UofC

Graduate Programs in Education offers a Graduate Certificate: Bridge to Teaching for foreign-trained, experienced teachers whose first language is not English and who require additional advanced course credits in order to teach in K-12 schools in Alberta. Bridge to Teaching is a full-time program with 18 senior graduate course credits in education, including practicum. All courses need to be taken in a prescribed sequence, over one school year (September to April). For additional information please consult: werklund.ucalgary.ca/gpe.

Requirements for admission to the Bridge to Teaching Certificate include:

a) A four-year baccalaureate degree in Education or an equivalent degree from a recognized institution, with a grade point average of at least 3.00 or equivalent. See the Faculty of Graduate Studies’ International Admission Requirements webpage for specific country requirements.

b) A letter from an evaluator at Alberta Education’s Teaching Excellence and Certification. For further information, go to education.alberta.ca/applying-for-teacher-certification-the-guide/contact-teaching-and-leadership-excellence/.

c) Language Proficiency Requirement:

i. An overall score of 98 with a minimum score of 27 in the speaking component on TOEFL (the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language); OR

ii. A minimum overall band average of 7.0 on the International English Language Test System (IELTS—Academic Module); OR

iii. Graduation from Tier 3 of the International Foundations Program (IFP) at the University of Calgary with a 3.00 GPA.

d) One official transcript from all post-secondary institutions attended.

e) A successful interview with the Program Co-ordinator for Bridge to Teaching.

Note: Completion of the International Foundations Program for Teachers is highly recommended prior to program start (see werklund.ucalgary.ca/ifp for more information). Exceptions may be granted by the Associate Dean, Graduate Programs in Education, and the Program Co-ordinator.

The deadline for submission of complete applications is May 1 for September admission.

For program information and application procedures, please visit the Graduate Programs in Education website at: werklund.ucalgary.ca/gpe.

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A total of 18 course credits including 10 weeks of practicum.

Required Courses:

Semester 1

Educational Research 696.01
Educational Research 696.02
Educational Research 696.03

Semester 2

Educational Research 696.04
Educational Research 696.05
Educational Research 696.06

Notes:

• Failure to attend the term to which a student has been admitted will result in the admission being rescinded.
• Failure to successfully complete the practicum component will result in withdrawal from the program.

General Notes:

• Completion of the Bridge to Teaching Certificate may not fulfill the requirements for teacher certification in Alberta.
• The Bridge to Teaching courses are recognized by the Professional Standards Branch of Alberta Education as fulfilling the requirements for 18 credits in Education coursework at the advanced level, and 10 weeks of supervised student teaching placement (practicum) in an Alberta classroom.

Police Information Check

All successful applicants to the Werklund School of Education are required to provide a current Police Information Check which includes a Criminal Record Check and a Vulnerable Sector Search. Students who are not residents of Calgary must arrange for a Police Information Check through their nearest police service or RCMP detachment in the area where they reside. In order to be considered "current", the Police Information Check must be completed no earlier than June 30, and students will be required to request a new Police Information Check every 12 months. The original Police Information Check must be presented in person to the administration in the Graduate Programs in Education Office in the Werklund School of Education before the start of classes and to the partner school administration on the first day of Field Experience Practicum (Educational Research 696.03, 696.06).

Students who are concerned about the presence of a criminal record should contact the police department to discuss the process for eliminating or erasing such a record.

Police Information Check is required for all third-party practicum placements. Failure to present a clear Police Information Check may result in the student being unable to complete their Field Experience Practicum. Successful completion of Field Experience Practicum is required for graduation.

Students are obligated to inform the Faculty immediately of any change in status of their criminal record.

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Expected completion time is eight (8) months.