Trinity Western University | School of Education 2024-2025

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Imagine a university that does more than prepare you for a career—one that also equips you to set the foundation for a full and meaningful life.

At Trinity Western, you’ll experience an authentic and engaging community capable of helping you create connections between biblical truth and every area of your life. We are deeply committed to providing a complete, wholeperson education, where you will develop practical professional skills while exploring bigger ideas about who you are, what you believe, and what you’re called to do in the world.

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TWU’s School of Education offers one of B.C.’s best teacher education programs. It is the only program in B.C. that intentionally combines the educational practice of teaching and learning with Christian spiritual understandings. This connection invites deep conversations and reflections on what it means to be human, to be educated, and to live well with others and the natural world.

We value teaching as a highly complex and challenging vocation. And we aim to help students develop reflective discernment through wisdom, humility, peace, patience, reverence, gratitude, compassion, faithfulness, attentiveness, and a love of beauty. We call these virtue pathways, and they guide our approach to the teaching profession.

We want your years in the School of Education to be positive and fulfilling, and we therefore offer a high degree of student and faculty engagement to deeply enhance and support your learning. Our program also allows for more opportunities to experience school settings and practice teaching skills than any other program in the province. You’ll do this alongside University faculty and mentor teachers, ensuring that you will be able to confidently enter the classroom by the end of your studies. Our graduates are well respected and admired in both the public and independent school systems in B.C., across Canada, and around the world.

If you feel called to teach, Trinity Western is the place for you. We look forward to preparing you in your career and calling as an educator.

For more information, please visit twu.ca/education

We value teaching as a highly complex and challenging vocation.

Ragpot, DEd Dean, School of Education

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

Want to make a difference in the lives of children and young people?

Whether you plan to become a certified teacher or an instructor in community-based environments, we’ll support you on your journey to becoming a knowledgeable, competent, reflective, and compassionate educator.

TWU’s School of Education is known for its:

• Strong connection between theory and practice

• Inquiry-based/personal connections

• Carefully constructed core course progression

• Initial field experiences

• Unique professional year

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

• Education (BA/BEd or BSc/BEd)

• Elementary

• Secondary

• Two-Year Post-Degree Program (BEd)

• Elementary

• Secondary

• Inclusive education (minor)

• Education (concentration or minor)

Successful completion of either of our BEd programs leads to recommendation for a British Columbia Professional Certificate or Qualification, valid at all grade levels.

Unique to Trinity Western is the concurrent nature of the Education program. This means that in five years, you earn two degrees: either a BA or BSc in four years and, in the fifth year, a BEd.

TWU’s Education program begins in the second semester of the first year, and already in the second year, you gain practical experience in school classrooms, observing mentor teachers and applying what you’ve been learning in the classroom.

During the first four years, you complete core requirements, subject specializations, professional education courses, and initial field experiences. At the end of four years, you will earn a BA/BSc and will have enriched your learning through five in-depth field experiences.

Liberal arts core and teacher requirements for B.C.

Education concentration

Field experience

16 courses (37 sem. hrs.)

Core: Foundational Inquiries and Ways of Knowing Some are included within the Education courses

11 Education courses (34 sem. hrs.)

• Second year – one field experiences of 25 hours

• Third and fourth year – four field experiences of 25 hours each

SUBJECT SPECIALIZATIONS

Two minors/concentration

For each: 8–13 courses

For each: 24–30+ sem. hrs.

One major Approximately 14 courses (42 sem. hrs.)

Ongoing support and guidance via your academic advisor and program checklists.

PROFESSIONAL YEAR

The fifth year of the Education program is a professional certification year known as the Professional Year. This gives you the opportunity to participate in seminars and in two lengthy classroom practicums under the guidance of mentor teachers as well as professors. You will complete curriculum and pedagogy courses during December, January, and May of the Professional Year. Upon successfully completing the Professional Year, you receive a BEd degree in addition to a BA or BSc. This program leads to a British Columbia professional teaching certificate, valid in all grades of both public and independent schools in B.C.

Professional year at a glance

• Timeline: 8.5 months (end of August to middle of May)

• In schools: 20 weeks in one practicum (full time for eight consecutive weeks)

• On campus: pedagogy courses and professional workshops

• Supportive mentors: faculty (University) and school associate (classroom teacher)

BA/B Sc PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

15–16 semester hours per semester

ELEMENTARY STREAM

In the elementary stream, you will choose two teachables or specializations. You must take a minimum of 24 semester hours in each teachable.

Arts: music education

Sciences: biology, chemistry, math, human kinetics

Social Sciences: international studies, history, geography, social studies

Languages: English, French

Education: inclusive education, TESOL

Choose a second teachable from the list above or below: business, economics, communication, computing science, political studies, psychology, sociology, gender studies, philosophy, religious studies, or Spanish.

SECONDARY STREAM

In the secondary stream, you will complete one major or two minors from the following list. One of:

Arts: music education

Sciences: biology, chemistry, math, human kinetics

Social Sciences: history, social studies

Languages: English, French

Choose a second one from the list above or below: religious studies, inclusive education, environmental studies, applied linguistics, computing science, geography, or Spanish.

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION MINOR

Trinity Western is one of the few Canadian universities to offer a minor in inclusive education. In this minor, you are equipped to meet the broad range of inclusive educational needs specific to students’ cognitive, social-emotional, and sensory differences. To further enhance your learning, you will spend 25 hours in a resource room or with an inclusive education teacher in field experience observation.

EDUCATION CONCENTRATION OR MINOR

You can take an education minor as a teachable subject area. The minor consists of 25 semester hours in education and psychology coursework. Education coursework is in addition to coursework already required in the BEd degree.

APPLIED LINGUISTICS WITH TESOL MINOR

If you are interested in teaching English Language Learners (ELLs) in the local school systems or around the world, you will benefit greatly from an applied linguistics with TESOL minor. This minor combines the study of the English language with how to teach English as a second or additional language. Upon successful completion of this 26-hour minor, you will also earn a TESOL certificate.

TWO-YEAR POST-DEGREE B Ed PROGRAM

If you already hold a BA or BSc degree that meets the requirements of the acceptable degree policy for certification in B.C., you can apply for a two-year post-degree program to earn a BEd.

During the first year of the program, you will take three foundation education courses as well as courses in social issues in education, teaching exceptional students, curriculum planning, classroom management evaluation, literacy or middle/senior years education, and an interdisciplinary course in Christian perspectives applied to educational issues.

In the second year of the program, you enter the Professional Year and participate in two lengthy classroom practicums under the guidance of mentor teachers and education professors. You complete the program by taking curriculum and pedagogy courses in December, January, and May.

3 Foundational education courses

Courses

7 Education courses

Year 1

Field Experiences

2 Classroom field experiences

Year 2

Curriculum and pedagogy courses

Applications to the post-degree program are accepted from mid-December to February 15 each year. To apply, visit twu.ca/apply

MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATIONAL STUDIES – INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

In the MAES-IE program, you will learn to meet the broad range of inclusive educational needs specific to students’ cognitive, social-emotional, and sensory differences. This program will empower you to meet the needs of the growing number of students with extraordinary learning challenges.

Designed for working educators, this program combines condensed two-week online summer classes with 12-week online classes in fall and spring, allowing you to continue your teaching employment throughout the program.

Students generally complete the MAES-IE program over the course of two years plus one additional summer.

One of the hallmarks of the Trinity Western School of Education is that you will have several opportunities to apply the theory you learn in class.

You will be placed in a public or independent school where you will observe, assist students, and plan and teach lessons. After each lesson, your mentor teacher and professor will provide you with feedback so that you can continue growing in your skills.

During the Professional Year or the second year of your Two-Year Post-Degree BEd, you are placed in a 20-week extended practicum. Through a gradual entry method, you will integrate into the class, teach lessons, and eventually teach the class full time for eight weeks. During this time, your mentor teacher will monitor your progress and provide feedback on how you’re doing.

Our Partnerships

• Langley School District & Nicomekl Elementary School

• Abbotsford School District

• Catholic Pacific College

• Society of Christian Schools in BC (SCSBC) & Christian Educators of British Columbia

• Surrey School District

world See the

COSTA RICA

On this trip, students have the unique opportunity to learn more about the area and culture of a developing country in Central America as they take part in a sociological study of various systems in Costa Rica and Canada. The trip also allows students to provide educational programming for children, support environmental protection efforts, and visit beautiful local beaches, jungles, and other points of interest.

TWU graduates are equipped for life

As a graduate of Trinity Western, you will belong to our global community of over 30,000 alumni, who are using their TWU education to make a difference worldwide.

of education students landed* within 6 months of graduation. *employed or pursuing further education

100% of 2022 education graduates felt satisfied with their education. 96% of 2022 education graduates felt prepared for life after graduation.

After teaching in a District Low Incidence program for several years, I applied to Trinity Western University and couldn’t have been happier with my decision. The faculty were very supportive, and the program significantly deepened my knowledge base. This has had a positive impact on my pedagogy, which now allows me to support all students better.”

Christine Thygesen MAES-IE

“Our time in the School of Education at TWU was transformational, equipping, and empowering in the most sacred of ways. Daily, we were given the opportunity to learn from exceptional educators in small, personalized learning environments, who modelled creative and engaging lessons for us to learn from. We would highly recommend TWU to aspiring educators who value being poured into and challenged.

Kelvin and Megan Benger BEd

Where are Trinity Western School of Education graduates working?

• Langley School District

• Abbotsford School District

• Burnaby School District

• Central Okanagan School District

• Kelowna School District

• International Language Academy of Canada

Employers recognize TWU’s school of education graduates as:

• Dedicated and collaborative

• Professional and thoughtful

• Compassionate and passionate

• Eager to learn and to serve

• Ready to teach and contribute

How to Apply

Five-Year, Concurrent BA/BEd or BSc/BEd Admission Requirements

• Graduation from high school or equivalent with a university preparatory program

• 70% average in English 12 (or equivalent) and the required Grade 12 academic courses

• Students not meeting the required number of courses or GPA will be considered on a case-by-case basis

• Official school transcripts

International Students

• Official school documentation

• Certification for English language proficiency (There are eight ways you can meet this requirement.)

Visit twu.ca/international-requirements for more details

Two-Year Post-Degree BEd Admission Requirements

• Applicants to the Post-Degree BEd program are expected to have completed a BA or BSc degree, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-) during their last two years.

Create a profile online at twu.ca/apply

Fill out the free application

Upload your most recent grades (report card or transcript)

MA in Educational Studies – Inclusive Education Admission Requirements

• An undergraduate degree in education or a relevant field with GPA above 3.0

• Possession of or eligibility for a BC Professional Teaching Certificate or approved equivalent

• Two references

• Three or more years of school-based teaching experience or approved equivalent

HAVE QUESTIONS? CONTACT US

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS OFFICE

t: 604.513.2019 or 1-888-GO-TO-TWU

e: admissions@twu.ca

twu.ca/undergraduate

GRADUATE ADMISSIONS OFFICE

t: 604.513.2019 or 1-888-GO-TO-TWU

e: gradadmissions@twu.ca

twu.ca/graduate

@trinitywestern @hellotwu

22500 University Drive, Langley, BC V2Y 1Y1 Canada

P: 604 513 2019 | TF: 1-888-GO-TO-TWU

F: 604 513 2064 | E: ADMISSIONS@TWU.CA

twu.ca