Education – BEd (Indigenous Teacher Education)

Candidates in the Faculty of Education’s Concurrent or Part-time Consecutive programs may pursue the Indigenous Teacher Education program, a course of study designed to prepare teachers of Aboriginal studies, under guidelines established by the Faculty.

Students should complete ED/EDUC 2200 3.00 (Issues in Indigenous Education) with a minimum C+ grade in their first year of university. This course will later count as a BEd elective, once admitted into the Faculty of Education. Applicants are required to satisfy the standards and procedures for admission to the Concurrent BEd program outlined under Standards and Procedures for Admission to the Concurrent BEd Program.

In the course of the three years while studying with the Faculty of Education, the teacher candidate will complete 30 credits with a grade of C+ or higher for their BEd degree, including six credits of Aboriginal Education electives, plus 24 additional credits of Aboriginal studies either the Certificate of Aboriginal Studies at York or from an approved list of courses. Concurrent BEd students may count towards the 24 credits of Indigenous culture courses credits that are counting towards their undergraduate degree provided they are approved by an advisor in their home Faculty.

Considerable emphasis in the program is placed on Indigenous language skills and deep understanding of Native Canadian cultures. It is strongly recommended that at least one Indigenous language course be taken prior to graduation. To further support the Indigenous cultural component of the program, community organizations and schools related to the Indigenous experience may be used for practicum placements throughout the three years of the BEd program.

All students are required to apply to the Faculty of Education and will be selected as per the requirements listed below:

Must have completed by April 30th a minimum of four full courses (24 credits) of a first year of undergraduate studies or the equivalent.
Have a minimum of six full courses (36 credits) left to complete their academic degree.

Applicants must also present a minimum C+ final grade in the course ED/EDUC 2200 3.00 prior to admission.

Applicants must have a minimum 5.00 (C+) overall average and be admitted to and continuing in an undergraduate program in one of the following Faculties at York University: Environmental Studies, Fine Arts, Glendon, Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, Science or the Lassonde School of Engineering.

Applicants normally complete both degrees (e.g. BA and BEd) within four years of coregistering, if taking a three-year degree, and both degrees must be conferred at the same convocation.

For further information on the BEd (Indigenous Teacher Education) program, please visit http://edu.yorku.ca/indigenous/.