<Faculty of Education

General Information

Within the broad mandate of the University, York's Faculty of Education offers innovative pre-service, professional development and graduate programs. The Faculty is distinguished by its commitment to exploring ways to address equity, social justice and environmental issues in all of its programs. The Faculty values collaboration and an interdisciplinary orientation to education within an academic framework of inquiry into the interrelatedness of language and culture, teaching and learning. These values are evidenced in our staffing model and in our programs. York's pre-service, professional development and graduate programs are staffed by full-time tenure stream faculty, faculty seconded full-time from local school boards, and faculty cross-appointed from other programs within the University.

The Faculty of Education at York offers concurrent undergraduate programs for students simultaneously enrolled in other undergraduate Faculties and a full- and part-time consecutive undergraduate program for prospective teachers who have already graduated in another discipline. The Faculty's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education post-baccalaureate program is the only one of its kind in Ontario. Our unique graduate program focus in language, culture and teaching has resulted in interdisciplinary faculty and student collaboration across several departments within the University. Our field development program, offered conjointly with school boards, is based on a teacher-as-researcher model.

Teacher education at York is understood as an intellectual as well as a practical endeavour. Students in the program are exposed to current theory and research in education and education-related fields. As well, students have the opportunity to work extensively in schools and their communities. This balance between theory and practice is made possible, in part, by York's unique, complementary staffing model which brings together faculty working on on-going research and writing projects with faculty who have extensive and current professional expertise across all aspects of compulsory schooling. Together they are able to provide students with a program which is based on current theory, research and classroom practice. No other Faculty of Education in the province has this complementary staffing model. Boards of education inside and outside the province highly value York's bachelor of education graduates because of their awareness of social justice issues, their knowledge of current theory and research, and their strong classroom experience.

BEd Degree Programs

In the Concurrent and the Consecutive part-time programs, three basic programs are offered to give certification at the primary/junior, junior/intermediate and intermediate/senior levels. The full-time Consecutive Program offers primary/junior, primary/junior articulated for graduates in early childhood education, junior/intermediate, junior/intermediate in fine arts, junior/intermediate in mathematics/science/technology, intermediate/senior, and intermediate/senior in mathematics/science/technology. Successful completion of any one of these programs leads to recommendation for the basic Ontario Certificate of Qualification with qualifications to teach within the two divisions included in the particular program title.

The divisions of the school system of the province of Ontario are defined as:

• Primary - junior kindergarten to Grade 3
• Junior - Grade 4 to Grade 6
• Intermediate - Grade 7 to Grade 10
• Senior - Grade 11 to Grade 12

Practicum/Seminar Approach

Much of the curriculum for all pre-service programs of the Faculty of Education is linked to practicum experiences. The teacher candidate spends extensive time in field settings or practica that is supported by coursework and school/community partnerships.

In addition to providing direct experience and an opportunity to apply newly acquired skills and knowledge, the practica are a major source of curriculum in the sense that they bring candidates face to face with concrete situations. These situations are related to teaching seminars held at the University. The underlying assumptions of this approach are that teaching can be considered as a form of problem solving and that teacher candidates learn best that which allows them to understand and to master their environment.

Duration of the Academic Year

Students seeking admission to the Faculty of Education should note that the academic year in the Faculty is somewhat longer than is usual in other Faculties. This longer year is owing to the practicum requirements. Consult the Concurrent and Consecutive Program sections below with respect to the specific practicum requirements.

Criminal Background Checks

All teacher candidates in the Faculty of Education Consecutive (full- and part-time) and Concurrent programs are required to have completed a satisfactory criminal background check. Further information on criminal background checks can be obtained from the Ontario Education Services Corporation.

Medical Tests

All teacher candidates in the Faculty of Education, both consecutive and concurrent candidates, are required by the Ontario College of Teachers to present proof that they are free from active tuberculosis before commencing their work in the schools. Those entering schools for the first time must undergo tuberculin tests or X-rays, and present their documentation to the Office of Student Programs, Faculty of Education, before the first day of class.

The University may, at any time, require a teacher candidate to undergo a medical examination and may appoint a duly qualified medical practitioner to conduct the examination.

Access Initiative

The Faculty of Education Access Initiative is designed to recruit and admit individuals who are from groups which confront or who have themselves confronted identifiable barriers to education. Applicants from the following target groups may choose to apply to the Faculty of Education through this initiative:

• First Nations/Aboriginal Peoples
• people with disabilities
• racial minorities/people of colour
• people whose personal education or career have been affected by the refugee experience

Applicants to the Concurrent Access Initiative are required to have a minimum of 24 credits and be coregistered in another Faculty at York University. Applicants to the Consecutive Access Initiative are required to have completed an acceptable undergraduate degree at an accredited university (as determined by York University). All applicants must meet York Faculty of Education admission requirements.

Information on the Access Initiative may be obtained from the Office of Student Programs, S835 Ross Building, or by calling 416-736-5001.