Concurrent Five-Year BA/B.ED & BSC/B.ED

Trinity Western’s concurrent program allows you to work toward a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree at the same time as a Bachelor of Education degree. Most students graduate after four years with a BA or BSc and, after meeting requirements, apply to the fifth year. Once admitted, students enter the final Professional Year and engage in nine more months of study. If successful, students then also receive a B.Ed. 

If you already have a BA or BSc degree, you are eligible for the Post-Degree B.Ed Program.

TWU core and basic requirements include a general core of diverse courses for a teaching career (40 sem. hrs. at the elementary level and 37 sem. hrs. at the secondary level. Academic specialization(s) are in two teachable subjects (minimum of 48 sem. hrs.), depending on specialization.

Education course taken while completing BA or BSc (First four years: 34 sem. hrs.) 

This includes general courses such as introduction to teaching and learning, social issues in education, curriculum planning, special education, Indigenous education, and classroom management. You also have four semesters of initial field experiences for 25 sem. hrs / semester for a combined total of 100 hours.

Professional year (grades K-7: 37 sem. hrs.) 

This year consists of 20 weeks of advanced practica interspersed with seminars and workshops, as well as courses in how to teach math, social studies, science, and language arts, and how to assess students.

Professional year (grades 8-12: 37 sem. hrs.) 

This year consists of 20 weeks of advanced practica interspersed with seminars and workshops, as well as courses in how to teach math/science, humanities and one additional teaching specialization.

Our teacher education programs prepare you to teach in both public and independent schools. You gain a comprehensive and spiritually grounded Christian understanding of effective learning and teaching for today’s pluralistic society. You learn what it means to care for all students and meet their diverse needs. You consider how you can structure and guide classroom learning using sound educational principles—and then implement such guidelines.

Preparing to Become a Teacher

At the end of your second year at TWU, you apply for confirmation into TWU’s education program. To be successful, you need a 2.7 (B-) cumulative grade point average, a minimum C average in two English courses (Literature and Composition), successful completion of 3 education screen courses, and the positive recommendation of your 2nd year education course professors. Your application is reviewed by a committee and you are confirmed into the third year upon successfully completing this process.

In your fourth year, you apply for entry into the Professional Year. For applications to be considered, you must have a minimum GPA of 2.7 on your last 60 sem. hrs. of study. In addition, applications are evaluated based on initial field experiences evaluations, positive recommendations from EDUC course professors, character and employer references, academic background, and related experiences. During the final Professional Year, you implement and extend your knowledge and skills in seminars and classroom practica under the guidance of mentor teachers as well as professors.

Middle schools usually include grades 6, 7 and 8. If you are interested in being placed in a middle school for your Professional Year, your initial four years should include the core courses required for certification at the elementary school level, and teachable subject area minors that are acceptable for high school.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer courses into TWU’s education program from post-secondary institutions accredited and recognized by the British Columbia Teacher Regulation Branch, the provincial teacher certification authority.

The BC Teacher Regulation Branch only recognizes credit from Bible colleges which are full members of the Association for Biblical Higher Education.

International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placements courses are transferable, subject to specified minimum grades.

Transfer credit for teacher education courses depend on their equivalency to those offered in TWU’s teacher education program. A total of 6 sem. hrs. of education transfer credit is normally the maximum.

Academic (Teachable) Specializations

Those teaching K-7 usually take two subject specializations with a total of 24 sem. hrs. each. Each subject must meet TWU requirements for a minor. You may take a major in certain approved subjects, but will need at least 42 sem. hrs. with 30 sem. hrs. of upper level courses. You may also take another minor in any area including Religious or Catholic Studies if you plan on teaching at an independent school. The following is a list of acceptable subject specializations:

 

Academic (Teachable) Specialization

Elementary

Secondary

Applied Linguistics

 

Art

Biology

Business

✓ Only as a second minor

Chemistry

English

Environmental Studies*

✓ Only as a second minor

French

Geography

✓ Only as a second minor

History

Human Kinetics*

International Studies*

 

Mathematics

Music Education

Physical Education

Social Studies

Spanish

✓ Only as a second minor

Special Education**

✓ Only as a second minor

Political Studies