Bachelor of Primary Education Studies - Ontario

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.