Undergraduate Studies
Welcome to Undergraduate Studies in Education
Whether you're an aspiring teacher or curious about educational theories and practices, our programs offer the flexibility to explore disciplines and subjects through an education lens and allow you to pursue pathways beyond traditional teaching careers. Whatever your journey, when you study here, you’re part of an inclusive learning community that sparks personal growth and self-discovery and opens you to a world of possibilities.
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Bachelor Degrees
Minors and Certificates
Courses
Student Life
FAQs
Contact
EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES IN EDUCATION
Explore a world of pathways and potential. We offer a variety of programs, minors, courses and certificates designed to launch your journey into the field of education.
Education Minors
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This minor combines theoretical, empirical and practical matters central to the understanding and practice of counselling and human development.
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This minor provides theoretical and practical expertise in contemporary approaches to curriculum development and instructional design.
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This minor provides a focus for students wishing to work with children aged three through eight.
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This minor makes theoretical and experimental inquiries into how students learn from instruction, how they acquire and express motivation in educational settings, and how they develop skills in school subjects and for learning.
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This minor enhances understanding of learning and developmental disabilities, and explores an interdisciplinary approach to the health, education and care of infants, children and adults with disabilities.
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This minor explores the historical roots and ongoing patterns of social and educational injustice with an emphasis on the Canadian context, including responses to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.
Bachelor of Education as a Second Degree Minors
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This minor enables the student to explore a range of curriculum and teaching areas within the elementary school program in the professional development program.
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This minor develops a teacher's skills in environmental and outdoor education programs from kindergarten through grade 12, and in the organization and operation of residential and day centre outdoor education, wilderness outdoor recreation, and other interdisciplinary environmental school programs.
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This minor enables students to explore contemporary second language teaching and learning theory, as well as experientially based approaches to French language curriculum development and instructional design, so that culturally informed and appropriate practices can be developed and used in French-speaking classrooms.
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This minor provides students in the Professional Development Program with competence to teach physical education.
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This minor will interest pre-service teachers who are considering a career in teaching secondary mathematics.
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This program enables the secondary Professional Development Program (PDP) student to explore a range of curriculum and teaching areas that are applicable to the secondary school program.
CERTIFICATES
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This program prepares students, who possess diverse qualifications and background, before they enter the French Professional Development Program, or during their career as French teachers.
Courses in the Faculty of Education
Whatever your interest, there’s no limit to what you can explore with the Faculty of Education. From early learning and international education to social justice and diversity in learning, you’ll find something that inspires you here.
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS
Whether you aspire to become a teacher, or to expand your knowledge of education and pedagogy, undergraduate studies prepares you for diverse career paths inside and outside the classroom.
We're not just for teachers. We're for all students with an insatiable curiosity and a passion for learning. At the undergraduate level, we offer a variety of highly flexible programs, minors, courses, certificates and post-baccalaureate diplomas designed to help you explore the aspects of Education that you find most interesting — from early learning to social justice in education. Our undergraduate programs and courses are also taught in French at all levels.
SEE WHERE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS CAN TAKE YOU
Whether you are an aspiring teacher or exploring the field of education, your future starts here.
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"I love the double-minor option and the flexibility it gives you to pursue lots of subjects inside and outside of the faculty. I decided on doing three education minors that I felt would help me as a teacher."
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"Entering the Bachelor of General Studies in Education program at Simon Fraser University was the perfect outcome for Jennifer. It allowed her the opportunity and flexibility to follow her dream of being an elementary teacher while also continuing to explore her love of storytelling and reading. She became actively involved in the SFU Community through the Friends of Simon tutoring program and The Peak, SFU’s student newspaper."
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"The BGS program allowed Emma to explore various facets of education and fostered her personal and professional growth. "I feel that my self-reflection capabilities have grown immensely, which has been helpful on several levels," she explains. Emma also developed crucial skills in communication and collaboration through group projects, writing papers, and Canvas discussion boards. The program also gave her a solid foundation in educational theories and practices, which she plans to apply in her future teaching career."
FRIENDS OF SIMON
Join this award-winning program as a literacy tutor to help newcomers to Canada at the K-12 level achieve greater school success.
EDUCATION PEER MENTORS
The Faculty of Education's peer mentor program was created to strengthen the undergraduate community and provide a peer support network for newly admitted Bachelor of General Studies in Education (BGS) students.
ACTIVE STUDENT ASSOCIATION
The Education Student Association (ESA) exists to inspire, inform and advocate for Faculty of Education students.
How can I internally transfer to the BGS in Education?
Students must have completed at least one semester at SFU, including 6 units of EDUC coursework with a minimum of 2.0 on the CGPA, UDGPA, EDUC GPA posted on the transcript.
To complete the internal transfer, make an appointment to see the undergraduate advisor.
How do I declare a minor in Education?
Where can I find course outlines for EDUC courses?
Education course outlines can be found here.
I have the prerequisites for a course but was unable to register in the course. Why?
If you believe you have the prerequisites, or equivalent courses from another institution or from your first degree, contact the undergraduate advisor with the relevant transcripts on hand to check whether you are eligible for a waiver.
I want to register in an EDUC course that has a prerequisite/corequisite and I have a similar course from another university. Can I still register for the course?
When in doubt, contact the undergraduate advisor to review. You must present relevant transcripts with the equivalent course for a waiver to be granted.
I was unable to register in an EDUC course that only has the prerequisite of 60 UNIt hours. Why?
The 60 units pertain to all current SFU academic units shown on your student transcript - not just EDUC units. Your transcript should indicate your current units.
- All new students start at 0 units.
- If you have 60 or more units including those in progress, then you are eligible to register for EDUC courses that require the prerequisite of 60 units.
- Returning students who hold an SFU degree and have been accepted into a post degree program (e.g., 2nd degree, Post-Baccaulaureate Diploma, or Professional Development Program) should meet the 60 unit prerequisite.
- Students who hold degrees (including returning SFU degree students) who are not in an approved program, will not meet the 60 unit prerequisite. If you are one of these students, contact your program departmental advisor before your registration date.
I tried to register for an EDUC course but it's full. Can I join the wait list?
goSFU allows you to add yourself to the wait list, provided there is space. Once a spot has opened up, students will be automatically enrolled overnight through goSFU.
You may only waitlist for a maximum of 8 units (2 courses). If you have a course or exam time conflict with another course you are registered in, the waiting list will skip over you and add the next student who does not have a time conflict.
Waiting lists expire 5 school days into the semester. If you were not automatically added to the class before this happens, you are not registered in the class and should look for other options.
What do OL01, D100, E100 and F100 mean?
These codes represent various course sections.
- OL01 = online asynchronous section
- D100 = daytime section
- E100 = evening section
- F100 = course/section taught in French
Courses with tutorial or lab sections will include additional numbers associated with the main section. For example, D108 indicates that it is the 8th tutorial section of the daytime course.
For complete course code details, refer to the goSFU Course Timetable.
What's the difference between summer semester, intersession and summer session?
SFU operates on a tri-semester system whereby courses are held regularly for 13 weeks during each each semester:
- Spring (January-April)
- Summer (May-August)
- Fall (September-December)
Incorporated in the regular Summer Semester are two sessions:
- Intersession (May-June)
- Summer Session (July-August)
During these two sessions, courses usually run two or more times per week, meeting the total number of hours required. Many education courses are offered throughout the summer; therefore, be sure that you have correctly added the required course section and session.
What is the Faculty of Education's percentage breakdown on letter grades?
The Faculty of Education's Undergraduate Programs does not have a breakdown of percentages to letter grades. For example, there is no formal policy that indicates that 95% and above equals an A+, 90-94% an A, and so forth.
However, guidelines are provided to help instructors determine grading practices that are appropriate to their own particular type of course or subject area. At the beginning of a course, the instructor should inform students about the nature of all assignments, criteria for marking all assignments, the weight assigned to each assignment, penalties for late assignments, opportunities to resubmit assignments for marking and, university policy regarding plagiarism and academic dishonesty.
How do I appeal a grade?
Your first step is to discuss your concerns with the course instructor. If you cannot come to an acceptable understanding with your instructor you can then appeal in writing to the Director of Undergraduate Programs. You must submit all original marked assignments along with your written appeal. The Director will determine how to proceed with your appeal. If you are still not satisfied then your final option is to appeal to SFU's Senate Appeals Board, Office of the Registrar.
Before requesting a grade appeal, be aware that your course work could receive a lower mark after reevaluation.
How can I become a teacher in British Columbia?
At SFU, students must complete the Professional Development Program (PDP) to become a certified elementary or secondary school teacher in BC. The PDP is a full-time, 16-month, post-degree program.
Attend an information session or contact the PDP admissions team for more information.
PPS Admissions
PPS ADMISSIONS,
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
Education Building 8630
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
Phone: 778-782-3559
Fax: 778-782-5323
Email:
pps_admissions@sfu.ca
I've been accepted into the BGS in Education and want to become an elementary school teacher. What courses should I take in my first couple of semesters?
Becoming a certified teacher in B.C. requires completion of a teacher education program, including SFU's Professional Development Program (PDP), Professional Linking Program (PLP) or Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education (AHCOTE). Admission to these programs varies based on interest teaching at the elementary or secondary school level.
Students completing the BGS in Education and preparing to apply to the PDP at the elementary level should consider enrolling in these courses.
CONTACT US
Questions? We’re here to help guide your journey with the Faculty of Education.
For general inquiries, contact the Undergraduate Studies office.