on this page:
General Information
Completing the Supplementary Application Form (Part 1)
Completing the Supplementary Application Form (Part 2)
Completing the Supplementary Application Form (Part 3)
General Information Post Application
PRE APPLICATION
Each
year more than 250 applications are submitted in competition for
admittance to the Bachelor of Education program at the University of
Prince Edward Island. Approximately 65 English students and 10 French
Immersion students are accepted each year. Applications, which meet the
minimum requirements, are reviewed by the Faculty of Education
Admissions Committee, in order to assess strengths and promise for
teaching at the level of choice. These guidelines are designed to
provide answers to common questions about the process and will assist
applicants as they make careful decisions about their applications. All
applicants are asked to read the UPEI calendar online at the
registrar’s website.
Before you apply
Research
the profession! It is best to seek advice about teaching from a variety
of sources. School principals and teachers can be helpful in terms of
explaining the realities of the profession. Members of the Admissions
Committee at the Faculty of Education may be prepared to offer advice
to interested applicants; however, it is essential that the interested
applicants first read these guidelines, the university calendar, and
the web sites; review their transcripts; and, plan their university
courses accordingly. In choosing pre-service teachers, the Faculty of
Education at UPEI is conscious that the lives of many children and
young people can be positively affected by excellent teachers.
Candidates are chosen based on their potential to become reflective,
dedicated, caring, committed, and well-qualified professionals. The
evaluation process takes both personal and academic strengths into
account.
Application Criteria
Applications
for the BEd program at UPEI need to be as complete, detailed, and as
carefully prepared as possible. All applications are read with great
attention to detail and need to be legible, presentable, and clear.
Typographical and spelling errors are viewed negatively. Spending time
carefully preparing the application is strongly advised. Applications
should be edited and proofread. Resumes will not be accepted. Only the application package is forwarded to the Admissions Committee.
The Supplementary Application Form requires that you fill out three sections.
Part one details your academic information, course work, and
references. Part two, the Experience Profile, provides information
about your interests and activities. Part three, the Personal
Statement, demonstrates your ability to express ideas in writing.
Further in these guidelines, there are detailed notes about each of
these three sections.
Credentials
Applicants
who do not meet the minimum requirements are not considered by the
Admissions Committee. All applicants are required to hold a bachelor’s
degree from an accredited university before they are eligible to apply
for the BEd program. A four-year degree is ranked higher than a
three-year degree, in competition for a seat in the program.
Postgraduate degrees, diplomas and extra qualifications are also
considered.
Transcripts
Applicants
must submit transcripts from all universities they have attended or are
currently enrolled, even if they are taking only one course and
transferring it to another university. Final transcripts must confirm
their degree.
Marks
All
applicants are required to have an overall weighted average of 70%
(between C+ and B- at most universities) computed on the highest 20
grades out of the last 22 courses (3 semester hour courses) taken for
their first degree. The better the average, the stronger the
application. Applicants who do not have the required marks will not be
considered for the program.
English
Applicants
must have at least six semester hours of credit in English. At least
three of the six hour credits must be in English composition or
equivalent. Applicants may be accepted into the BEd program without
meeting this requirement. However, an offer of admission to the program
will include a requirement from the Admissions Committee that the
applicant complete the missing English requirement(s) prior to
graduation from the BEd program. <<< top of page
Any resumes submitted will not
be forwarded to the Admissions Committee. All pertinent information is
to be included in the Supplementary Application Form. Applications are
to be as complete, detailed, and as carefully prepared as possible. All
applications are read with great attention to detail and need to be
legible, presentable, and clear. Typographical and spelling errors are
viewed negatively in an application for teaching. Spending time
carefully preparing the application is strongly advised. Applications
should be edited and proofread. You are to download the application and
type in your responses. Please add additional space if required, but do
not change the format. The application cannot be submitted
electronically.
PART ONE
The
Faculty is aware that some applicants may require more space to
complete the form. You may add additional lines to the charts but we
request that you maintain the format provided.
References, Academic Information, Course Work
A. References
Three references are required, and no more than three will be considered. These references should be carefully chosen to reflect your promise as a teacher. No personal references or references from family members are accepted.
References must include:
All
referees are to complete the required forms. Letters of reference,
either in addition to the reference form or in lieu of the reference
form, will not be considered. Reference forms may be sent directly to
the Registrar’s Office by the referee, or, may accompany the
application with the signature of the referee over the seal of the
envelope. If your application arrives, but is missing a reference form,
you will be notified. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the references reach the Registrar’s Office.
The Registrar will not contact the referee on the applicant’s behalf.
Late documents can adversely affect an applicant’s chances of admission
to the program. Incomplete files are not forwarded to the Admissions
Committee.
B. Choosing a Level
Applicants may choose a first and second preference from three levels in the BEd program:
Early Years (grades K - 5); Middle Years (grades 5 - 9); or Senior Years (grades 9 - 12).
The
levels are not mutually exclusive because many of the same courses are
completed by all the students. The difference lies primarily in the
methods courses. If you are not accepted to the first level you have
chosen, you may be offered your second choice. Please note that once
accepted to a level, applicants may not switch to another level. If you
are not sure about which level(s) to choose, it is wise to spend time
with youth in the different age categories. As well, your choice of
level may be limited by the teachable subject areas that you have
studied. To be accepted into Middle or Senior Years, it is necessary to
have course work in two different teachable areas.
C. Majors and Minors
Applicants
interested in teaching in the school system are strongly advised to
complete a major and a minor (or two or more minors) in teachable
subjects. For admission to the BEd program, a major is defined by successful completion of 14 three-semester-hour courses; a minor,
for admission to this Faculty, comprises 6 three- semester-hour
courses. (As you will note when you look at the Teachable chart, some
of your subjects such as Physics may be counted as either Science or
Math, and Computer Science courses may be counted as Mathematics).
Courses in progress toward a degree will be considered when calculating
a major or minor.
At the
Senior level, a major in one teachable subject and a minor in another
teachable subject is required. To be considered for Middle years, a
candidate must have either a major in one teachable subject and a minor in another teachable subject, or
two minors in two different teachable subjects. Psychology is not a
teachable subject; however, students with a psychology major or minor
may apply to Early Years.
D. Teachable Subjects
Teachable
subjects are clearly defined by the Department of Education and are
listed in the university calendar and on the UPEI website. Teachables
are the core subjects that are taught in schools. UPEI offers methods
courses in the following teachable areas: English, French, Science,
Mathematics, Social Studies, and Music. Methods courses in Music will
be offered by the Department of Music. Applicants committed to becoming
specialized teachers in an area not covered in this Faculty (eg.
Physical Education) may want to apply to another university where a
wider range of options may be available.
Every
province in Canada requires different subjects for certification to
teach at certain levels in the system. The Faculty of Education only
provides information related to teacher certification in P.E.I. If you
intend to teach in another province or area in the world, it is your
responsibility to check the teachers’ certification requirements with
that particular educational authority.
The
broader the range of teachable subjects, the more flexibility a person
will have as a teacher in the future. An individual may complete a
Bachelor of Education at the primary or elementary level, but find that
he or she will be called upon to teach at a higher level at some time
in a career. Knowledge of a wide range of subjects will be useful
throughout a teaching career at all levels and will
increase confidence, marketability, and portability.
At
UPEI, it is possible to group courses into teachable areas. To assist
you in finding out if you have the required number of
three-semester-hour courses for the level you wish to teach, you may
use the following chart to calculate your teachables.
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*E. Strongly Recommended Courses
Applicants
are advised to complete the recommended courses for the level of their
choice. To review the courses that are recommended for the level that
you wish to teach, visit the registrar’s website. Recommended courses
vary according to the level you wish to teach. The courses add breadth
to an academic profile for teaching and enhance an application. Please note:
Introductory Psychology is not the equivalent to Developmental
Psychology; and, a modern language includes French, Spanish, Italian,
Japanese, Mi’kmaq or any other languages usually offered for university
credit. Latin and Greek are not considered modern languages but may
qualify as Classics.
If
it is necessary to choose between completing recommended courses and a
major or a minor in a teachable subject, please choose the latter.
To assist you in calculating the areas in which you have strongly recommended and required courses, use the following chart:
Strongly Recommended Courses:
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F. Applicants for the French Immersion Program
Candidates
applying to the Bachelor of Education (French Immersion) are assessed
using the same process and criteria as candidates applying to the
English program. French Immersion (F.I.) applicants will complete the
Supplementary Form, but will indicate their interest in the F.I.
program by checking the appropriate space. The Supplementary Form and
Personal Statement should be completed in English. Reference Forms are
available in both French and English. Referees may choose the language
in which they prefer to respond.
The following additional requirements apply:
Students
who meet the requirements for admission to the Faculty of Education
will be offered admission to the Bachelor of Education - French
Immersion program conditional on successful completion of our French language proficiency test
(oral and written). Normally this test is administered after the first
round of offers are issued. For more information contact the Program
Director at 902-566-0341.
Students applying to the Bachelor of Education-French Immersion program must have at least a minor in French studies, or,
must have completed a degree at a French language university. Students
whose first language is French (and who have done high school studies
in a francophone institution) but who have studied in an English
language university will also be considered. French course admission
requirements may be waived for applicants who have significant
professional and or life experiences in a francophone environment. All
applicants must also have completed six semester hours of French
language courses, including three semester hours in French composition
or equivalent. Applicants may be accepted into the B.Ed. French
Immersion program without meeting this requirement. However, an offer
of admission to the program may include a requirement from the
Admissions Committee that the applicant complete the missing French
requirement(s) prior to graduation from the B.Ed. French Immersion
program.
Students who
did not complete university studies in an English language university
must also meet UPEI’s English language proficiency standards.
For more detailed information about Bachelor of Education - French Immersion program please see the following page: French Immersion and you may contact Miles Turnbull, Coordinator, B.Ed. French Immersion program at at mturnbull@upei.ca or phone (902) 566-0341 fax (902) 566-0416. <<< top of page
PART TWO
EXPERIENCE PROFILE
The
Admissions Committee is interested in your general life experiences and
interests beginning in high school and continuing to the present.
A. Awards/Special Recognition
Any
awards or special recognition that you have received in high school,
college, university or in life experiences should be noted. This
special recognition may include: academic awards (e.g. honours),
scholarships, course prizes; sport/athletic awards (e.g. personal
recognition for excellence in sports); art, music, drama;
volunteer/community awards (e.g. awards for outstanding work in
Scouts/Guides), recognition for contribution to volunteer associations.
B. Experience with Youth, Extra Curricular Involvement, and Volunteer Activities
Indicate
any experiences with children or young people, particularly if there is
a teaching component involved. This experience might include: teaching
overseas or in Canada; working in schools, camps, recreation facilities
and early childhood programs; volunteering and/or coaching in youth
programs and sports; offering labs or tutorials at university; teaching
music, swimming, dance or involvement in other artistic or dramatic
activities; tutoring. As well, note any extra curricular involvement
and volunteer work with other organizations, clubs, groups or
individuals.
The Faculty
is aware that many people cannot volunteer a great deal of their time
when they have to work in order to pay for a university education,
however, evidence of the ability to work effectively with children,
young people, and peers is a very important aspect of an application.
C.(i). Experiences with Diversity
Applicants
are encouraged to identify their experiences living or working in
contexts or cultures that are considered diverse. Diversity may also
include (but is not limited to) involvement with: people with special
needs; people who may be chronically ill; multi cultural experiences;
cross generation activities; substance abuse awareness and healing
programs; poverty; gender and sexual orientation groups; course work
relating to diversity.
C. (ii). Self Declaration (Optional)
Applicants
may choose as well, to self declare a special status, (e.g. Aboriginal
ancestry), a learning disability, a physical challenge, an immigrant to
Canada. (The application is confidential and the information will not
be used for any purpose or by anyone outside of the Admissions
Committee.)
D. Skills, Talents, Interests, Hobbies
Teachers
need to be well-rounded, well-informed individuals. It is important
that teachers are not only able to teach well, but also that they can
contribute to school life and assist youth in developing their
interests and abilities. A wide variety of experiences and skills helps
an application to stand out and might include activities such as:
playing an instrument; singing; dancing; acting; producing plays;
writing; taking part in sports; playing chess; starting and running a
business; traveling; speaking, reading or writing languages other than
English; arts and crafts; hobbies and collections; computer or media
abilities; fund-raising; courses in non academic subjects.
E. Work Experiences
All
work experiences help to develop aspects of a person and need to be
noted. These may include not only summer/part time positions but also
full time careers, including unpaid employment such as childcare. Years
in a different career or engaging in any other activity work experience
provide your application with depth and breadth of experience.
F. Leadership
Teachers
are in positions of leadership not only in their classroom but also as
staff members within their schools and indeed within the profession.
Leadership experiences may include (but are not limited to): being
elected as team leaders; being a member of an executive; providing
leadership in work experiences; directing (drama or musical
productions); representing a group in provincial, national or
international activities; designing initiating or implementing new
programs; organizing others.
G. Other Information (optional)
Remember
that we are not requesting a resume. If there is any additional
information (for example - publications) that you would like the
Admissions Committee to note, you may include it in this section. As
well, you may share information about any challenges or obstacles that
you have overcome in your effort to become an educator. This is your
last chance to provide us with any pertinent information not already
indicated in your Supplementary Application Form. <<< top of page
PART THREE
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Completing the Personal Statement
The
personal statement provides an opportunity to explain your interest in
teaching and to persuade the Admissions Committee why you should be
accepted into the BEd Program; do not repeat your application.
It should be thoughtfully and carefully constructed and written in
essay format (no poems, letters, or stories). The statement to which we
would like you to respond is:
Personal
statements may be handwritten or typed and are limited to a maximum of
500 words. The Admissions Committee understands that it may be
difficult to complete this statement in the space provided. You may
write this statement on an additional sheet of paper and attach it to
your application form. However, the personal statement must be signed and dated by you as well as by a person who certifies it was composed and written by the applicant. Please proofread your personal statement and ensure there are no errors. <<< top of page
POST APPLICATION
Processing of Applications
Applications must be postmarked no later than January 15.
Transcripts and referee forms may follow but if they are late, it will
delay the processing of your application. The last deadline for missing
documents is February 15, after which the applicant will not be
considered for a seat in the program. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all documents are submitted.
Applications
are processed at the Registrar’s Office before being sent to the
Faculty of Education. Applications with missing documents are held
until the file is completed. Be sure that any transcripts sent include
marks for any Fall semester courses taken by you as well as a list of
courses enrolled in during the Winter semester. It is anticipated that
the Faculty will review files during the month of February and into
March. Selected candidates should be notified of their status by the
end of March.
Acceptance letters for selected candidates are usually mailed by the end of March. If offered a seat, written confirmation of acceptance must
be returned by the date specified in your letter, or earlier, along
with a non-refundable deposit of $500 to reserve your seat. All final
official transcripts showing the degree conferred must be received by
the Registrar by June 15.
Waiting List letters
are sent to applicants who are placed on a waiting list which contains
applicants’ names in order of their ranking. If a seat becomes
available, you will be notified. If your final official transcripts,
including final marks and confirmation that your degree has been
conferred, has not been received by the Registrar’s Office by June 15, you will be removed from the waiting list. Please note that it is your responsibility to make sure that your official transcripts have arrived at UPEI.
Letters of rejection
are sent to applicants who are not being considered for admission at
this time. However, candidates may reapply the following year. Calling
the Faculty of Education to check on the progress of your file will not
provide you with any information relating to your success as an
applicant or dates related to the waiting list or processing of
applications. You will be notified in writing by the end of March about
the status of your application. In the later spring and summer
candidates on the waiting list, in order of their ranking, may be
contacted by the Registrar’s Office by mail with an offer of a seat in
the program.
Feedback on Competition Outcome
Regrettably,
the Faculty is unable to provide detailed feedback to unsuccessful
candidates. Requests for an interview with the Chair of Admissions or
Dean should be made in writing (e-mail facilitates a prompt
response). Feedback about your application will not occur until June.
If you would like to set up an appointment to discuss your application,
please send an e-mail to caparsons@upei.ca . Staff in the Dean and Registrar’s Offices are unable to provide feedback related to the evaluation of a file.
Candidates who are accepted into the BEd program must submit completed criminal record checks by the beginning of their first semester. Information related to this will be enclosed in your registration package.
Admission
to an education program is very competitive, but it is not a mysterious
process. Clear criteria and careful evaluation guide decision making.
Applicants need to inform and prepare themselves as much as is
possible. Please be aware that individuals often apply to this program
twice, and sometimes three times, and still may not be successful. It
is always better to have an alternate plan ready. We appreciate your
interest in the Bachelor of Education program at the University of
Prince Edward Island. <<< top of page
