Laurier’s full-time, two-year Bachelor of Education (BEd) program is designed to prepare you for teaching primary and junior levels (Grades K-6), or junior and intermediate levels (Grades 4-10). Our program has strong links with four local school boards, and you’ll spend at least two days each week in a Professional Development School (PDS) placement throughout two years, in addition to your five block practicum placements. You’ll regularly link the theory you’ll learn in your university classes to the teaching experiences of your placements.

Laurier’s Faculty of Education fosters excellence in teacher education and scholarship through inquiry, reflection and collaborative sustained partnerships in learning.

Learn by Doing

The PDS model has been recognized as a key strength of our program and differentiates us among faculties of Education within Ontario. You’ll be assigned to one school for an entire year for extensive, in-depth, and sustained field experiences. Beginning your first week, you’ll spend two days in your PDS placement. In your second year, you’ll be assigned to a different PDS so you can experience two schools that serve different student populations. This will broaden your knowledge of the Ontario context in which elementary or secondary schools operate.

Your five block practica are distributed throughout your two years at Laurier. In your first year, you’ll have two block placements in the fall term and another three-week practicum block midway through your course work in the winter term. You must also complete a three-week Alternative Placement at the end of the term. For your Alternative Placement, you can work in a volunteer capacity in various learning contexts (e.g. Section 23 programs, KidsAbility, museums, outdoor education centres, etc.), or take advantage of an international teaching opportunity.

Your second year, you’ll have two block placements in the fall term (a two-week block and a three-week block). You’ll finish your course work in early February and then engage in a 10-week Laurier Professional Placement. This final placement will support you in transitioning from student-teacher to practicing professional, as you work hand-in-hand with a mentor teacher.

Commitment to Indigenous Education

The faculty of Education has formalized a committment to Indigenous education, with the following goals:

• To support the development of educators' foundational understanding of Indigenous knowledges, teachings and worldviews so that they may authentically and respectfully integrate Indigenous topics and perspectives into their curricula, course designs and professional settings.
• To support the development of meaningful allyship and supportive cross-cultural relationships within the context of contemporary Canada among all students, faculty and staff.
• To maintain a positive learning and working environment for Indigenous students, staff and faculty at the Faculty of Education.

Working to accomplish these goals, we have a specific course dedicated to Indigenous topics and Truth and Reconciliation calls to action. We integrate Indigenous worldviews and cultures within the majority of our courses as well as host guest speakers and 'Lunch and Learn' sessions each year devoted to Indigenous arts. We also take field trips to Indigenous settings, encourage alternative placements on reserves and provide hundreds of Indigenous resources on a dedicated website. In addition, our Indigenous Student Centre is a resource to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners who are studying at Laurier and offers a welcoming space to study, meet up with friends or grab a bite to eat.

For more information, contact indigenous@wlu.ca.