General Information
The Bachelor of Education - Elementary is a four-year baccalaureate degree program that prepares its graduates for certification from Alberta Education. The program is both course and experience-based, with courses deliberately arranged to generate synergy among them. The curriculum is designed to create a holistic experience for education students in their understanding of teaching, learning and assessment. Our program includes three semesters (Winter term of year 2, Fall term of year 3, and Winter term of year 4) that require students to enrol in co-requisite courses in order to maximize the opportunity for the integration of courses and field experience/practicum components. Students graduate with an evolving teaching philosophy based on opportunities to research, discuss and critically analyze aspects of education and schooling throughout the program. Several courses, both core and elective, require students to participate in relevant classroom experiences in the community. In addition, two practicum experiences are featured in the final years of study. Students must complete a minor from the approved list. Each year, the Bachelor of Education program responds to recurrent calls for an increase in Indigenous teachers by reserving seats in the Bachelor of Education program for Indigenous applicants through an Indigenous admission target.
Reading Break
All students must be available full-time for the entire four-month semester during practicum term(s) to accommodate varied placement schedules within school districts/divisions/boards. Students registered in EDUC 4030 should be aware that the winter reading week will not likely be the same as the scheduled Mount Royal Reading Week. These students will be informed of when the winter reading week will occur before the beginning of the winter semester. All other students in the program will have reading weeks congruent with the Mount Royal scheduled reading weeks.
Computer Needs
Bachelor of Education - Elementary students will require access to a portable computer with sufficient power, capacity and internet access during regular classroom activities. Students will be using widely available and free-for-use open-source software that generally needs to be downloaded and stored. It is advised that students check with computer suppliers to ensure that their computer will function effectively under these circumstances.
Academic Performance Requirements
In matters of progression and continuance, there are instances when institutional processes do not fully address concerns related to the performance requirements of a degree, preparing students for professional practice.
This applies in the following circumstances:
a) Violations of professional codes and/or standards of safe and ethical practice as determined by the applicable national and/or provincial professional colleges and associations, such as the Alberta Teachers Association (ATA) and Alberta Education.
b) Violations of the terms of a student practicum agreement between Mount Royal University and a third-party provider.
c) Violations of any or all of the above (a, b) will result in the removal from practicum, an Experiential Fail (EF), and in the requirement to complete an extracurricular learning activity directed at addressing the knowledge deficit and/or performance issue, that resulted in removal from the practicum site and the assignment of an EF in the relevant course.
d) Suspension and/or termination of a practicum placement by an external partner when it is deemed necessary by either the program or the external partner to preserve the health and safety of students and others or for the protection of the partner’s property. Students who are denied a practicum placement by an external partner because of an assessed detrimental impact on the client, client group, or community being served and who are unable to meet practicum requirements on this basis will be Required to Withdraw from Program (RTWP).
e) Failure to achieve the required progression grade in a practicum placement, specifically EDUC 3010 Practicum I or EDUC 4030 Practicum II, after a maximum of two attempts - exclusive of any instances of Withdrawal with Cause (WC) - will result in the student being assigned the academic standing of Required to Withdraw from Program (RTWP).
f) Students who are RTWP will meet with the department chair or designate prior to the end of their semester to develop an Identification of Support Plan, which will be included in the readmittance documentation should the student decide to reapply to the program. Students can appeal both the grade for the course that resulted in the RTWP outcome and the RTWP decision. Detailed information about the appeal process is available in the student handbook.
g) A student who has been RTWP may apply for readmission to the program no sooner than twelve months after receiving notification of the RTWP. The application for readmission must be submitted in accordance with the application deadline for new students as specified by the Academic Schedule published in the Academic Calendar. The applicant must meet the program admission criteria in place at the time of readmission, but the applicant will not be required to meet the competitive average. The application for readmission will include an Identification of the Support Plan. Detailed information about the Identification of Support Plan can be found in the student practicum handbook. Readmission is not automatic. Applications for readmission will be considered on an individual basis. Readmission to the program will be granted one time only.
Program Continuance
A student who remains in Good Standing is eligible to continue in their program of studies.
Note: See the ‘Additional Curriculum Requirements’ section for possible restrictions.
Student Conduct
The Code of Student Conduct is intended to establish the general obligation to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty and personal conduct according to community standards of respectful and responsible behaviour. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Education - Elementary program are bound by, and shall comply with, the Alberta Teachers’ Association Professional Code of Conduct and the Department of Education Field Experience and Practicum Handbooks. Refer to the Field Experience and Practicum Handbooks for details. Issues of non-compliance will warrant the student being required to withdraw from the program. This would apply to egregious issues such as situations of abuse of professional power or potential breaches of the Criminal Code. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the policies and procedures of Mount Royal University as outlined in the Calendar, Code of Student Conduct and the Student Handbook: Bachelor of Education program. Refer to the Student Handbook for details.
Police Information Check
All students in the Education program are required to have a current Police Information Check and Vulnerable Sector Check prior to commencing classes, at their own expense. Schools require the presentation of these checks for participation in field experience and practicum. Students may be required to complete more than one Police Information Check during their program. Since completion of course requirements and eventual employment are dependent upon the results of such checks, students who have concerns should discuss the matter with the department chair.
General Admission Requirements
All students must meet the general admission requirements for Mount Royal University programs, as indicated in the Admission section of this calendar.
Additional Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements indicated in the Admission section of this calendar, applicants must also satisfy the following criteria:
Academic Course Requirements
The following specific courses (or equivalencies) with the specified minimum grades are required for admission into the Bachelor of Education program:
- English Language Arts 30-1 - 65%
- Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2 or a second language 30
Minimum Overall Average Required for Final Admission
To be eligible for admission on the basis of High School, applicants must present a minimum admission average of 70% on their five appropriate Grade 12 subjects. To be eligible for admission on the basis of Postsecondary standing, the applicant must present a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.50 on the eight most recently completed post-secondary courses (minimum 24 credits).
Although conditional admission may be granted before final/official transcripts are available, confirmation of the achievement of specified minimum grades will take place after all final/official transcripts have been received.
Application Deadline: February 1
The application for admission and all supporting documents (required for admission assessment) must be received by this date.
Indigenous Student Admission
Each year, up to 10% of the seats in the Bachelor of Education - Elementary program will be reserved for Indigenous applications through an Indigenous admission target. To be considered for admission under the Indigenous admission target, the applicant must:
- self-identify as an Indigenous applicant on the Application for Admission
- meet the definition of an Indigenous Applicant
- meet the minimum admission requirements as indicated in the general admission requirements for Mount Royal University, as well as any program-level admission requirements
Designated seats for this special consideration target will be filled by Indigenous applicants on a competitive basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply during Early Admission. Any unfilled designated seats will be released on June 15 to students applying under the general admission requirements.
See general admission requirements in the Admission section of this calendar for further information.
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