Introduction

The Bachelor of Education (BEd) is a two-year post-degree program consisting of 20 three-hour credit courses in education. This program is designed to provide the variety of courses and extended field experiences through which students can develop the knowledge and skills needed to teach in the modern classroom. It provides the opportunity for students to focus their studies in Early Years (grades 1–5), Middle Years (grades 5–9), or Senior Years (grades 9–12), and in International Education or Indigenous Education.

Admission Requirements

The general requirements for admission to the Faculty of Education are:

• Applications must have completed the requirements for their undergraduate degree from an approved registered university before August 15 of the first year of the program, and have the degree conferred before beginning the second year of the BEd program.
• Applicants must have an overall average of not less than 70% (at least between C+ and B-) computed on the 20 highest grades of the last 22 courses (3 semester hour of credit).
• at least 6 semester hours of credit in English (at least 3 of which must be in Composition);
• at least 3 semester hours of credit in Mathematics;

Completion of academic courses in subjects taught in the school system which satisfy the requirements for the program level (early years, middle years, or senior years) into which they seek admission, are also required, as follows:

Early Years Program Level [grades 1–5]

In addition to the general requirements to enter the Faculty of Education, completion of three semester-hours in each of the optional subject areas noted below is strongly recommended:

• Developmental Psychology;
• Classics, Fine Arts, or Music;
• A laboratory-based Science course;
• Canadian History;
• one of: Anthropology, Canadian Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, History, Native Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Sociology, or Women’s Studies; and
• A Modern Language.

Middle Years Program Level [grades 5–9]*

To enter this program, applicants must have an approved degree with a major and a minor, or at least the equivalent of two minors in different subjects. These subjects must be taught in the public school system and be ones in which the Faculty provides methods courses. In addition, completion of three semester-hours in each of the optional subject areas noted below is strongly recommended:

• Developmental Psychology;
• Classics, Fine Arts, or Music;
• Canadian History
• A laboratory-based Science course;
• one of: Anthropology, Canadian Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, History, Native Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Sociology, or Women’s Studies; and
• A Modern Language.

Senior Years Program Level [grades 9–12]*

To enter this program applicants must have an approved degree with a major in one subject and a minor (or equivalent) in another subject. These subjects must be taught in the public school system and be ones in which the Faculty provides methods courses. In addition, completion of three semester-hours in each of the optional subject areas noted below is strongly recommended:

• Developmental Psychology;
• A Science course;
• one of: Anthropology, Canadian Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, History, Native Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Sociology or Women’s Studies; and
• A Modern Language.

*Majors and minors must clearly relate to the subject areas listed below, for which the Faculty presently offers methodology courses:

• English;
• Social Studies (includes Anthropology, Canadian Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, History, Native Studies, Political Science, Sociology, or Women’s Studies);
• Science (includes Chemistry, Biology, Geology, and Physics);
• Mathematics (includes Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science);
• French; and
• Music (offered through the Bachelor of Music Education Program in the Faculty of Arts).

Application process

The application deadline is 15 January (must be postmarked by this date).  If seats are still available after the applicants meeting the deadline have been considered, the BEd Committee may review late applications.

The completed application package must include the following: 

• Undergraduate Application Form. The application forms can be downloaded in .PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.  Complete by hand and submit with the remainder of the package.
• $50 Application Fee ($75 for International Applicants)
• Faculty of Education Supplementary Information Form and Personal Statement in PDF or Word. Save the form to your computer and work on it at your leisure.  When complete, print, sign, then submit with the remainder of your package.
• Three Reference Forms (3 pages).  Print off these forms and have each reference submit directly to the UPEI Registrar's Office, or have your reference give back to you in a sealed envelope with the reference's signature over the seal, ready for you to submit with the remainder of your package.
• Two copies of official transcripts are required from each post-secondary institution where you have taken a course. Original transcripts are required even if transfer credits were given by another institution.

Please read this supplemental information to help you complete the Supplementary Information Form and Personal Statement.

Assessment of applications

Every completed file is examined and students are ranked according to:

• academic background, strongly recommended courses, and reference forms (50%)
• Supplementary Information Form (Experience Profile) and Personal Statement (50%)

Candidates will be admitted on the basis of this ranking. Acceptance letters, conditional offers, letters indicating that the applicant is on the waiting list, or letters indicating that the application will not be considered at this time, will be issued by the Registrar’s Office.

The successful applicant who receives either an unconditional or conditional offer must confirm his/her acceptance in writing and include a non-refundable deposit of $500. This confirmation must be received by the Registrars Office (for transmittal to the Accounting Office) by the date specified in the letter.

Final official transcripts for students who have either received conditional offers or have been placed on the waiting list must be received by the Registrar’s Office by June 15. The Faculty may request an interview with any potential candidate.