OISE/UT Initial Teacher Education Admission Guide

 

Bachelor of Education Degree

OISE/UT offers teacher education at several levels. This section pertains to the Bachelor of Education General Studies Program (Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior division). The Bachelor of Education Degree is also offered in Technological Studies.


In this Section:

Some Myths About Applying to the B.Ed. program

Program of Study

  • Teacher Certification
  • Teaching Subjects & Prerequisites
  • Admission Requirements & the Selection of Applicants

  • Basic Academic Requirement
  • English Language Proficiency Requirement
  • Selection Criteria
  • Preparing for an Application

  • Academic Preparation
  • Experience Preparation
  • Counselling & Support Services
  • Application Procedure


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    Some Myths About Applying to the B.Ed. Program

    Myth 1:

    You need an "A" average to get into U of T for Teacher Education.

    THE FACT is most students in our program have a "B" range average (B- to B+).

    Myth 2:

    U of T only looks at grades for Teacher Education Admissions.

    THE FACT is grades and experience are equally important.

    THE FACT is that the U of T was a pioneer in the use of personal experience in teacher education admissions selection.

    Myth 3:

    It is impossible to get into U of T for Teacher Education.

    THE FACT is size is an opportunity. The U of T has the largest teacher education program in Canada. We have the most spaces available and can admit a higher percentage of applicants.

    THE FACT is your chances of getting into U of T are possibly better than anywhere else in Ontario.


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    Program of Study

    This one-year post-degree program prepares suitably qualified candidates to teach at one of the following levels in Ontario schools:

    Primary/Junior (Junior kindergarten-grade 6),
    Junior/Intermediate (grades 4-10),
    Intermediate/Senior (grades 7-12).

    These OISE/UT Initial Teacher Education Programs start in September and run to the end of May.

    The program has 7 components with a total of 5 course credits as follows:

    In addition to the regular in-faculty program, there is a variety of school-based program delivery options (Primary/Junior & Junior/Intermediate) or Alternate Programs (Intermediate/Senior). These may vary from year to year. Detailed information concerning available options and Alternate Programs will be provided to candidates who are offered admission to the program.

    More information regarding the B.Ed. program can be found in the Initial/Preservice Teacher Education Calendar, which is available as a downloadable PDF file elsewhere on this website.

     

    Curriculum and Instruction

    Candidates in all divisions are required to take the equivalent of two full courses in teaching methodology.

    Candidates in the Primary/Junior program take a double-weight course which consists of broad-based methodolgy in several subject areas for elementary teaching.

    Candidates in the Junior/Intermediate program select a single Intermediate curriculum and instruction course (teaching subject) and a course which consists of of broad-based methodolgy for elementary teaching. A listing of available teaching subjects follows.

    Candidates in the Intermediate/Senior program select two curriculum and instruction courses (teaching subjects). A listing of available teaching subjects follows.

     

    Teacher Education Seminar

    This course is required of all candidates. It links candidates' experiences across the program and emphasizes professional growth

     

    Psychological Foundations of Learning & Development

    This course is required of all candidates. It focuses on psychological principles of learning and development, key concepts such as intelligence and motivation, diversity among learners and interrelations among the learner, the family, the school and society in relation to learning.

     

    School & Society

    This course is required of all candidates. It emphasises relationships among schools, classrooms, community and society; the diversity of classrooms; teachers' professional work; educational policy and the purposes of education.

     

    Related Studies

    The elective Related Studies courses allow candidates to pursue individual interests and deepen or braden their knowledge and skills. Candidates are required to select one course with a weight of 0.5 or two courses with a weight of 0.25 each. Candidates admitted to the program can select from an extensive list of these courses which is included with the Course Selection form.

     

    Practicum

    The Practicum (practice teaching) is required of all candidates. It consists of two main components: (I) orientation to schools, with a focus on school culture and school community; and (ii) classroom practice. Candidates are assigned, during fall and winter practicum sessions, to schools or other settings approved by the Ontario College of Teachers. Each practicum session is five weeks long for a total of ten weeks.

     

    Internship

    The Intership does not carry any course weight, but is required of all candidates. It consists of a five-week field-based experience occuring from late April to the end of May. It allows candidates to deepen and broaden their skills and knowledge in terms of the Standards of Practice for the teaching profession developed by the Ontario College of Teachers'.

     

     

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    Teacher Certification

    Graduates who are Canadian citizens, or permanent residents of Canada or who are entitled to obtain employment in Canada as teachers, and who meet all requirements of the program, may be recommended for the Ontario College of Teachers Certificate of Qualification (formerly known as the Ontario Teacher's Certificate). This qualifies the holder to apply for teaching positions in Ontario elementary or secondary schools.

    In order to provide increased protection for elementary and secondary students in Ontario schools and to help to ensure that teachers are worthy of the trust placed in them, by students parents and colleagues, the Ontario College of Teachers requires that all new teacher education graduates who will be applicants for OCT membership and teacher certification, provide original reports of criminal record checks and an Applicant's Declaration about their suitability for registration. Further details on Criminal Records Screening will be provided to admitted students.

     



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    Teaching Subjects & Prerequisites

    A separate list of teaching subjects and prerequisites for each of the Intermediate/Senior Division and the Junior/Intermediate Division follows. Please note that not all teaching subjects listed may be offered in a given year. OISE/UT reserves the right to withdraw courses for which enrollment or resources are insufficient.

    Candidates wishing to enroll in French at the Intermediate/Senior or Junior/Intermediate level or one of the modern language teaching subjects at the Intermediate/Senior level should be aware that in addition to the academic prerequsites listed below, candidates who are accepted into the B.Ed. program will be required to pass a language proficiency test in order to register in the teaching subject.

    Course descriptions for these and other courses in the B.Ed. program can be found in the Initial/Preservice Teacher Education Calendar, which is available as a downloadable PDF file elsewhere on this website.

     

     

    Intermediate/Senior Division*
    (Teaching Subjects & Prerequisites)


    BUSINESS STUDIES

    - ACCOUNTING

    - DATA PROCESSING

    - INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

    - MARKETING & MERCHANDISING

    NOTE: APPLICANTS MUST CHOOSE TWO BUSINESS STUDIES SUBJECTS


    CLASSICAL STUDIES-LATIN


    COMPUTER SCIENCE


    DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY


    DRAMATIC ARTS


    ECONOMICS


    ENGLISH (First Language)


    ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

     

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    FAMILY STUDIES


    FRENCH (Second Language)


    GEOGRAPHY


    HISTORY


    INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY


    INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE-GERMAN


    INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE-ITALIAN


    INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE-SPANISH


    MATHEMATICS


    MUSIC-INSTRUMENTAL

    NOTE: INTERMEDIATE/SENIOR CANDIDATES CAN CHOOSE ONLY ONE OF MUSIC-INSTRUMENTAL OR MUSIC-VOCAL.


    MUSIC-VOCAL

    NOTE: INTERMEDIATE/SENIOR CANDIDATES CAN CHOOSE ONLY ONE OF MUSIC-INSTRUMENTAL OR MUSIC-VOCAL.
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    PHYSICAL & HEALTH EDUCATION


    POLITICS


    RELIGIOUS EDUCATION


    SCIENCE-BIOLOGY

    NOTE: INTERMEDIATE/SENIOR CANDIDATES CAN CHOOSE ONLY ONE OF THE 4 SCIENCE TEACHING SUBJECTS LISTED, PLUS A SECOND TEACHING SUBJECT.


    SCIENCE-CHEMISTRY

    NOTE: INTERMEDIATE/SENIOR CANDIDATES CAN CHOOSE ONLY ONE OF THE 4 SCIENCE TEACHING SUBJECTS LISTED, PLUS A SECOND TEACHING SUBJECT.


    SCIENCE-GENERAL

    NOTE: INTERMEDIATE/SENIOR CANDIDATES CAN CHOOSE ONLY ONE OF THE 4 SCIENCE TEACHING SUBJECTS LISTED, PLUS A SECOND TEACHING SUBJECT.


    SCIENCE-PHYSICS

    NOTE: INTERMEDIATE/SENIOR CANDIDATES CAN CHOOSE ONLY ONE OF THE 4 SCIENCE TEACHING SUBJECTS LISTED, PLUS A SECOND TEACHING SUBJECT.
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    VISUAL ARTS


    * Intermediate/Senior applicants select two teaching subjects.

     

     

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    Junior/Intermediate Division**
    (Teaching Subjects & Prerequisites)


    DRAMATIC ARTS


    ENGLISH (First Language)


    FAMILY STUDIES


    FRENCH (Second Language)


    GEOGRAPHY


    HISTORY


    MATHEMATICS


    MUSIC-INSTRUMENTAL


    MUSIC-VOCAL


    PHYSICAL & HEALTH EDUCATION


    SCIENCE-GENERAL


    VISUAL ARTS


    ** Junior/Intermediate applicants select one teaching subject.

     

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    Admission Requirements &
    the Selection of Applicants

    All applicants who satisfy the basic academic admission requirement and the English Language Proficiency Requirement will be considered for admission. Enrollment, however, is limited. Selection of successful applicants is based on consideration of academic and experiential criteria, as described in this section.

     

     

    Basic Academic Requirement

    In order to be eligible for consideration applicants must hold an approved degree from an accredited degree-granting institution, conferred not later than the fall convocation in the year of registration at OISE/UT.

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    English Language Proficiency Requirement

    All applicants are required to give evidence to OISE/UT of their oral and written proficiency in English. This requirement can be satisfied with one of the following criteria:

    (a) their mother tongue or first language is English,

    OR

    (b) they have studied full-time for at least three years (or equivalent in part-time studies) in a university where the language of instruction and examination was English and which was located in a country where the first language is English,

    OR

    (c) they have achieved the required level of proficiency on one of the tests in English language acceptable to OISE/UT.

    For further information, please refer to the pamphlet "English Language Proficiency Requirement for Application and Admission to Teacher Education Programs" available from the OISE/UT Registrar's Office, Initial Teacher Education Admissions Unit.

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    Selection Criteria

    Selection will be influenced by the number of applicants and the level of the qualifications which they present for consideration. In the selection of applicants for Teacher Education the primary obligation of OISE/UT is to the learner. As a consequence, using experiential and academic criteria, we will select those applicants whom we feel can best promote students' growth and development in accordance with their potential.*

    Successful applicants will be those with the strongest combination of academic standing and personal experience as expressed in the Applicant Profile.

    Applicants are advised to hold, or be in the final year of a four year degree with at least a "B" range average in fifteen (15) full course equivalents. Applicants with a three year degree completed at the time of application will be considered, but are at a significant competitive disadvantage. Applicants who have completed fewer than fifteen full courses at the time of application will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

    Please note that our academic assessment is based on the best fifteen (15) full courses (or equivalent in half courses) of undergraduate level academic course work.

    OISE/UT does not have formal quotas for individual teaching subjects. Therefore, for most applicants the choice of teaching subjects does not have a significant impact on their chances for admission. However, we may consider factors such as faculty resources and practice teaching opportunities available for specific teaching subjects with large numbers of applicants. As well applicants with a four year degree related to a teaching subject for which there is a high teacher demand can be at an advantage in the competition for admission. A graduate degree can also be an advantage.

    In the Applicant Profile, significant recent teaching-related and school-based experience with learners in the grades which the applicant hopes to teach is expected. Written communication skills are also important. Applicants shoulds display a keen understanding of the teaching profession and of learners in today's schools.

    A strong academic standing may not compensate for a weak Applicant Profile. Conversely, a strong Applicant Profile may not compensate for weak academic standing.

    * Report of the Task Force on Admissions to the Teacher Education Council of Ontario, 1991, page 9.


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    Preparing for Application

     

    Academic Preparation

    The minimum academic preparation is to complete an undergraduate degree which satisfies the basic academic requirement outlined previously. You should also be aware of the academic elements of our selection criteria, also outlined in the previous section.

    You should ensure that your undergraduate course work will satisfy prerequisite requirements for specific teaching subjects, if applicable to the division to which you intend to apply. (See Program Description and the List of Teaching Subjects & Prerequisites.)

    While there is no competitive advantage, you may wish to consider taking courses which would be supportive of classroom teaching and the development of communication skills. Courses such as cognitive, behavioural, or developmental psychology, children's literature and linguistics may be of interest.

    You may also wish to take courses which can be eventually used as prerequisites for additional qualification course work after you have obtained your basic teaching qualification. More information about these courses is available in the OISE/UT Additional Qualification Course brochure and the pamphlet "Honour Specialist Information" available from the OISE/UT Registrar's Office, Continuing Education Unit (416-926-4762).

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    Experience Preparation

    An Applicant Profile is used by all applicants to present to OISE/UT a word portrait of themselves in relation to the teacher education program. This is a very important factor in our selection process, therefore you should take great care in preparing this document. You may wish to consider the following:

    When looking for ways of gaining experience you should survey the communities to which you have access in order to find opportunities for work with people at the age level you wish to teach. You should also consider what skills you have which might be useful in gaining teaching related experience. A background in art, music, drama, athletics, games or subjects in which children or adolescents might seek help, such as mathematics or computer science, could be useful.

    Following are some specific examples of the kinds of experiences you might wish to consider. They are not listed in any order of importance.

    You may wish to keep a log or diary of your experiences. This will allow you to keep track of your activities and help you to develop your ideas concerning teaching and learning.

    Remember that experience is assessed in relation to the area of concentration selected. It is also assessed in relation to that of other applicants. Remember also that a strong experience background and a strong Applicant Profile will not compensate for weak academic standing.

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    Counselling & Support Services

    One of our goals is to keep applicants and prospective applicants as informed as possible. We are aware that, because of limitations in enrolment, we are forced to turn away many people who would make fine classroom teachers. It is our hope that by assisting you with current and future applications, we can help you to achieve your goal of becoming a teacher.

    OISE/UT provides a variety of counselling services for applicants and prospective applicants to its teacher education programs. Group information sessions are scheduled in the fall term at all U of T campuses and on several University campuses across Ontario. Individual counselling sessions are available throughout the spring and summer months at OISE/UT. In addition, inquiries are always welcome by telephone, letter, e-mail, fax or in person. We invite you to utilize these services.


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    Application Procedure

     

    Applicants to the Bachelor of Education (Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate, Intermediate/Senior Divisions) must submit the following:

    1. A completed TEAS application form, submitted to Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) with the required application and service fees attached.
      (The fee which you pay to OUAC must include the $70 non-refundable OISE/UT service fee.)

    2. Official transcripts from all universities attended.

    3. A completed OISE/UT Applicant Profile.

    4. Evidence of an acceptable level of proficiency in oral and written English as described in the OISE/UT Teacher Education English Language Proficiency Policy.

     

    Getting an Application

    Application materials become available beginning in mid-September of the year prior to registration.

     

    The deadline for application and submission of all required documentation is the beginning of December. Applicants are notified of admission decisions in April. Please consult the Application Schedule for specific dates.




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