In addition to meeting the general admission requirements noted above, applicants for the secondary route require a strong academic background, equivalent to a degree with an academic Major or the equivalent, in the subjects they propose to teach. For purposes of admission to the Faculty of Education, the following is deemed to be a Major or the equivalent:
(a) A Major as defined by the institution granting the 20 full-course degree; or
(b) A minimum of five full-course equivalents in the areas defined in each section below, in which case only two full-course equivalents may be at the first year level.
Applicants must complete 2 half-course equivalents in English (or French for the French specialization) Literature and Composition, normally prior to entering the program, to be eligible for admission.
Applicants should take into account that because it is crucial to have a body of knowledge in subject matter that is taught in Alberta secondary schools, breadth and depth of course work in a teaching specialization will be important in assessing a student's transcript.
Applicants should apply for one of the specializations listed below:
Art Education
Applicants must present a degree with a major in art.
Drama Education
Applicants must present a degree with a major in drama.
English Language Arts
Applicants must present a degree with a major in English, or a degree with a minimum of five full course equivalents relevant to the following areas: language, literacy, literary theory, literature, and composition.
French
Applicants must normally present a degree taken in French in one or more of the following areas: French literature, science, mathematics, history, or the equivalent. If the degree is not in French, applicants must have a major in French OR a degree with a minimum of five full course equivalents from five of the following areas: French culture, French-Canadian literature, French literature, linguistics, adolescent literature or children's literature. To teach in French Immersion, francophone schools and in FSL (French as a second language), applicants must be fully competent in oral and written French and demonstrate this in an interview.
Mathematics
Applicants must present a degree with a major in mathematics, or a degree with a minimum of five full-course equivalents demonstrating proficiency in at least five of the following areas: calculus, number systems, number theory, linear algebra, geometry, probability, statistics, applied mathematics, discrete mathematics, or history of mathematics.
Music
Applicants must present a degree with a major in music. Secondary music teachers need strong executant ability on an instrument, a coherent understanding of music theory and history, sophisticated conducting and aural skills in a choral/instrumental environment, plus a working knowledge of appropriate repertoire and musical concepts. Applicants should be prepared to instruct in a beginner band/choral environment. Musical qualifications other than those listed will be evaluated as to their appropriateness for entry into the program.
Physical Education
Applicants must present a degree with a major in physical education or kinesiology. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed courses or modules in games/activities that relate to school physical education programs.
Science
Applicants must present a degree with a major in biology, physics or chemistry or a degree with a minimum of five full course equivalents as defined below.
In addition, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete supporting course work in earth science, history and/or philosophy of science, the role of science and technology within society, and physical science (if the major is biology) or biological sciences (if the major is physics or chemistry). The completion of one or more research projects will be a highly valuable experience for teaching science at the secondary level.
Biology
Applicants who do not have a degree with a major in biology must present a minimum of five full course equivalents in five of the following areas: biochemistry, botany, cellular microbiology, molecular microbiology, ecology, evolutionary theory, genetics, human anatomy, physiology and zoology. Other areas of knowledge which are important for secondary biology teachers include biological conservation, genetic engineering and immunology.
Chemistry
Applicants who do not have a degree with a major in chemistry must present a minimum of five full-course equivalents in five of the following areas: inorganic, organic, physical, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics. Other areas of knowledge which are important for secondary teachers of chemistry are electrochemistry, industrial chemistry, and spectroscopy.
Physics
Applicants who do not have a degree with a major in physics must present a minimum of five full course equivalents in five of the following areas: classical mechanics, electromagnestism, modern physics, optics, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, relativity theory, and thermodynamics. Other areas of knowledge which are important for secondary teachers of physics are acoustics, atmospheric physics, biophysics, and environmental physics.
Social Studies
As an integrated, multi-disciplinary school subject, secondary social studies requires an understanding of a number of specific disciplines. Normally, applicants may have degrees from a broad variety of backgrounds in the social sciences and humanities. Every application will be judged on its own merits. However, applicants must be able to demonstrate preparation in the content areas required for secondary social studies curriculum in Alberta and other jurisdictions. The emphasis is on broad preparation in the humanities and social sciences, within which history and geography are important components. Hence, applicants to the social studies program should have completed course work (a minimum of five full course equivalents across all three areas) in:
History - Applicants should have evidence of course work in Canadian history, European history and world history. If there are courses listed with a major focus on history, but not labelled as such, these may be considered as suitable background.
Geography - Some attention is preferred to physical geography, human geography, or other courses with a focus on human interaction with physical and cultural environments.
Social Sciences - Applicants should also have course work in the social sciences (for example, political science, sociology, economics, anthropology, and archaeology).
In addition to those listed above, courses in general studies, cultural studies, women's studies, native studies, religious studies, Canadian studies, globalization, indigenous studies, international relations, philosophy and psychology are valuable as preparation for teaching social studies. Depending on specific content, such courses may be considered in place of courses listed above.
For the 5-year concurrent program, the above requirements and those described for the specializations listed below will be built into the Degree Program to which the applicant is registered in the Faculty of Arts, Science or Kinesiology.
Faculty of Education