August 23, 2006

The University of Northern British Columbia will be hosting aninformation session in Terrace on Monday, August 28, about theUniversity’s new Bachelor of Education program that will be offered inthe Northwest starting in September, 2007.

The information session will begin at 7:30pm Monday at UNBC’s Terracecampus (4741 Park Avenue). In addition, prospective students can bookpersonal appointments with an Education Advisor on August 28 or 29. Inaddition to providing information about the new program, the Advisorwill evaluate student transcripts to ensure applicants will meetrequirements for admission that are set out by the BC College ofTeachers.

“This new program will provide opportunities to complete a teachingdegree leading to a professional certificate – including practicumplacements – in the Northwest for the first time,” says Judith Lapadat,the head of UNBC’s Northwest campus.

The new BEd with will be for students interested in teaching at theelementary (K-7) level and more than one-quarter of the program will befocused on in-classroom experiences. The Terrace program will havethree routes of entry:
•    Students who already have a bachelor’s degree in a teachable subject.
•    Completion of 90 credits (the equivalent of threeyears of full-time study) of university coursework, including 30credits at the senior level in a teachable field.
•    Completion of a UNBC diploma in First NationsLanguage and Culture. UNBC has recently had six graduates of itsGitksan program. A similar program in Nisga’a language and culture iscurrently underway in the Nass Valley and programs in Tsimshian (PrinceRupert) and Carrier (Fort St. James) language are beginning this fall.

In advance of the start of the BEd next year, UNBC is offering avariety of courses in the Northwest this academic year that will serveas pre-requisite courses for the Terrace BEd. These courses are beingoffered in Terrace, Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Hazelton, and Smithers.

Contact:
Judith Lapadat, Regional Chair, UNBC Northwest Campus - 250.615.5578
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC - 250.960.5622