Bachelor of Primary Education Studies - Ontario

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Primary Education Studies focuses on developing practical and professional skills based on theoretical and conceptual understandings of teaching, preparing graduates for careers in education.

At CSU Ontario, teacher candidates will learn cutting-edge teaching methods in a supportive environment. The Bachelor of Primary Education Studies focuses on the Ontario curriculum, the theoretical underpinnings of elementary education, the Ontario College of Teachers’ standards of practice, and is progressive in the areas of critical thinking, enquiry, differentiation, issues of equity, social justice, cultural diversity and the development of effective learning communities. As a result, our graduates are held in high regard by school administrators in Ontario education communities. To support our students’ efforts in seeking employment, they are provided with workshops about job preparation strategies, resume writing, interview skills and a career fair.

Course aims and objectives

The Bachelor of Primary Education Studies aims to:

• demonstrate an entry level understanding of professional teacher practice

• communicate and interact effectively with children and individuals of other age groups

• demonstrate an accurate understanding of the way children learn

• understand the characteristics, needs and interests of children

• create a positive model of learning in stimulating environments

• develop a commitment to justice and equity, and to treat children accordingly

• enhance an understanding and respect for our cultural heritage, including the particular cultural background of Indigenous and ethnic groups

• evolve a personal philosophy of education based on a sound body of knowledge of theory and its relationship with practice, and to think reflectively about this relationship

• value the pursuit of scholarly and intellectual endeavors.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.

Practicum experience

The Practicum provides professional opportunities to learn about and apply a range of theoretical, conceptual, and procedural knowledge developed in other courses in the program and provides an opportunity for candidates to make explicit their capacity to discern connections between theory and practice.

Students will complete over 80 days of practicum experience in their host schools. They will have a minimum of 45 days of block practicum experience, split into four weeks in Term 1 in one school / division and five weeks in Term 2 in an additional school / division. They will also spend two days of every additional week of each term in their host schools. The time spent in schools provides an opportunity for students to explore concepts, resources and strategies introduced in the academic component of the program. As every CSU course is highly integrated with the in-school component of the program, teacher candidates have the opportunity to learn a concept at CSU one day and apply it the next day in the classroom.

This structure adds to the depth and authenticity of the professional experience and provides teacher candidates with the opportunity to develop a strong rapport with their students over an extended period of time.

Police check including Vulnerable Sector Screening

A satisfactory police check, including Vulnerable Sector Screening, is required by every prospective student before the commencement of the program.

The Criminal Records Act requires that all police record checks completed for school placements include a Vulnerable Sector Screening, which contains information resulting from a criminal record search of data maintained by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for sexual offences for which a pardon has been granted or issued. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that this condition is met by the police service conducting the search. As such, prospective students should be aware that an inability to obtain a satisfactory criminal record clearance will prevent them from entering the Bachelor of Primary Education Studies.

If you have any questions regarding these matters, including the opportunities available for review of a particular case, contact the Program Director Paige Bennett by emailing pbennett@csu.edu.au

Frequently asked questions

When does the program start and finish?
The program will commence on Monday August 19, 2013 and conclude on May 6, 2014. There will be holidays consistent with school breaks in December and March. During each session, candidates will be in their host schools two days a week, in class at CSU two days a week, and on selected Fridays.

Are there any exceptions to these timelines?
This program is only available full-time with all candidates enrolled in the same courses each session and all candidates commencing and concluding their program on the dates indicated above.

Will I be able to work part-time?
It is very difficult to complete an intensive professional education program within nine months while doing part-time work. Course assignments, and especially the practicum, require candidates to prepare many evenings and weekends.

How do I apply for this program and what is the deadline for applications?
Information regarding the application process is available online at www.charlessturt.ca.

Are there any courses that are prerequisites for this program?
Elementary teachers (Junior Kindergarten - grade 6) are required to teach all subjects; as a result, no specific subjects are considered prerequisites. Eligible applicants must hold either a three or four year Bachelor degree from an accredited post-secondary institution.

My undergraduate degree won’t be finished until June. Will my application still be assessed?
Applicants are expected to have a Bachelor degree from an accredited degree-granting institution conferred no later than June of the year of application. If you are still enrolled in your undergraduate degree when you apply, we will assess your marks based on the transcript submitted at the time of application.  If you then qualify for an interview and are successful, you would be accepted conditionally, contingent on providing us with the official degree-granting transcript.

Some universities, especially those outside Ontario, calculate marks in a different way. How will you calculate my average?
Your average is calculated based on your best 10 full year university courses. Two half courses (i.e. a course that would run only for a semester – September to December, January to April, or May to August) equal one full course. Assessment of applicants who are in the process of completing their final year of undergraduate studies will be based on courses completed by the previous December.

Why do I need a police record check?
Without a satisfactory police record check the schools will not allow teacher candidates to participate in practice teaching.

Please note that the police records check is not required with your application but will be necessary if you are selected to commence the program. It must be received by the University before you begin the program in August.

When is tuition due?
Tuition, based on the 2013/14 fee structure is CAD$18,400, paid in two instalments: the first in July and the second in December, prior to the beginning of second term. Tuition is subject to change.

Is financial assistance available for this program?
There are various ways to fund your degree through external sources:

• federal and provincial grants
• employers, who might offer subsidies and/or reimbursement to those who are furthering their education
• the Lifelong Learning Plan, which allows individuals to withdraw funds from their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to finance training or education: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/llp
• Ontario College of Teachers (OCT): www.oct.ca/scholarship
• Scholarships Canada: www.scholarshipscanada.com
• Student Awards: www.studentawards.com
• CanLearn: www.canlearn.ca

The provincial government provides students with loans, grants, bursaries, and scholarships through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). For more information, visit: www.osap.gov.on.ca.

What practicum and in-school experiences are there in this program and where will they be completed?
The CSU Ontario program is based on strong links between the theoretical and practical components of the program. Candidates will be placed in schools for the first week of school in each term, and then two days a week thereafter. CSU works with both public and Catholic school boards in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as areas to the west of the GTA. In addition, there will be teaching blocks in Fall (mid November / early December for three weeks) and Spring (April / early May for four weeks.) Each term will be spent in a different division (Primary or Junior). This intensive practice teaching experience allows candidates, who are usually grouped in schools in teams of two-eight, to make a significant contribution to, as well as learning from, the school community.

Can I arrange a practicum in a school close to my home?
No. CSU places Teacher Candidates in schools in groups of two to eight from the first week of September onward. Candidates remain in the school for an entire term to learn as much from being part of the school culture as they will from the specific classroom in which they do their practicum. This requires CSU to arrange partnerships with specific schools in school boards with whom we have an established partnership.

In which school boards does CSU place candidates?
CSU currently places candidates in Halton, Halton Catholic, Hamilton-Wentworth, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic, Peel, Dufferin-Peel Catholic, Upper Grand, Wellington Catholic, Toronto, Toronto Catholic, York Region, York Catholic, Waterloo and Waterloo Catholic District School Boards.

Why can't candidates pick a particular school in these boards in which to do their practicum?
Schools apply to CSU to be considered as Host Schools and are specifically selected for the opportunities they can provide for CSU Teacher Candidates. For this reason, the school that is closest to your home may not be one of the CSU Host Schools. Host Schools must also be within reasonable driving distance of CSU Ontario to facilitate supervision and evaluation by Faculty Supervisors.

Do I have to be Catholic to do a placement in a Catholic School?
Yes. Catholic Boards prefer that all candidates doing placements in their schools are Catholic.

What options will there be for candidates who want to teach in Catholic schools?
Students will have the opportunity to take the subject, Teaching Religion in Catholic Schools in Ontario. This would be in addition to the core program and a supplementary fee would apply. The fee, based on the 2012/13, is $440. This is subject to change.

Will there be another intake into the program in the second term?
No. This program only admits students for the Fall term.

I completed my degree outside Canada. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes, you can apply, but your qualifications will need to be assessed by our Admissions Office to ensure that they are equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor degree, and you may need to provide evidence of your English Language Proficiency.  It is each student's responsibility to ensure that they meet all other requirements for registration with the Ontario College of Teachers.

Will I be required to have a laptop computer?
A laptop computer with the capacity for wireless connectivity and internet access is a requirement for acceptance into this program. You will need to bring your laptop on the days you have classes. More about the Laptop requirement

Will information sessions be held for this program?
Dates for information sessions about the program and the application process will be posted on the Information Sessions page.

Is there an academic requirement or minimum grade point average (GPA) to get into the program?
Students typically have a minimum grade point average of 70% to be considered for the program. This will fulfill one component of the admissions process. The other component will be your experience profile.

Admission requirements

An approved undergraduate degree, experience profile and summary, resume, and references are all required for admission.

How to apply

There are a number of steps in the application process. Please read these instructionscarefully to ensure that your application package is complete and correct. ALL requirements must be submitted by the application closing date and time. You will need to reference the Tips for Completing the Online Application Form.Please read this document carefully as it will assist you insuccessfully completing and submitting your application.

Required documentation in support of your application:

1. Online application form

In order to complete your application, you MUST SUBMIT your application form online. The online application form is here.

If you have previously started an online application you MUST logback in using the red link ‘Returning users click here’ on the online form.

Before you submit the online application you must upload your resume, experience profile and experience profilesummary and a copy of your undergraduate degree transcript. Any supplementary documents such as marriage certificate, English language test results or proof of citizenship must also be uploaded as part of your online application.

2. Resume

Complete using the CSU Resume template and submit via the Document Upload section of the online application.

3. Experience Profile and Experience Profile Summary

Complete using the CSU Experience Profile and Experience Profile Summary template provided below and submit via the document upload section of the online application.

4. Two references

You must provide two professional references from people with whom you have had an association in the last five years (e.g. teachers you have volunteered with, people with whom you have worked in the same organisation for at least two years who can comment on your skills and aptitude for teaching, and/or people who know of your experiences working with children well enough to evaluate yourperformance).

Only two references will be accepted. Additional references will NOT be considered.

Please use the CSU Reference template. It is an electronic form that can be completed and circulated by email. Your Referees will also submit their final reference directly to the Admissions Office by email using a ‘Submit’ button on the form.

All references must be completed and submitted by the application closing date and time.

5. Transcript(s)

You must supply an official transcript showing completion of your undergraduate degree. We will accept a copy or student issued transcript for initial assessment purposes however an official transcript must be received at the CSU Ontario campus no later than the application closing date.

Step 1 – Copy or student issued transcript
For your application to be assessed a copy or student issued transcript(s) must be uploaded via the document upload section of the online application.

Step 2 – Original transcript
Place a request with the University from which you have received (or are currently enrolled in) your undergraduate degree (and any additional degrees). Have your academic transcript addressed to “BPES Admissions” and sent directly to the CSU Ontario campus:

BPES ADMISSIONS
Charles Sturt University, Ontario
860 Harrington Court
Burlington Ontario L7N 3N4

Your official transcript must show completion of your degree

‘Student Issued’ transcripts will NOT be accepted as an official transcript.

Please note: international qualifications

In special circumstances, such as international qualifications, certified copies of original transcripts can be mailed or delivered directly to the campus. For international qualifications, any documents not in English must be accompanied by a professional, certified translation. The applicant must submit BOTH the non-English and translated documents directly to Charles Sturt University in Ontario.

All transcripts must be received by the application closing date.

Supplementary documentation that may be required with your application

Please note: all documentation MUST be notarised by a Justice of the Peace or Notary Public

Marriage certificate - Submit your notarised marriage certificate if your university degree is issued in a surname other than the surname that is on your application to this program. Upload via the ‘document upload’ section of the online application.

English language proficiency - If you have completed your studies outside of Canada, you need to check the CSU English Language Proficiency requirements. If you do NOT satisfy these requirements, you must demonstrate your level of English proficiency by providing English language test results taken within the last two years. A notarized copy of your test results should be submitted via the Document Upload section of the online application.

Proof of Canadian citizenship - If you were NOT born in Canada, you will be required to provide evidence of your Canadian citizenship or Permanent Resident status. You must submit this evidence (e.g. notarised copy of Citizenship card or passport) via the document upload section of the online application.

Application fee

A non-refundable Application Fee of $100.00 CAD, is payable by cheque or money order / bank draft (made payable to Charles Sturt University, with the applicant’s name written on the cheque). Payment can also be made on campus, in person, by cash, debit or credit. Credit card payments can be made by fax to 905-333-8578. Your payment must be accompanied by a copy of the CSU Ontario Remittance Advice form(available here).

It is essential that the full name of the applicant be included on the form of payment.

Mail or deliver the application fee to CSU Ontario by the closing date to:

BPES ADMISSIONS
Charles Sturt University, Ontario
860 Harrington Court
Burlington Ontario L7N 3N4

Or Fax it to: 905-333-8578

Links to required documents

• Tips for completing the online application form
• Online application form
• Resume
• Experience profile and experience profile summary
• Reference forms
• English language proficiency policy
• Application fee remittance advice form

This COMPLETE package must be submitted by the application deadline. NO documents will be accepted after this date and time.

Note: ALL documents will be retained by the University and will NOT be returned to the applicant. Exceptions will only be made for original or notarized copies of international transcripts, at the request of the applicant.

Please do not contact the campus to enquire if your application package has been successfully submitted online, and/or if your transcript(s) has been received. Be assured that the Admissions team will cross-check all received documents to ensure that your application package is complete. If it is not complete, youwill be contacted via email regarding the missing documentation.

The Bachelor of Primary Education Studies is offered under the written consent of the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities for the period from June 17, 2010 to June 17, 2015. Prospective students are responsible for satisfying themselves that the program and the degree will be appropriate to their needs (e.g. acceptable to potential employers, professional licensing bodies or other educational institutions).

Cost of study

fee-payinginternational-distancecanada-fees

Ontario students

CAD$18,400 per annum

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Term 1

Ontario students

When applying online, prospective students should select the "11 CSU Ontario Undergrad" application type and note the admission code shown below.

Guide to using CSU Apply Online for CSU Ontario programs. [PDF]

Apply online

Admission code: IEPT

Apply online