Please note:

To view the Fall 2024 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2024/fall.html.

Education | Faculty of Education Simon Fraser University Calendar | Spring 2025

Elementary Generalist Minor

This minor enables the student to explore a range of curriculum and teaching areas within the elementary school program in the professional development program (PDP).

Program Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 15 units of upper division course work including

EDUC 475 - Designs for Learning: Elementary Mathematics (4)

Focuses on teaching elementary school mathematics. Students explore mathematical learning, their own mathematical thinking, and curriculum; and plan mathematical instruction within a consistent framework using appropriate instructional materials and methods. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or corequisite EDUC 403. Students must successfully complete an SFU criminal records check. Quantitative.

and one of

EDUC 311 - Foundations in Indigenous Education, Language, and Culture (3)

An introduction to Indigenous education in Canada and BC. There will be a critical examination of historical and contemporary issues in education and an exploration of culturally based Indigenous education grounded in Indigenous philosophies. Prerequisite: 60 units. Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Amy Parent
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
EDUC 325 - Assessment for Classroom Teaching (3)

A survey of assessment methods that contribute to improving teaching and learning, and for making judgments and decisions about qualities of teaching, the classroom environment, and student achievement and growth. Topics include: goal and task analysis, validity and reliability, observing and assessing classroom processes and environments, self-report methods, assessing student achievement, published tests of achievement and aptitude, marking and reporting. Prerequisite: EDUC 220.

EDUC 326 - Creating Positive Learning Communities (3)

Prepares student teachers to design positive learning environments in K-12 classrooms. The focus will be on practical approaches to creating a space in which students and teachers can work successfully together toward common goals. Prerequisite: One of EDUC 100, 220, 230, or 240; or EDUC 401/402, or corequisite EDUC 403.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
OL01 Paula Rosehart
Online
OL02 Ana Maria Navas Iannini
Online
EDUC 341 - Literacy, Education and Culture (3)

What counts as literacy and whose literacies are valued? What does this mean for the organization of societies, and for teaching and learning? How is literacy implicated in projects of social ordering, colonialism, oppression and empowerment? This course explores these questions through case studies, histories, policies and place-based investigations of literacy education across the life course and inside and outside formal schooling. Prerequisite: 60 units including three units in EDUC courses. Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
OL01 Sessional
Online
EDUC 371W - School Health Education (4)

Explores health concepts, health behaviors, and health concerns of school-aged children and youth. Focuses on comprehensive and co-ordinated school health programs, innovative instructional strategies, and health-promotion initiatives to create healthy school communities. Prerequisite: 60 units; or permission of instructor. Students with credit for EDUC 371 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Stephen Smith
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 12:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
EDUC 422 - Learning Disabilities (4)

A study of conceptual and historic foundations of learning disabilities and an introduction to the methodologies of diagnosis and of learning disabilities. Prerequisite: PSYC 250 or corequisite of EDUC 315 or 473. Students may be required to successfully complete a Criminal Record Check.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
OL01 Maureen Hoskyn
Online
EDUC 426 - Teaching Children and Youth with Special Needs (4)

An introduction to the field of special education including studies of the definitional criteria and characteristics of major categories of special need, and the distinctive instructional challenges associated with these categories. The course focuses on the special learning needs of school age students, both elementary and secondary school levels, and emphasizes both the analysis of issues and treatment needs across the array of special needs. Prerequisite: Students may be required to successfully complete a Criminal Record Check. 60 units including EDUC 220 or PSYC 250, or EDUC 401/402 or Corequsite: EDUC 403.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
E100 Dr. Inna Stepaniuk
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 4:30–8:20 p.m.
Burnaby
EDUC 428W - Nature and Nurture of Gifted Students (4)

Conceptions and misconceptions related to the nature and education of individuals with extraordinary abilities will be introduced. Implications for teaching and learning will be examined. The nature and feasibility of curriculum differentiation, flexible pacing, and other educational options for these students will be critiqued. Grading will be on a pass/fail basis. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/2 or EDUC 403. Students must successfully complete an SFU Criminal Records Check. Writing.

EDUC 435 - Infusing Global Perspectives into Curriculum (4)

An examination of the rationale for and concepts of global education including its content, methods and skills objectives, and its place in existing provincial curricula. Prerequisite: 60 units, including three of which must be in Education.

EDUC 441 - Multicultural and Anti-racist Education (4)

Focuses on developing approaches for multicultural and anti-racist teaching. Topics include: diversity of race, language and culture among learners; identifying the operation of racism, prejudice and discrimination in classrooms and schools; becoming familiar with a variety of approaches such as: co-operative learning, culturally appropriate assessment, and community involvement to counteract and prevent negative classroom and school dynamics; identifying bias in curriculum resources; and locating entry points in selected curriculum areas (e.g. language arts, social studies, art, music, etc.) for integrating approaches which employ a range of multicultural/anti-racist curriculum resources. Prerequisite: EDUC 100, or EDUC 230, or EDUC 240, or EDUC 250, or EDUC 401/402 or Corequisite: EDUC 403.

EDUC 464 - Early Childhood Education (4)

Current trends, issues and research relating to the education of young children. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or PSYC 250 or corequisite EDUC 403.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
OL01 Karen Kurytnik
Online
EDUC 467 - Curriculum and Instruction in Teaching English as an Additional Language (4)

Designed for prospective and beginning teachers to learn more about theory, research, and practice in teaching English as an additional language (EAL) in today's multilingual classrooms. Exploring an integrated approach working with learners to develop language skills through designing and delivering curriculum, instruction and assessment. Prerequisite: 60 units plus one of the following: six units of EDUC course work; or completion of EDUC 401/402; or admission to the Certificate in Teaching ESL program, or co-requisite EDUC 403.

EDUC 476 - Designs for Learning: Elementary Science (4)

Focuses on teaching elementary school science. Students explore science, aspects of learning science, and their own scientific thinking; work with the prescribed curriculum; and plan science learning experiences within a consistent framework using appropriate instructional materials and methods. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or corequisite EDUC 403.

EDUC 482 - Designs for Learning: Information Technology (4)

Students will develop a critical understanding of information technologies in education and learn how to integrate these technologies into classroom settings. An emphasis is on teaching strategies and methods as they complement the guidelines set forth in the BC Information Technology Curriculum. Prerequisite: 60 units.

and at least one of

EDUC 472 - Designs for Learning: Elementary Language Arts (4)

Focuses on developing knowledge, skills and strategies to create a rich and stimulating language arts program in the elementary classroom. Issues in reading, writing, speaking and listening will be examined through current theory and teaching practice. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or corequisite EDUC 403.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
E100 Susan Barber
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 4:30–8:20 p.m.
Burnaby
EDUC 473W - Designs for Learning: Reading (4)

Offers theoretical and practical information about teaching reading in K-12 general education settings. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or corequisite EDUC 403. Students with credit for EDUC 473 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

EDUC 480 - Designs for Learning: French as a Second Language (4)

Deals with a variety of approaches, teaching strategies and curricula, for teaching French as a second language in elementary and secondary schools. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or corequisite EDUC 403. Students with credit for EDUC 480W may not take this course for further credit.

EDUC 481 - Designs for Learning: French Immersion Programs and Francophone Schools (4)

Focuses on research and theories of language learning in bilingual programs and minority contexts, pedagogical approaches and curricula for teaching in French Immersion programs and Francophone elementary and secondary schools. Instruction given in French. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 (French Immersion) or corequisite EDUC 403. Students with credit for EDUC 481W may not take this course for further credit.

If the units of the courses chosen from above do not total 15 units, then students will also complete one of

EDUC 430 - Designs for Learning: Dance (4)

For students and teachers with some movement and dance experience who are planning to teach dance in school or recreational settings. Students will continue experiential and theoretical explorations of movement language framework concepts with increasing emphasis on expressive, formal and critical aspects of dance and movement education. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or corequisite EDUC 403.

EDUC 457 - Drama and Education (4)

Deals with theory, curricula and methodologies in drama education. Topics will include a selection from the following: aims of drama education; drama as methodology; role of the teacher in the drama classroom; evaluating students in drama classes; creative drama; the use of improvisation and storytelling; incorporating film and video work into drama classes; developing major projects with students such as choral dramatization, docudrama, anthology, and readers theatre; introducing scene work, stagecraft, and theatre history. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or corequisite EDUC 403.

EDUC 459 - Instructional Activities in Physical Education (4)

Focuses on theory and curriculum of school physical education programs. Emphasis is given to the movement education orientation as it pertains to the various program activities and approaches applicable to primary, intermediate and secondary levels. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or corequisite EDUC 403.

EDUC 474 - Designs for Learning: Elementary Social Studies (4)

Focuses on teaching elementary school social studies and addresses aspects of the theory and practice of social studies education.Students examine their own thinking about social studies education through critical reflection, work with the prescribed curriculum, and explore various ways to develop engaging learning experiences for children within a consistent framework using appropriate instructional materials and methods. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or corequisite EDUC 403.

EDUC 477 - Designs for Learning: Art (4)

Introduces students to the main ideas, skills, materials, resources, understandings and organizational concerns involved in teaching art in schools. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or corequisite EDUC 403.

EDUC 478 - Designs for Learning: Music (4)

Designed for in-service and pre-service teachers who would like to acquire the skills that will allow them to teach music competently and creatively. They will learn basic conducting techniques, design their own curriculums and have an opportunity to prepare and teach their own lesson plans. Previous musical experience is welcome, but not required. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or corequisite EDUC 403.