School of Education

Applications to both programs open the first of November each year and have the same deadline - mid January.

The Acadia Admissions website offers all details regarding the application process to the program: http://www.acadiau.ca/admissions/bachEdProgram.htm

Please note that all offers of admission to either program are based upon successful completion of the first degree.

Both programs are 60 credit hours as required by the Nova Scotia Department of Education and, therefore, the fees remain the same for each.

To be considered for both programs, you must indicate that you are applying to both on page one of the Supplemental forms.

• Students who apply to both programs and who are not accepted into the 16 month consecutive program will automatically be considered for the two year program.
• We will notify such candidates of acceptance, wait list or denial at the same time as all other applicants to the two year program.

Before undertaking courses it is possible to switch from the two-year program to the 16-month program, provided there is space in the other program.  Typically programs fill and there are waiting lists.  Therefore, switching from one program to the other is often challenging.

After courses have been undertaken it is not possible to switch from the two-year program to the 16-month consecutive program due to the timing of course offerings. Students who request to switch from the 16-month to the two-year will be considered on a case by case basis, depending on availability of space and timing of course options.

Anytime there is a change to a student’s program, s/he is required to meet with the Director of the School of Education who will decide what program changes are possible.

All academic/teacher certification requirements remain the same for both B.Ed. program delivery options. The specifics for the elementary and secondary requirements are clearly outlined on the Acadia University School of Education Website. Applicants will need to read the appropriate section carefully:

 Requirements for the Elementary Program

 Requirements for the Secondary Program

In exceptional circumstances, applicants who are missing no more than three credit hours for certification purposes may be selected for the sixteen month program, given the following parameters:

For elementary applicants:

 “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 our B.Ed. Selection Committee.”

For secondary applicants:

 “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 our B.Ed. Selection Committee.”

We will begin processing applications and advising students who hold a GPA of 3.0 and above immediately upon receipt of a completed application. Applications of candidates holding a GPA of 2.67 - 2.99 will be processed following the closure of the application submission process in late January. Candidates are welcome to apply beyond the January application submission deadline.  These applications will be processed and provided an offer or placed on a waiting list depending on availability of seats.

Applications of candidates who identify as a representative from a committee approved under-represented group holding a GPA of 2.67 and above will also be processed immediately upon receipt of a completed application.

Students holding a GPA of less than 2.67 may apply with an opportunity to explain the reasons for a lower GPA through the application process. Successful admission to the program will depend upon both availability of seats and reason for lower GPA.

Applicants on a wait list or not accepted to the program are normally notified by the end of June.

Calling to inquire about the status of your application does not speed up the process.

The 16 month program begins in late May and ends in early August of the following year.

Some courses will be offered as Summer Institutes whereby classes may be held daily for two weeks rather than once a week for ten weeks.

The practicum placements will involve observation at the beginning of the school year, a 4-5 week practicum in the fall term (Nov-Dec) and 2 back to back practicum course experiences (March-April and May-June).

If you are accepted to the 16 month consecutive program all practice teaching for the first two practicum courses must take place in the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education (AVRCE), the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE), or the South Shore Regional Centre for Education (SSRCE). The last two practicum courses may be organized in other regions.

All courses in the School of Education at Acadia University for both the 16-month and the 2-year programs are face-to-face on campus. Students are expected to be present on campus for ALL courses and all compulsory aspects of the program (i.e. workshops, seminars, etc.).

For those in the 16-month consecutive program there are intensive Summer Institute classes whereby advance course work is completed prior to the beginning of classes and classes are offered 5 days a week, every day, for two weeks.

Full attendance is expected for ALL courses.

The 16 month consecutive program is intensive and demanding. At times, it requires students to be present in a class every day for two weeks to complete one course. This may be repeated for several courses. All practica require you to be at the school in which you are placed for any activities and times a professional educator is normally present. In the case of the 16 month consecutive program, the main practicum occurs for ten to twelve weeks, from March until June. Given these demands, we strongly discourage full time employment. The two year program offers more flexible timetabling.

The Bachelor of Education program at Acadia is an accredited program.  We are obligated to follow specific protocols and processes. This is an in-person program with all courses delivered in-person and on campus.  Students experience this program as a cohort and must take this program on a full-time basis.  Students may choose to enroll in the 2-year or 16-month program.

All decisions around teacher certification are established by the Nova Scotia Department of Education - Teacher Certification Branch. Sole authority to issue teaching certificates rests with the Nova Scotia Department of Education. The School of Education at Acadia University will facilitate the collection and sending of all required teacher certification application documents to the Nova Scotia Department of Education on your behalf prior to the completion of the program.

Students in the two year program normally receive their teacher certification documentation at Convocation in May.

Students in the 16-month consecutive program may receive their teacher certification shortly after the completion of the program.  16-month students are eligible to apply for teaching jobs prior to receiving their official teacher certificate, pending successful completion of the program and completion of the pre-requisite requirements.

16-month program students must do their first two practicums in a Centre of Education geographically close to Acadia University as they will be required to be on campus throughout the fall while on practicum on Wednesdays. This usually includes the AVRCE and the HRCE.  They can choose to do their spring practicums in other jurisdictions away from Acadia.

Students in the 2-year program must also do their first three practicums in close geographic proximity to Acadia (AVRCE and HRCE) as they will also be in schools on Wednesdays throughout the fall in both years of their program. They may choose to do their final practicum in other jurisdictions away from Acadia.

Students doing practicum in the AVRCE can be placed in any school within the AVRCE. This covers a large geographic area from Cornwallis base in Annapolis County in the west to Summerville in West Hants in the east. This is a range of over 100kms.  Student placements are dependent upon Associate teachers willing to host a pre-service teacher and teachers teaching the required subject areas or grade levels. Often, many students are requesting to be placed in the Wolfville area.  This is rarely possible and students must be prepared to be placed in any school within the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education.

Students doing practicums in the Halifax area are placed by the HRCE outside of any input or control by the Acadia School of Education.  Therefore, students must be ready to travel to a designated school for practicum within the HRCE.

Students are responsible for organizing their own transportation.

All international placement opportunities are currently limited to students in the two year program. Acadia has a longstanding partnership with a school system in Shanghai, China. Periodically, other opportunities may develop.

Students in the program are invited to attend an information session early in the fall term to obtain details of particular requirements for international placements. Students wishing to be considered for an international placement must submit an application to the International Placement committee. There is also an interview process.

Application to either B.Ed. program is highly competitive.

• It will not be possible to provide individual feedback to everyone who was unsuccessful.
• We encourage all applicants to consider and develop the areas of interest we identify on the application in order to enhance subsequent applications.