Additional Information - For Those Considering a Teaching Career
For Those Considering a Teaching Career
Nipissing’s two-year Bachelor of Education (BEd) program is a professional degree program available to university graduates seeking their Certificate of Qualification from the Ontario College of Teachers. Nipissing University has a long history in teacher training. The North Bay Normal School established in 1909 has evolved into Nipissing’s Schulich School of Education. The School has a reputation for providing a rigorous teacher education program which is demanding and requires a high degree of commitment from the teacher candidate. Graduates of the BEd degree program are in demand as teachers throughout Ontario, the rest of Canada and internationally. Nipissing also offers Concurrent BA/BEd, BSc/BEd, BBA/BEd, BFA/BEd and BPHE/BEd programs.
Students who plan to apply to Nipissing’s Schulich School of Education to obtain an Ontario Certificate of Qualification and a Bachelor of Education degree should make careful course selection in their undergraduate degree to better prepare themselves for the program and to ensure that teaching subject requirements (where applicable) are met.
Teachers in the elementary schools are generally required to teach all subjects in the curriculum. It is most prudent for students who plan to teach at this level to take a wide range of undergraduate courses.
Those interested in Second Language Teaching: French should take several courses in French and seek out a wide variety of experiences in the language in order to prepare for teaching this specialty.
Students interested in the Junior/Intermediate Division (Grades 4-10) must complete at least eighteen undergraduate credits in one particular subject area to meet the prerequisites for the teaching subject. The teaching subject disciplines offered at Nipissing are outlined in the BEd Junior/Intermediate division section of the Academic Calendar.
Students interested in teaching in the Intermediate/Senior Division (Grades 7-12) must be qualified to teach in two secondary school subject areas. A minimum of thirty undergraduate credits must be completed in the first teaching subject and at least eighteen undergraduate credits are required in the second teaching subject. The teaching subject disciplines offered at Nipissing are outlined in the BEd Intermediate/Senior division section of the Academic Calendar.
Nipissing undergraduate students interested in pursuing our Bachelor of Education have two options.
The first option is to apply to the BEd degree program upon completion of their undergraduate degree. Any student with an accredited undergraduate degree is eligible to apply to the Nipissing BEd degree program. Refer to the Basic Admission Requirements for the Consecutive Bachelor of Education section of the Academic Calendar for information. The second option is to apply to Nipissing University’s Concurrent Education degree route.
A Nipissing Degree with Concurrent Education
Concurrent Education is available with any of Nipissing’s Honours Specialization undergraduate degree programs except the BScN and the BSW.
Within the first four years of the Concurrent Education program, students will be required to include a set of courses and a non-credit practical experience. These courses provide students with the preparation needed for the final two years of the program during which students will focus on their Bachelor of Education courses.
Students should meet with an Academic Advisor prior to registering for courses each year to ensure that degree requirements, including the specific set of Concurrent Education courses and teaching subject requirements, are being met.
Students who are admitted to a Concurrent Education must complete all courses required for their Honours undergraduate degree and teachable subject requirements (if applicable) by May 1 of the year for which the BEd Year 5 transition is being made. Students DO NOT graduate with their undergraduate degree at the end of year four. Students graduate with both their undergraduate degree and their Bachelor of Education at the end of year six.
Admission to Concurrent Education – Direct Entry from Secondary School
Canadian secondary school applicants can apply directly to a Concurrent Education on the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre application.
Applicants will be required to have an admission average of 75% calculated on the best six combination of 4U/ 4M courses or applicable province equivalent including prerequisites. In addition to regular admission requirements applicants will be asked to present ENG4U (or applicable province equivalent) with a minimum final grade of 70% and a 3U/M math (or applicable province equivalent) with a minimum final grade of 60%.
Applicants not meeting the minimum 75% average may receive an Admission Offer to the degree program applied to but not with Concurrent Education. Secondary school applicants who do not receive admission to Concurrent Education directly from secondary school may qualify to apply for Upper-Year Admission to Concurrent Education at the end of their first and/or second year of study at Nipissing as outlined below.
Admission to Concurrent Education – Upper-Year Admission
Admissions consideration for Concurrent Education (Upper-Year Admission) requires the completion of a minimum of 18 credits of undergraduate study at Nipissing University, and no more than 72 university credits (including transfer/advanced standing credits). Application forms are available from the Office of the Registrar and must be submitted by April 1. A minimum 75% overall average on all university courses completed is required in order to be considered. Completion of a 3U or 3M Mathematics (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of 60% or a university or college level Mathematics (not Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) Program courses or Statistics) with a minimum grade of 60% is also required.
Students who have already completed university degrees are not eligible for admissions consideration to Concurrent Education.
Admission to Concurrent Education - Early Childhood Education (ECE) Diploma Graduates
Admissions consideration for Concurrent Education (Early Childhood Education (ECE Graduates)) requires the successful completion of an ECE diploma with a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 (75%) and be eligible for admission consideration to Nipissing University’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) Honours Specialization degree program based on their ECE diploma. Application forms are available from the Office of the Registrar and must be submitted by April 1. Applicants must present a minimum of 70% in one semester of English or Communications at the college level (not Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) Program courses) or ENG4U from high school with a minimum grade of 70%. A minimum 60% in one semester of Mathematics (not Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) Program courses or Statistics) at the college level or a 3U or 3M Mathematics from high school with a minimum grade of 60% is also required.
Students who have already completed university degrees are not eligible for admissions consideration to Concurrent Education.
Admission to Concurrent Education – College Transfer
Admissions consideration for Concurrent Education (College Transfer) requires the successful completion of a minimum of one full year at the college level with a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 (75%). Application forms are available from the Office of the Registrar and must be submitted by April 1. Applicants must present a minimum of 70% in one semester of English or Communications at the college level (not Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) Program courses) or ENG4U from high school with a minimum grade of 70%. A minimum 60% in one semester of Mathematics (not Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) Program courses or Statistics) at the college level or a 3U or 3M Mathematics from high school with a minimum grade of 60% is also required.
Students who have already completed university degrees are not eligible for admissions consideration to Concurrent Education.
Admission to Concurrent Education – University Transfer
Admissions consideration for Concurrent Education (University Transfer) requires the completion of a minimum of 18 credits of undergraduate study, and no more than 72 university credits (including transfer/advanced standing credits). Application forms are available from the Office of the Registrar and must be submitted by April 1. A minimum 75% overall average on all university courses completed is required in order to be considered. Completion of a 3U or 3M Mathematics (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of 60% or a university or college level Mathematics (not Academic and Career Entrance(ACE) Program courses or Statistics) with a minimum grade of 60% is also required.
Students who have already completed university degrees are not eligible for admissions consideration to Concurrent Education.