Bachelor of Education After Degree – Admission Requirements

Apply in 2 Steps

Step 1

Apply Online through ApplyAlberta and pay the $100 non-refundable application fee ($175 for international applicants). Applications for Fall 2024 open on October 1, 2023, and close on July 1, 2024 (May 1, 2024 for international applicants). The deadline to submit all supporting documentation is July 31, 2024. Applicants will be considered for admission once all supporting documents (Résumé, Letter of Intent, and two completed Reference Forms) have been received. Completed applications, with all supporting documentation submitted, will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, as they are received. Applicants may be placed on a waitlist and offers are extended to applicants at any time up until orientation week. Admission is competitive and only those applicants that score high in all categories are recommended for admission.

Step 2

Submit all supporting documents: Transcripts, Reference Forms, and Evidence of Community Involvement (Résumé and Letter of Intent), as explained below:

Academic Records – Transcripts

Applicants with Post-Secondary Degrees

    • Official transcripts from participating ApplyAlberta institutions will be requested on behalf of the applicant
    • Official transcripts for all other post-secondary institutions (non-participating ApplyAlberta institutions) must be requested by the applicant and submitted directly to St. Mary’s University. Transcripts must remain sealed to be considered official. Transcripts can be mailed to St. Mary’s or emailed directly by the issuing institution to admissions@stmu.ca.

St. Mary’s University
Attention: Admissions
14500 Bannister Rd SE
Calgary, AB T2X 1Z4

  • Applicants who have completed their undergraduate degree at St. Mary’s University do not need to submit transcripts.
  • High school transcripts are not required.

Applicants with International Credentials

  • Arrange for all original transcripts and/or documentation from previous educational institutions to be sent directly to St. Mary’s either by mail or email.
  • Exact translations from a qualified translator must be provided if the documentation is not already in English.
  • An assessment completed by the International Qualification Assessment Service (IQAS), or World Education Services (WES), which compares international educational standards to Canada, must be sent to admissions@stmu.ca or by mail to St. Mary’s.
  • Proof of English Language Proficiency is required for individuals whose first language is not English. Evidence accepted by the University is:
    • Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT). The minimum standard scores required in the four categories are 27 in Speaking, 25 in Writing, 23 in Listening, and 23 in Reading.
    • IELTS (Academic Format) The minimum score required is 8.0 with no bands below a 7.0.
    • Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) with a minimum score of 200
    • Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE) with a minimum score of 200
  • Language proficiency evidence is not needed in cases where an applicant has studied for a minimum of 3 years in a formal full-time secondary or post-secondary institution in Canada or in any one of the language exempt countries.

Reference Forms

  • References are a rating of the applicant’s personal and professional qualities in different capabilities as a learner, worker, and leader. References should be professional or academic; submissions from family or friends will not be considered.
  • Two reference forms are required; references must be submitted through our confidential online form at stmu.ca/bed-reference-form. Only references submitted through our form will be accepted.

Evidence of Community Involvement and Interest in the Vocation of Teaching

Résumé

    • Applicants will be evaluated on the breadth and the depth of involvement in educational settings as well as experience with diversity and inclusive practices, highlighting prior work with children.
    • Email your résumé to admissions@stmu.ca with the subject line “LAST NAME, First Name – Resume”. Include education, and relevant work and volunteer experience. Emphasize experience with children and work in a leadership or teaching capacity.

Letter of Intent

  • Applicants must submit a letter of intent (two pages maximum) outlining the applicant’s interest in the teaching profession and describing how their skills, experience, and challenges make them suitable candidates for the Bachelor of Education program.
  • Please email your letter of intent to admissions@stmu.ca with the subject line “LAST NAME, First Name – Letter of Intent”.

Elementary

The Bachelor of Education (Elementary) stream is for degree holders. Students in this stream have completed, or are in their final stages of completing, a 3- or 4-year undergraduate degree.

Elementary After-Degree Admission Criteria

Applicants to the Bachelor of Education (Elementary) after-degree program must have completed a St. Mary’s Bachelor’s degree or a 3- or 4- year Bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution.

  • Applicants must achieve a minimum 2.5 GPA (calculated from the most recently attempted 30 credits) to be considered for admission.
    • GPA for early conditional admission is calculated from grades available at the time of application.
    • GPA for full admission is calculated from final grades.
  • All degree requirements must be completed by the Winter semester preceding the Fall intake.
  • First degrees must demonstrate a strong liberal arts component and must contain at least one course in core teachable subject areas of:
    • Math – must be a 3-credit (or equivalent) undergraduate course in Mathematics or Statistics. Finance and Accounting courses will generally not fulfill this requirement.
    • Science – must be a 3-credit (or equivalent) undergraduate Science course. Examples of Science courses include: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physical Geography, and Science.
    • Canadian Studies – must be a 3-credit (or equivalent) undergraduate course with high Canadian content. Successful candidates often present Canadian Studies courses from the following subject areas: Anthropology, Canadian Studies, Economics, History, Indigenous Studies, Geography, Political Sciences and Sociology
    • English – must have two 3-credit (or equivalent) English courses at the undergraduate level. Please note that University Prep or Academic Upgrading English courses will not be accepted. Communications courses are typically not accepted.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Education (Elementary) degree program is a 60-credit, two-year after-degree of academic study and practicum.

Year One – Fall

  • EDCM 301 (3.0): Introduction to Curricular Design
  • EDFN 311 (3.0): Student Engagement
  • EDFM 313 (3.0): Teaching for Diversity and the Common Good
  • EDPH 321 (3.0): Philosophy of Catholic Education
  • EDPR 331 (3.0): Practicum I: Observation (3 weeks)

Year One – Winter

  • EDCM 302 (3.0): Curriculum and Instruction in Literacy Education
  • EDCM 303 (3.0): Curriculum and Instruction in Elementary Mathematics Education
  • EDPH 327 (3.0): Historical and Philosophical Bases of Faith-based Education
  • EDPH 329 (3.0): Spirituality of the Catholic Educator
  • EDPR 337 (3.0): Practicum II: Orientation (4 weeks)

Year Two – Fall

  • EDCM 405 (3.0): Curriculum and Instruction in Elementary Science Education
  • EDCM 407 (3.0): Religious Education in the Elementary Schools
  • EDCM 409 (3.0): Assessment and Evaluation of Student Learning
  • EDPR 431 (6.0): Practicum III: Intermediate (8 weeks)

Year Two – Winter

  • EDCM 404 (3.0): Curriculum and Instruction in Social Studies Education
  • EDCM 411 (3.0): The Education Profession in the Province of Alberta
  • EDFN 417 (3.0): Inclusive Education: Meeting the Needs of All Learners
  • EDPR 437 (6.0): Practicum IV: Advanced (10 weeks)

Secondary

The Bachelor of Education (Secondary) stream is for degree holders. Students in this stream have completed, or are in their final stages of completing, a 4-year, 120-credit undergraduate degree.

Secondary After-Degree Admission Criteria

Applicants to the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) after-degree program must have completed a 4-year St. Mary’s University Bachelor’s degree or a 4-year Bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution. Admission to the BEd Secondary program is competitive.

Academic Records

  • Applicants must achieve a minimum 2.5 GPA (calculated from the most recently attempted 30 credits) to be considered for admission.
    • GPA for early conditional admission is calculated from grades available at time of application.
    • GPA for full admission is calculated from the final grades.
  • All degree requirements must be completed by the Winter semester preceding the Fall intake.
  • First degree must include 2 courses in Literature and Composition (English or French).
  • First degree must have either a major concentration in a teaching subject or an appropriate range of courses in a teaching subject, as outlined below for teachable subject areas.
    • Specific Teachable Subject Area criteria includes:
      • English Language Arts
        Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English OR a Bachelor’s degree with a different major that includes four courses (12 credits) in English and 12 credits in two different Humanities areas. Examples of Humanities courses include the following: Art History, Classical Studies, Drama, Language Courses, Indigenous Studies, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Writing.
      •  Social Studies
        Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Anthropology, Economics, History, Geography, Political Sciences or Sociology OR a Bachelor’s degree with a different major that includes four courses (12 credits) in History and 12 credits in two different Social Science areas. Examples of Social Science courses include the following: Accounting, Economics, Family Studies, Geography, History, Management Studies, Political Studies, Psychology, and Sociology. When comparing applicants with the same admissions score, applicants with a stronger background in Anthropology, Economics, History, Geography, Political Sciences or Sociology have a greater likelihood of being admitted.
      • Mathematics
        Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Computing Sciences, or Mathematics OR a Bachelor’s degree with a different major that includes four courses (12 credits) in Mathematics/Statistics and 12 credits in two different Science areas. Examples of Science courses include the following: Astronomy, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Science, and Computer Science.
      • Sciences
        Bachelor of Science degree OR eight courses (24 credits) in General Sciences from three areas, including four courses (12 credits) in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Physical Geography.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Education (Secondary) degree program is a 60-credit, two-year after-degree of academic study and practicum.

Year One – Fall

  • EDCM 301 (3.0): Introduction to Curricular Design
  • EDFN 311 (3.0): Student Engagement
  • EDFN 313 (3.0): Teaching for Diversity and the Common Good
  • EDPH 321 (3.0): Philosophy of Catholic Education
  • EDPR 331 (3.0): Practicum I: Observation (3 weeks)

Year One – Winter

  • EDCM 357 (3.0): Disciplinary Methods of Teaching I
  • EDCM 365 (3.0): The Adolescent Learner
  • EDFN 329 (3.0): Indigenous Education
  • EDPH 327 (3.0): Historical and Philosophical Bases of Faith-based Education
  • EDPR 337 (3.0): Practicum II: Orientation (4 weeks)

Year Two – Fall

  • EDCM 409 (3.0): Assessment and Evaluation of Student Learning
  • EDCM 457 (3.0): Disciplinary Methods of Teaching II
  • EDCM 461 (3.0): New Literacies
  • EDPR 431 (6.0): Practicum III: Intermediate (8 weeks)

Year Two – Winter

  • EDCM 411 (3.0): The Education Profession in the Province of Alberta
  • EDFN 417 (3.0): Inclusive Education: Meeting the Needs of All Learners
  • EDPH 429 (3.0): Spirituality of the Catholic Educator – Secondary Specialization
  • EDPR 437 (6.0): Practicum IV: Advanced (10 weeks)