Secondary
The secondary program is designed to prepare subject specialists for secondary schools. The programme has a special education focus to better equip candidates to meet the needs of individual learners. This programme cannot be taken through part-time study.
The programme must be completed within three years of initial registration. Students must successfully complete all courses with a CGPA of 2.67 or higher with no grade less than C-. Students must also successfully complete a supervised practicum throughout the year. Students are required to teach in an secondary school that is assigned to them. The first year practicum consists of a five week session in November/December and a five week session in March/April. The second year practicum consists of a five week session in November/December and a five week session in March/April. Students must successfully complete these practicum sessions in order to graduate.
Admission Requirements (Secondary):
*Please check back often for up-to-date requirements.
In Nova Scotia a three (3) credit hour course identifies a course which is usually one semester (half year) in length; a six (6) credit hour course usually takes place over a full academic year.
For admission to our program, and for eventual teacher certification by the Nova Scotia Department of Education, applicants must have the following academic prerequisites. (Italicized statements are copied directly from the Nova Scotia Department of Education regulations.)
1. A concentration of at least thirty (30) credit hours of university coursework in a (one) discipline taught in Nova Scotia secondary schools as outlined in the Public School Program; a maximum of six (6) credit hours of cognate* university coursework may be included in fulfillment of this requirement. [First Teachable]
2. A concentration of at least eighteen (18) credit hours of university coursework in a (one) discipline taught in Nova Scotia secondary schools as outlined in the Public School Program; a maximum of six (6) credit hours of cognate* university coursework may be included in fulfillment of this requirement. [Second Teachable]
It is preferable to have two distinct disciplines from different subject fields, although not required. The subject fields, and the recognized disciplines within each, are as follows.
Note: The Acadia School of Education provides coursework towards teacher certification in the following subject fields.
Subject Fields Recognized Disciplines
English...............................English
French.............................. French
Mathematics...................... Mathematics (Secondary Mathematics FAQs)
Science............................. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology/ Earth Sciences,
Environmental Studies, Oceanography
Social Studies..................... History, Geography, Political Science, Law, Sociology, Economics,
Classics, African-Canadian Studies, Acadian Studies, Mi'Kmaq
Physical Education............... Physical Education, Kinesiology
Fine Arts............................. Music**
Technology Education......... Technology Education, Computer Science
(**Music may only be used as a second teachable with special consideration.)
*Cognate Coursework: Cognate coursework refers to work in a credited course that is significantly similar, or analogous, in its content to the discipline for which credit is allocated; for example, Classics as History, Communications as English, etc. If cognates are a consideration, we will assess your transcripts upon receiving your application.
Academic Exemption:
For admission to the 16 month consecutive program, if a candidate has met all but 3 credit hours of the admissions requirements and has justifiable reasons for requesting an academic exemption, he or she may be granted an exemption with the understanding that this credit will need to be completed to meet Nova Scotia teacher certification requirements. Each request for an exemption is evaluated on an individual basis by the B.Ed. Selection Committee.
For admission to the 2 year program, it is normally expected that all secondary applicants will have the required credit hours of coursework discussed above; however, in a small number of cases we occasionally make an exception. If an applicant has met all but 3 credit hours of the admissions requirements prior to August 20 of the year in which admission is sought and has justifiable reasons for requesting an academic exemption, he or she may be given until September of the following year to acquire the required coursework. Each request for an exemption is evaluated on an individual basis by the B.Ed. Selection Committee.