Program Overview

Faculty of Education

The Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University offers a range of programs for students interested in pursuing a career in education. These programs are designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to become effective educators.

Programs

The Faculty of Education offers the following programs:

• Undergraduate Studies: The Faculty of Education offers undergraduate degree programs in education, including a Bachelor of General Studies and a Bachelor of Education.
  • Bachelor of General Studies: This program provides students with a broad-based education in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
  • Bachelor of Education: This program is designed for students who wish to become teachers and provides them with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to become effective educators.
• Teacher Education: The Faculty of Education offers teacher education programs, including a Professional Development Program (PDP) and a Professional Linking Program (PLP).
  • Professional Development Program (PDP): This program is designed for students who have already completed a bachelor's degree and wish to become teachers.
  • Professional Linking Program (PLP): This program is designed for paraprofessionals and para-educators who wish to become teachers.
• Professional Diplomas: The Faculty of Education offers professional diploma programs in education, including a Graduate Diploma in Education and a Post Baccalaureate Diploma.
  • Graduate Diploma in Education: This program provides students with advanced knowledge and skills in education.
  • Post Baccalaureate Diploma: This program is designed for students who have already completed a bachelor's degree and wish to pursue further study in education.
• Graduate Studies: The Faculty of Education offers graduate degree programs in education, including master's and doctoral programs.
  • Master's Programs: The Faculty of Education offers master's programs in education, including a Master of Arts in Education and a Master of Education.
  • Doctoral Programs: The Faculty of Education offers doctoral programs in education, including a Doctor of Education and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education.

Program Details

Professional Linking Program (PLP)

The Professional Linking Program (PLP) is a 16-month program designed for paraprofessionals and para-educators who wish to become teachers. The program is offered in the Lower Mainland and provides students with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to become effective educators.

• Program Structure: The PLP consists of four terms, with courses and practicum taking place in the B.C. Lower Mainland.
• Courses: The PLP includes a range of courses, including EDUC 402, EDUC 407, EDUC 403, EDUC 408, EDUC 404, EDUC 405, and EDUC 409.
  • EDUC 402: Studies of Educational Theory and Practice
  • EDUC 407: Professional Growth Portfolio: Developing a Solid Foundation
  • EDUC 403: Studies in Teaching and Learning
  • EDUC 408: Professional Growth Portfolio: Building a Framework for Current Practices
  • EDUC 404: Professional Coursework
  • EDUC 405: Teaching Practicum
  • EDUC 409: Professional Growth Portfolio: Capstone Project
• Practicum: The PLP includes a teaching practicum, which provides students with hands-on experience in the classroom.
• French Module: The PLP also offers a French Module, which is designed for students who wish to teach in French Immersion or Core French programs.

Admission Requirements

• Application Deadlines: The application deadlines for the PLP are October 1 to January 31 for the SFU Undergraduate Application Period and October 15 to February 7 for the PLP Broad-based Supplemental Application Period.
• Admission Criteria: Admission to the PLP is based on a range of criteria, including academic achievement, experience, and personal qualities.

Tuition Fees

• Estimated Total Tuition: The estimated total tuition for the PLP is $13,000.
• Delivery Method: The PLP is delivered in-person, with courses and practicum taking place in the B.C. Lower Mainland.
• Location: The PLP is offered in Burnaby, Surrey, and school placements.

Research Areas

The Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University is involved in a range of research areas, including:

• Arts Education: The Faculty of Education has a strong focus on arts education, with research areas including music, drama, and visual arts.
• Counselling Psychology: The Faculty of Education has a research focus on counselling psychology, with areas including career development and mental health.
• Curriculum and Instruction: The Faculty of Education has a research focus on curriculum and instruction, with areas including educational technology and teacher education.
• Educational Leadership: The Faculty of Education has a research focus on educational leadership, with areas including school administration and policy studies.
• Educational Psychology: The Faculty of Education has a research focus on educational psychology, with areas including learning and development, and special education.
• Educational Technology and Learning Design: The Faculty of Education has a research focus on educational technology and learning design, with areas including online learning and instructional design.
• Equity Studies in Education: The Faculty of Education has a research focus on equity studies in education, with areas including diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Languages, Cultures, and Literacies: The Faculty of Education has a research focus on languages, cultures, and literacies, with areas including language acquisition and literacy education.
• Mathematics Education: The Faculty of Education has a research focus on mathematics education, with areas including mathematics curriculum and instruction.
• Programs in French: The Faculty of Education has a research focus on programs in French, with areas including French language and culture education.

Program Goals

The Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University has a range of program goals, including:

• Goal 1: The development of a clear, coherent, and justified view of education that demonstrates understanding of the place of education in contributing to the creation of an open, pluralistic, and caring society.
• Goal 2: The development of a clear commitment to lifelong and lifewide learning that manifests an openness to considering alternatives and possibilities.
• Goal 3: The development of a clear commitment to uphold the principles of professional responsibility that is sensitive to the positions of privilege, power, and trust in which teachers are placed.
• Goal 4: The development of a clear commitment to maintain ethical and functional working relationships with all members of the educational community that is open and responsive to feedback and constructive criticism.
• Goal 5: The development of knowledge about curricular content, educational theory, and effective practice that demonstrates the ability to communicate effectively in English or French.
• Goal 6: The development of a clear commitment to respect and celebrate students that demonstrates respect and dignity for students as persons with varied interests, needs, backgrounds, points of view, plans, goals, and aspirations.
• Goal 7: The development of the ability to create a caring, cohesive community of learners that places students at the centre of decision-making and communicates openness.
• Goal 8: The development of the ability to create opportunities for learning that are significant, relevant, and matched to students' intellectual, physical, social, emotional, aesthetic, and vocational development.
• Goal 9: The development of the ability to blend theory and practice in well-organized ways that rely on the ability to critically examine one's own practices and experiences.
• Goal 10: The development of the ability to use assessment and evaluation practices in a thoughtful and ethical manner that makes use of varied practices of assessment that are congruent with learning goals.

School Placements

The Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University has a range of school placements available for students, including:

• Lower Mainland: The Faculty of Education has school placements available in the Lower Mainland, including Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver.
• Fraser Valley: The Faculty of Education has school placements available in the Fraser Valley, including Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Langley.
• Squamish: The Faculty of Education has school placements available in Squamish.

Voices of the Program

The Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University has a range of voices from the program, including:

• April 11, 2024: From Inner-City Support Worker to Inspirational Teacher
• Faculty of Education and You: Sunshine Willms: Sunshine Willms from the Professional Linking Program (PLP)
• Faculty of Education and You: Evelyn Hunter: Evelyn Hunter from the Professional Linking Program (PLP)

Instructional Team

The Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University has a range of instructional team members, including:

• Faculty Members: The Faculty of Education has a range of faculty members who are experts in their fields and provide instruction and guidance to students.
• Faculty Associates: The Faculty of Education has a range of faculty associates who are experienced educators and provide instruction and guidance to students.
• School Associates: The Faculty of Education has a range of school associates who are experienced educators and provide instruction and guidance to students in school placements.

Upcoming Information Sessions

The Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University has a range of upcoming information sessions available for students, including:

• Register for a Professional Linking Program (PLP) information session: Hosted by the Admissions team, you will learn about the history and structure of the program, different program options, admission requirements, and the application process.
• View all information sessions: The Faculty of Education has a range of information sessions available for students, including sessions on the Professional Linking Program, the Professional Development Program, and the Graduate Diploma in Education.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University has a range of frequently asked questions, including:

• What is the French Module?: The French Module is a program designed for students who wish to teach in French Immersion or Core French programs.
• What is the International Teacher Education Module (ITEM)?: The International Teacher Education Module (ITEM) is a program designed for students who wish to teach internationally.
• What is the Indigenous Perspectives Teacher Education Module (IPTEM)?: The Indigenous Perspectives Teacher Education Module (IPTEM) is a program designed for students who wish to teach Indigenous students.