
Welch Hall 128D
Housed within the Department of Educational Studies, the Teacher Education program offers three programs of study at the St. Catharines and Burlington campuses leading to teaching certification. These are for candidates interested in teaching Primary/Junior (grades K-6), Junior/Intermediate (grades 4-10) and Intermediate/Senior (grades 7-12). Note that field placements for the Junior/Intermediate program will normally be made in grades 4-8.
In addition, the Teacher Education program co-operates with other departments in offering concurrent programs leading to the conferring of a BA (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior), BA Child and Youth Studies (Honours)/BEd (Primary/Junior), BA Integrated Studies (Honours)/BEd (Junior/Intermediate), BPhEd (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior), BPhEd (Honours)/BEd (Junior/Intermediate), BSc (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior), BA Interactive Arts and Science (Honours)/BEd (Junior/Intermediate) and BSc Integrated Studies (Honours)/BEd (Junior/Intermediate).
Teacher Education programs are field oriented and are based on an approach unique in Ontario. Much of the orientation to and instruction in professional practice takes place through supervised cohorts of teacher candidates in schools throughout the Niagara Peninsula and the regions of Hamilton Wentworth, Haldimand-Brant, Halton and Peel. Transportation to required off-campus courses, professional development events, and placement schools is the responsibility of the teacher candidate. Candidates who are accepted into the BEd program to teach in secondary schools are assigned to work with specialized subject area instructors from secondary schools.
The Teacher Education program reserves the right to assign Concurrent and Consecutive students to either the Burlington or St Catharines campus. Students are responsible for their own transportation for practice teaching, courses and other activities related to the program, which may be scheduled at locations other than the assigned campus.
Upon acceptance into the program, applicants must complete a satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check. School Boards require teacher candidates to complete this background check prior to having direct contact with students. Schools will not allow teacher candidates to participate in practice teaching without this document. In addition, the Ontario College of Teachers requires a separate Police record check before certification. Any costs associated with obtaining these documents are to be borne by the teacher candidate.
The Teacher Education program is organized subject to the requirements of Brock University and outside regulatory organizations that govern teacher education in Ontario (e.g. the Ontario College of Teachers). The program requirements for the Teacher Education program may change in order to meet these outside regulatory requirements.
Teacher candidates who have successfully completed all required courses in the program for a BEd will normally be recommended to the Ontario College of Teachers for an Ontario Certificate of Qualification.
An essential part of the Teacher Education program takes place in schools with at least 80 days of observation and teaching. When performance in the practicum placement is regarded as inadequate, the teacher candidate will be assessed by the Practice Teaching Co-ordinator or designate. That assessment will determine eligibility to proceed in the program. Where performance so warrants, and in the interest of the pupils’ welfare, the Teacher Education program will not place a teacher candidate in a classroom or will remove a teacher candidate from the classroom.
All teacher candidates are advised to refer to the policies and procedures in the Teacher Education Program Handbook.
For further information regarding the Teacher Education programs, candidates should contact the Director.
Those interested in a teaching career in Ontario are advised to refer to the Ontario College of Teachers Act 1996 and Regulation 176/10 Teachers Qualifications with respect to teachable subjects, definitions, basic qualifications and regulations.
Ontario College of Teachers Criminal Records Screening Policy
- The Ontario College of Teachers requires a Vulnerable Sector Check by the applicant as necessary components of registration for new applicants.
- The costs associated with the provision of the criminal record check and any appeals are to be borne by the applicant.
- All positive reports of criminal offences will be examined by the Ontario College of Teachers’ Registrar to determine whether the record of offence(s) is relevant to the applicant’s honesty, integrity and/or suitability to practice the profession and whether the offence(s) constitute reasonable grounds for refusal to issue a certificate of qualification and registration, or to impose terms, conditions or limitations on registration, in accordance with Section 18(2) of the Ontario College of Teachers Act.
- Applicants for registration by the Ontario College of Teachers will be advised of the reasons for the decisions of the OCT Registrar to refuse certification or to impose terms, conditions or limitations and that appeals to these decisions will be determined in accordance with Part III of the Ontario College of Teachers Act.
Questions regarding the policy should be directed to the Ontario College of Teachers.
Admissions
Candidates are expected to have some experience working with children and youth of the age group in the program for which they are applying.
Enrolment in the Teacher Education program is limited for both concurrent and consecutive programs. Applicants for the consecutive year program for the Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior divisions must have completed the requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree acceptable to Brock prior to the beginning of classes in September. Selection is based on the academic average of the best 10 undergraduate degree credits and on experience as submitted on the Brock Experience Profile Form. The Experience Profile should include two experiences, totalling a minimum of 200 hours. (In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this requirement has been suspended for applications to the Fall 2024 consecutive teacher education program.) Only candidates with a minimum B average (70 percent at Brock) on their top 10 credits will be considered. Because the Experience Profile is a significant part of the selection process, applicants should complete the form with care. For applicants to the consecutive Intermediate/Senior Technological Education program, selection is based on a combination of post-secondary education and competency in skilled, industry-related experience.
Applications are available from the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) at ouac.on.ca/teas and must be received by the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) by the date specified in the OUAC TEAS application form, to be considered for admission to the program. All supporting documentation (a university transcript and Experience Profile) must be received at the Registrar’s Office, Brock University, by the date specified in the OUAC application form. Only information received by those dates will be considered part of the admission file.
Applicants who are not Canadian citizens or landed immigrants may be admitted to the program for a BEd degree. Such persons are eligible for an Ontario Certificate of Qualification where they show evidence of authorization to work as a teacher in Canada. Such persons receive a Certificate of Qualification (Limited/Restricted), (Ont. Reg. 184).
Because of the highly integrated nature of the program, candidates who have been accepted into the Teacher Education program must be present for the beginning of program activities.
In addition to the general requirements, candidates for the BEd and certification to teach in Ontario must submit the following:
- a certificate of birth or baptism, or other acceptable proof of the date and place of birth;
- a certificate of change of name where applicable;
Candidates for the BEd must also be able to demonstrate:
- an acceptable level of fluency and accuracy in spoken and written English; and/or attend an interview and/or submit a written résumé requested;
- a basic level of computer skills.
Program Components and Requirements
In accordance with the requirements of the Ontario College of Teachers, instruction in the Teacher Education program includes the following:
- Teaching methods designed to meet the individual needs of students.
- The acts and regulations governing education in Ontario.
- A review of the curriculum guidelines and a study of curriculum development.
- At least 80 days of practice teaching in schools.
Candidates qualifying to teach Grades 4-10 must identify one teachable subject at the Junior/Intermediate level. Depending on their undergraduate program of study, Junior/Intermediate certification recommendations will be for one of the following teachable subjects:
Dramatic Arts
English
French
Geography
Health and Physical Education
History
Mathematics
Music-Vocal
Science-General
Visual Arts
Candidates qualifying to teach Grades 7-12 must identify two teachable subjects at the Intermediate/Senior level. Depending on their undergraduate program of study, Intermediate/Senior certification recommendations will be for two of the following teachable subjects:
Dramatic Arts
English
French
Geography
Health and Physical Education
History
Mathematics
Science-Biology
Science-Chemistry
Science-General
Science-Physics
Visual Arts
Technological Education teachable subject courses are offered at the Grade 9 and 10 level and the Grade 11 and 12 level. Students are required to take two courses at the Grade 9 and 10 level and two courses at the Grade 11 and 12 level according to their technological background and broad-based technology (BBT) subject area as identified in the offer letter, or otherwise determined by the Program Coordinator. All Technological Education subject teachable courses must come from the same BBT. An example would be Communications Technology 9 and 10 and Communications Technology 11 and 12.
The Technological Education teaching Broad Based Technology (BBT) subject areas offered are as follows:
Communications Technology
Computer Technology
Construction Technology
Green Industries
Hairstyling and Aesthetics
Health Care
Hospitality and Tourism
Manufacturing Technology
Technological Design
Transportation Technology
Note: Within each of the broad based technological education subjects noted above there are several trades/vocations/professions. An example: Communications Technology can focus on one or more of the following areas: audio/video production, desktop publishing, web development, digital photography, radio/television broadcasting.
Program Notes
- A police Vulnerable Sector Check is required and must be submitted to the Administrative Assistant, Practicum at or prior to the start of Fall term in both Years 1 and 2. Failure to comply with the due date will result in a teacher candidate not being placed in schools. Cost of a Vulnerable Sector Check is the responsibility of the teacher candidate.
- Transportation to in-school placement and/or other off campus activities related to the program is the teacher candidate’s responsibility.
- Teacher candidates wishing to proceed to Year 2 of their Teacher Education program must have achieved a passing grade in all Year 1 Teacher Education courses. A teacher candidate who has not passed all Year 1 Teacher Education courses will not be able to progress into Year 2 of the Teacher Education program without permission of the Program Director.
- Junior/Intermediate students with French as their teachable are also required to complete EDBE 8P07 in Year 1 and EDBE 8P08 in Year 2.