Graduation Standards

Students must maintain a GPA of 2.3 throughout the program. In order to be certified by Alberta Learning, they must meet the knowledge, skills and attributes required for interim certification.

To view the KSA's, click here.

A School-Based Teacher Education Program

In addition to 13 weeks of field experiences, students are actively involved in a variety of school-based experiences and volunteer programs. For example, each course in the program has a field experience component facilitated by Concordia faculty. We also encourage students to volunteer in schools, working with children in a variety of educational activities.

To learn more about the Field Experience aspect of the Education After Degree program, click here.

School Partnerships

Concordia's teacher education program is in partnership with more than ninety-five schools. These schools represent the major jurisdictions in the Edmonton area. Most of our students are placed in Edmonton area schools. Some, however, elect to participate in field experiences in schools in other Alberta communities. While field experience placement is the key outcome of these partnerships, Concordia also benefits from the expertise of principals, teachers and consultants from these jurisdictions who come to Concordia to teach in our curriculum methodology courses.

Mentoring

Students in the program are assigned to mentor groups, each of which is guided by a Concordia professor or university facilitator. These persons assist in preparing our students for the classroom. Students are also encouraged to seek an individual mentor, usually a current practicing teacher or principal, to meet with periodically.

Research-based education

Concordia offers a teacher education program that is current, constructive and collaborative in nature. All professors are active in their fields - writing, researching and working with schools.

Curricular Threading

Each course in the education program is linked by common topics. These include classroom management, assessment and evaluation; working with children with special needs; conflict resolution; technology integration and planning. Student teachers are continuously, thoroughly, and systematically exposed to the knowledge, skills, and attributes of effective teachers.

Technology

We believe students graduating from Education at Concordia need to have tools and processes that will enhance their ability to teach effectively, efficiently and ethically in an information society. Students in education learn how to apply technologies so that the curriculum is infused with activities, projects and problems that replicate real-life situations and is enriched by communication, inquiry, decision making and problem solving.

Initiation to Teaching Program

In May and June, following graduation from the Concordia B.Ed. program, each newly certified teacher is provided an opportunity to work as a volunteer teaching associate through our Initiation to Teaching Program (ITP). As a volunteer teaching associate, new graduates work under the direction of a classroom teacher and receive a bursary from Concordia University College. The ITP offers graduates the opportunity to integrate their experiences in the B.Ed. program in a non-evaluated field experience.

For more information on the Initiation to Teaching Program (ITP), click here.

Principles of Service

Concordia's teacher education seeks to prepare teachers to take leadership in their communities and schools by helping their students to grow as individuals in a classroom context which respects the value of each individual and nurtures positive relationships with each other. Concordia students are prepared to teach in the Alberta school system as well as across Canada and internationally. Students may also elect to take additional classes in preparation to work in church-related schools.

Approved, Accredited

Our program is accredited by the Province of Alberta. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are recommended to Alberta Learning for Interim Professional Teacher Certification. Those graduates with appropriate coursework from Concordia University College of Alberta are certified to teach in Lutheran schools across North America.