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Faculty Timeline

1897 - Western appeals to the Ontario government to allow Western Arts grads to teach high school. The province denies the request and leaves high school teacher training with the University of Toronto

1918 - Summer school programs introduced aimed at practicing teachers who look to upgrade qualifications and earn a degree

1919 - Western receives provincial recognition allowing Western Arts graduates to be granted teaching certificates. This leads to Western being recognized as a degree granting institution for future teachers

1921 - University of Toronto establishes Ontario College of Education where university graduates could study for teacher certification. OCE remains the only destination for high school teacher qualification for 33 years

1954 - with the growing post-war population and the shortage of teachers, university graduates allowed to enroll in two consecutive summer interim certification programs at OCE, Queen's or Western. Elementary teachers continue to attend London Normal School, and later London Teacher's College, without the requirement of a university degree

1965 - The provincial Department of Education opens two new teacher training colleges in Ontario, one in Kingston and the other in London - Althouse College named after John George Althouse. Founding Dean W.S. Turner recruits teachers and inspectors from the London elementary school system and throughout the province to be founding faculty members. Partnerships formed with school boards for the college students' practice teaching sessions

1969 - Final year of the summer qualificaton program

1970 - 800 students chosen from 1500 applicants. Planning begins for programs aimed at practicing teacheres who wish to upgrade qualifications and for those interested in graduate studies

1970-71 - Western Senate approves the granting of Diploma in Education

1973 - Ontario Ministry of Education London Teachers' Collge (located at Elborn College) joins with Althouse to become the Faculty of Education at the University of Western Ontario. All new teachers now required to have a university degree

1975 - First University of Western Ontario Bachelor of Education degree awarded

1976 - First Masters of Education awarded

1979 - The Faculty offers its first Additional Qualifications course to teachers

1998 - First on-line Additional Qualifications course offered

1999 - First PhD awarded

2007 - First female dean, Julia O'Sullivan, appointed to the Faculty

Western Faculty of Education

Fast Facts

Western's Faculty of Education, one of the largest in the province, has been accepting teacher candidates into its programs since 1973. Students enter either the Bachelor of Education program or the Diploma in Education (Technological Studies) program. Over 700 teacher candidates attend the one year program each year.

Our graduate program continues to grow with 275 full time and part time Master of Education and PhD graduate students currently enrolled

We offer continuing education to in service teachers looking for Additional Qualifications in their profession. Western was the first faculty of education to offer on-line instruction. Students enroll to take courses not only in their home towns in Ontario but throughout the world.

The Faculty includes two renowned research centres: the Centre for Inclusive Education and the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children. Both have important ties to the community and its many agencies.

The Faculty has more than 32,000 alumni including Honorary Alumni from London Teachers? College and London Normal School.

Our faculty members include world renowned scholars in the areas of multilingualism, international education, Aboriginal education, curriculum studies, gender studies and educational psychology.

The Althouse Press is the Faculty's award winning publishing house. The Press produces books, educational publications and major critiques of official policy.

Western Eudcation