Academic Calendar 2005 (old) » FACULTIES» FACULTY OF EDUCATION » ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
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ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to all Faculty of Education programs is very competitive; therefore, fulfillment of the minimum requirements as described below, does not guarantee admission.

For the greatest flexibility in program and future career choices, it is strongly recommended that a 4-year degree, or equivalent, be completed in preparation for programs in Education. If graduate courses have been completed, they will be taken into consideration, but will not guarantee admission.

Admission is based primarily on academic standing, but the Faculty takes experiential qualifications into consideration in the final selection process.

Aboriginal Access Program. First Nations candidates who meet the minimum admission requirements will be given special consideration in the application process.

For admission to the Faculty of Education, all students must meet one of the following criteria:

a) their mother tongue or first language is English;
OR
b) they have studied full time for at least three years (or equivalent in part-time study), in an accredited university where the language of instruction and of examination was English, and which was located in a country where the first language is English;
OR
c) they have achieved the required level of proficiency in one of the tests in English language as follows and have provided an official statement of results for:

i) Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP) with a minimum score of 7 and Test of Written Proficiency (TWE) with a minimum score of 3;
OR
ii) TOEFL with a score of 580 paper-based; 237 computer-based including a minimum score of 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE);
OR
iii) MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) with a minimum score of 90 and at least 4 on the oral interview;
OR
iv) IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with a minimum score of 7 including at least 6.5 in reading and speaking and at least 7 in writing and speaking.

Students who, after admission, show an inadequate command of spoken or written English must improve their proficiency to the School's satisfaction. Students may be asked to withdraw from the program if their inadequate command of English interferes with their ability to communicate effectively in the classroom.

Candidates who accept an offer of admission from the Faculty of Education are required to provide verification of their freedom from active tuberculosis; the verification should be dated not earlier than May and not later than September in the year of registration. Tests completed prior to May 1 will not be accepted. Your attention is also drawn to the "Certification" section with respect to the Ontario College of Teachers' requirements for criminal record checks.


Minimum Requirements for BEd Programs

All of the following conditions must be met when an application is submitted to the Faculty of Education:

  • All applicants for the Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate, and Intermediate/Senior program routes must have a minimum average of 70% in their best ten undergradute courses (or an equivalent number of half courses).
  • All candidates must have successfully competed 10 full (or an equivalent number of half) university credits at the time of application. Transfer credits from community colleges or OAC courses will not be considered. Preference will be given to graduates who have attained four-year degrees with 20 full or equivalent credits.
  • All candidates must complete their program of study from an acceptable undergraduate degree program at an accredited university by August 31, 2005. The degree must be conferred no later than Fall 2005.

By mid-September each year a common application form is available for all faculties of education in Ontario from The Teacher Education Application Service, Ontario Universities' Application Centre, 650 Woodlawn Rd. W., P.O. Box 1328, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 7P4. (See Application Procedures)

The minimum qualifications for admission to the following pre-service programs are summarized below.


Primary/Junior Program (Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6)

Preference will be given to candidates who have completed at least one half undergraduate or graduate course in four of the five following academic areas: English, Fine Arts*, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science/Humanities (Canadian History/Geography preferred).

*Fine Arts is defined as dance, drama, music, and visual arts.


Primary/Junior French as a Second Language Program
All of the minimum requirements for the P/J program must be met. In preparation for placement in French-immersion elementary schools, applicants must be fluent in French and have five full or equivalent French language and literature credits, of which at least two must be language credits.

Junior/Intermediate Program (Grades 4 to 10)

Preference will be given to candidates who have completed at least one half undergraduate or graduate course in four of the five following academic areas: English, Fine Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science/Humanities (Canadian History/ Geography preferred).

Applicants to the Junior/Intermediate program must select one teaching subject from the following list: English, Family Studies, French, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music (Vocal), Physical Education, Science General, and Visual Arts.

Four full or equivalent undergraduate or graduate courses with a minimum average of 70% are required to support the teaching subject selected by the applicant. Preference will be given to candidates who have completed the minimum requirements toward their teaching subject at time of application.


Requirements and Exceptions

Family Studies: Four full-year or equivalent courses covering at least two of the following four areas: Child and Family Development, Clothing and Textiles, Foods and Nutrition, Family Resource Management (Consumer Economics).

French: Five full courses at least two of which should be courses in language rather than literature alone. Students should possess oral and written fluency in French and a thorough knowledge of grammar. The Faculty of Education reserves the right to test candidates to ensure that they meet the above standards. Candidates who are unsure of their oral fluency may request an interview prior to acceptance into the program.

Geography: Four full credits, which must include at least one Canadian geography course.

History: Four full credits, which must include at least one Canadian history course.

Mathematics: Credits used to support this teaching subject should include at least one full senior mathematics credit.

Music (Vocal): Credits used to support this teaching subject should include at least one choral or vocal techniques course, one choral conducting course, as well as one music theory course.

Physical and Health Education:
Five full courses in physical education including activity courses. Three activity courses preferred.

Science-General: Four full courses with at least one course in each of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

Visual Arts: Four full credits with at least one survey course in art history or criticism, plus studio courses.


Intermediate/Senior Program (Grades 7 to 12)

Applicants to the Intermediate/Senior program must select two teaching subjects from the following list: Biology, Business Studies (Accounting), Business Studies (Marketing), Chemistry, Computer Science, Drama, English, Family Studies, French, Geography, History, Individual and Society, International Languages (German), International Languages (Spanish), Mathematics, Music (Vocal), Music (Instrumental), Physical and Health Education, Physics, Religious Education, Science General, and Visual Arts.

Preference will be given to candidates who have completed the minimum requirements toward two teaching subjects at time of application.

Five full or equivalent undergraduate or graduate credits with a minimum average of 70% are required to support the first teaching subject.

Three full or equivalent undergraduate or graduate credits with a minimum average of 70% are needed to support the second teaching subject.


Requirements and Exceptions

Business (Accounting) or Business (Marketing): As a first teaching subject, five full credits, including two full courses from the specific area and three full courses from the specific or related business areas. As a second teaching subject, two full credits are required -- one from the specific area and one from the specific or related areas.
Effective September 2007: As a first teaching subject, five full credits with at least three full Business (Accounting) or Business (Marketing) credits and the remaining two credits from a related business area. As a second teaching subject, three full credits are required: at least two in Business (Accounting) or Business (Marketing) and one from a business-related area.

Computer Science: As a second teaching subject, two full credits.
Effective September 2007: As a second teaching subject, three full credits.

Drama: As a second teaching subject, two full courses in Dramatic or Theatre Arts. Courses should include practical components in theatre or drama production.

Family Studies: As a first teaching subject, five full credits are required. It is recommended that students take one full credit from at least three of the areas of Child and Family Development, Consumer Economics, Housing and Interior Design, Clothing and Textiles, Foods and Nutrition. As a second teaching subject, three full credits in at least two of these areas are preferred.

French: As a first or second teaching subject in the Intermediate/ Senior section, five full credits are required. At least two of the five credits should be in language rather than literature alone. Students should possess oral and written fluency in the language and a thorough knowledge of grammar. The Faculty of Education reserves the right to test candidates to ensure that they meet the above standards. Candidates who are unsure of their oral fluency may request an interview prior to acceptance into the program.

Geography: Credits used to support this teaching subject must include at least one Canadian geography course.

History: Credits used to support this teaching subject must include at least one Canadian history course.

Individual and Society: For either a first or second teaching subject, at least one full credit from each of the following: anthropology, psychology, and sociology. Individual and Society is an optional subject in the secondary school curriculum, so entry to this teaching option is extremely limited.

International Languages (Spanish) or International Languages (German): Five full credits for either language as a first or a second teaching subject. At least two of these credits should be in language rather than literature. International Languages cannot not be chosen as both a first and a second teaching subject. One or the other language must be paired with an alternative teaching subject selected from the list of choices.

Music (Instrumental): Credits used to support this teaching subject should include at least one instrumental conducting course, several minor instrument courses in woodwinds, brass and percussion, as well as one music theory course.

Music (Vocal): Credits used to support this teaching subject should include at least one choral or vocal techniques course, one choral conducting course, as well as one music theory course.

Physical and Health Education: Credits used to support this teaching subject must include activity courses. Three activity course preferred.

Religious Education: Credits used to support this teaching subject should cover several of the following areas: Old and New Testament studies; Catholic Church teachings in morality and social justice; sacraments; sexuality and marriage in the Catholic tradition; and Vatican II theology. Religious Education is offered as a teaching subject but only for Roman Catholic schools; student teaching in this subject area will occur in Roman Catholic secondary schools only.

Science-General: For the first teaching subject, five full credits in science are required, with at least one full credit in each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. One full credit in each of Biology, Chemistry, Physics is recommended for the second teaching subject.

Visual Arts: At least one survey course in art history or criticism, plus studio courses.


Diploma in Education (Technological Studies) -- Intermediate/Senior Program

The minimum academic admission requirement of the Technological Studies program is a secondary school graduation diploma or equivalent, including Grade 12 English. An undergraduate degree is not required for the Diploma in Education (Technological Studies).

Applicants are required to present documented training, experience, and qualifications related to one of the 7 following broad based Technological Studies areas: Communications, Construction, Design and Technology, Hospitality Services, Manufacturing, Personal Services, and Transportation.

In accordance with Ontario Regulation 184/87 of the Ontario College of Teachers Act, applicants must have at least 5 years of wage-earning experience or at least 3700 hours of wage-earning experience plus graduation from a post-secondary education program of 24 months or more related to the area selected as a teaching subject in Technological Studies. Wage-earning experience should be sustained with extended periods of continuous employment no less than 16 months in length.

Preference will be given to candidates with formal apprenticeship, technician, or technologist training who can demonstrate expertise in more than one occupation housed within their broad-based Technological Studies teaching subject.

Admission is conditional upon an applicant successfully passing a pre-admission examination once his or her formal training and experience have been deemed acceptable.


Degree Completion Requirements for Technological Education Teachers
Completion Steps (Three-Year Degree)

Technological Studies teachers who wish to complete a baccalaureate degree as part of a coherent and consistent system of professional development will follow these steps:

  • Students who have successfully completed three years of post-secondary education including 1) a two year diploma at an accredited post-secondary institute (with an average of 70%) and 2) the Diploma in Education in Technological Education at a Faculty of Education, may be admitted to a Bachelor’s Degree (Three-Year) program with a recommendation from Western’s Faculty of Education.
  • Upon admission to an undergraduate program, students will be enrolled in Year 2 in one of the following three Faculties: Social Science, Information and Media Studies, or Health Sciences. The Faculty and Departments concerned may further assess students’ degree requirements in order to determine which prerequisites may be waived, based on courses successfully completed during their previous three years of post-secondary studies, and to prescribe the courses to be completed to fulfill the requirements of the degree and program chosen.
  • For graduation, the students must complete either two Minor Modules or one Major Module and a total of 10.0 courses, preferably at the senior level (course numbered 100 or above).

All program admission, progression, and completion requirements will be determined on a case by case basis. Students will have to meet all normal degree requirements including breadth requirements and completion of essay courses. Students are advised that not all courses in minors and majors are


Academic Calendar 2005 (old) » FACULTIES» FACULTY OF EDUCATION » ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS