Bachelor of Education Program
Making a difference in the lives of children, families and communities.
"We have reached an unprecedented moment in planetary history. Humans now affect the Earth and its processes more than all other natural forces combined .... The shifting of consciousness is the beginning of change".
(Burtynsky, Baichwal and dePencier, 2018)
Teaching in the contemporary classroom is a complex undertaking. The professional educator in the contemporary context must have a clear understanding of our collective histories and how they, along with socio-cultural, political and economic forces shape our practice.
We challenge our Teacher Candidates to grapple with questions such as,
- What does it mean to know something?
- What is involved in the process of understanding?
- What are the moral responsibilities of understanding?
- What does it mean to act on one’s knowledge and understanding in the world?
At Western’s Faculty of Education, we prepare teachers to reflexively ask where their own ways of seeing the world come from, and in the process, clarify their own meaning systems as they make the shift to professional practitioner, with a responsibility to equity for all students.
Our faculty is committed to both representing the society we live in, but also working to transform the lives of students and families in our communities in meaningful ways. Come join us as we work together for a better future for all.
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Message from the Associate Dean
Contact Us
Phone: 519-661-2111 ext. 87153
Email: eduwo@uwo.ca
Why Our Program?
- Focus on professional competencies
- Specialization elective choices
- Equal field and classroom time
- International opportunities
Why Western University?
Western University is a top tier institution known around the world and rated one of the most beautiful campuses in Canada.
Why London Ontario?
Since 1878, the fortunes of Western University and the City of London have been undeniably linked.
Career Possibilities
Your BEd degree from Western’s Faculty of Education qualifies you for an Ontario Teaching Certificate, which is recognized instantly across Canada. International employers also recognize the knowledge, competence, and skills that Western Education graduates have to offer and eagerly attend our job fairs. With the BEd, many of our alumni have gone on to work in diverse fields such as these—and more:
- teaching in public, private, and independent schools
- teaching in adult education centres, colleges, and other postsecondary institutions
- developing and writing curriculum for museums, art galleries, prisons
- teaching and administration in international settings
- corporate training
- youth and social services
- Provincial and Federal Government services
- business or legal training
Program Streams
Western’s Bachelor of Education program consists of three streams leading to certification by the Ontario College of Teachers. You can elect to take the Primary-Junior, Junior-Intermediate, or Intermediate-Senior stream to develop expertise in teaching students in grades JK-6, 4-10, and 7-12, respectively. As well as selecting a program stream, you are given the choice of a specialty area consistent with your interests and goals.
Primary-Junior
Prepare to teach all subjects, Kindergarten to grade 6. Primary-Junior French: Prepare to teach core and immersion French, K-6.
specialties
Junior-Intermediate
Prepare to teach grades 4 to 10. You must choose French, Music or Religious Education for Catholic Schools as a teaching option.
specialties
Intermediate-Senior
Prepare to teach grades 7 to 12. You must choose two teaching options from a list of teachable subjects. Learn more below.
Transfer into a Master's program
Bachelor of Education graduates have the opportunity to use their Specialty courses to “ladder” into, or gain advanced standing in, our Master of Professional Education (MPEd). This allows BEd graduates to complete an MPEd in 14-16 months, instead of the typical 24 months.
This pathway will be discontinued in Summer 2021. Only Teacher Candidates graduating before Spring 2021 are eligible.
Time Commitment and Delivery
The Bachelor of Education program is a full-time, four-term program. It may not be completed, in whole or in part, on a part-time basis. Some courses are offered fully on-site in face-to-face formats; other courses include online components, and a very few courses are fully online. The program is structured as follows (illustrated below):
Year 1 - 9 weeks in-class, 4 weeks practicum, 4 weeks holiday, 9 weeks in-class, 4 weeks practicum
Year 2 - 6 weeks practicum, 6 weeks in-class, 3 weeks AFE, 3 weeks holiday, 5 or 6 weeks practicum, 4 weeks AFE
(Note that specific dates are released each year following Faculty and University approval.)
In-Faculty classes begin at 8:30 a.m. and while most end by 6:30 p.m., there may be some sections of some classes running until 7:30/8:30 p.m.
During practicum blocks, you must be in your assigned schools Monday through Friday. Morning arrival time and afternoon departure time is at the discretion of the school and Associate Teacher; arrival as early as 7:30 a.m. is not unusual. Click the button to learn more about the practicum portion of the program.
Admission Requirements
The links below provide information about general admission requirements as well as requirements for each program stream. For an opportunity to ask questions and receive information in person, please join us at one of our many Information Events. The application deadline for September 2020 admission is December 1, 2019. An Experience Profile is also required by the December 1 deadline.
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees are decided by the University and are updated annually each July. For the most up-to-date tuition information, please visit the Office of the Registrar's Fee Schedule page by clicking the ‘learn more’ button. Here, you'll find PDFs that outline program fees as they relate to you (ie. international vs. domestic student). Please note that all fees are annual amounts and must be paid in both year 1 and year 2 of the program.
Funding Your Degree
Scholarships
There are a number of entrance and academic scholarships and bursaries that reward academic and experience-based excellence. Click through to the Scholarships page to see descriptions and application instructions.
OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program)
Ontario student funding is available to Ontario residents that meet the criteria for enrolment. You can learn more about this avenue of funding by clicking to the Registrar’s Office here and reading the latest options for students.
How to Apply
Applying to our program is easy. Click on the ‘how to apply’ button and follow the steps to submit your application for review. We look forward to seeing your unique qualities and how we might work together to help you achieve teaching excellence and reach your career aspirations. We ask that you please complete each of the 3 main application steps: TEAS application, Experience Profile, and Paperwork.
See English Language Proficiency requirements at step 4.
Current Students
The information in this section has moved. Current students are encouraged to visit the new CSW (current student website) for important program details and success resources. Look under the "my program info" section for BEd-specific material.
