Professional Development Program

General Requirements for All Applicants 

You must have:

• A completed bachelor's degree
  You may apply to the PDP with your degree still in progress, but you must have 90 units completed at the time you apply AND you must complete the degree by AUGUST 31
• 2.5+ GPA
  Based on your last 60 units of undergraduate coursework
• 2 completed English courses
  Minimum of 6 units including 3 units of literature 
  
  OR
  
  2 completed French courses (FRENCH MODULE APPLICANTS ONLY)
  Minimum of 6 units including 3 units of literature; you may not use a mix of French and English courses
• An appropriate level of French language competency (FRENCH MODULE APPLICANTS ONLY)
  You must submit proof of French language competency with your application

Note: If you enter the French Module with French courses, rather than English courses, you may not be eligible to complete the BEd as a Second Degree. 

You must also: 

• Be admissible to SFU at the Undergraduate level  
  See SFU Undergraduate Admissions for details
• Meet SFU’s English Language requirement 
• Meet SFU’s Quantitative and Analytical Skills requirement

Note: If you do not meet the SFU English Language requirement or Quantitative and Analytical Skills requirement prior to application to the PDP, you must complete an acceptable university or college level English or Quantitative course with a grade of C- or higher.

Recommended Experience for All Applicants

• You should have demonstrable experience (volunteer or paid) working with children or youth at the age level you wish to teach.
• We strongly recommend that you spend time observing or volunteering in B.C. schools. 
• The best experience is volunteering or working in a B.C. classroom with the age group and subject you want to teach.
• There is no set minimum of volunteer/work experience hours.

Tip: PDP is competitive, and most successful applicants will apply to the program with extensive volunteer experience in a classroom setting.

Elementary Required Coursework

In addition to the general requirements, you must also have completed the following prerequisite courses by MAY 31:

• 1 Canadian History course 
• 1 Canadian Geography course 
• 1 Laboratory Science course 
• 1 Principles of Mathematics course (SFU's MATH 190 or equivalent)  

For a list of accepted prerequisite courses offered at SFU and other B.C. post-secondary institutions, refer to the chart of acceptable courses. 

Note: All prerequisite courses must be completed at least one term before starting the PDP. You must submit official transcripts by FEBRUARY 8 showing prerequisite courses as complete or in-progress, and in-progress courses must be completed by MAY 31. 

Secondary Required Coursework

In addition to the general requirements, you must also have completed as part of your bachelor’s degree: 

• 1 or 2 Teachable Subjects
  • For 1 Teachable Subject, you must have completed 30 units in that subject with 24 units at the upper division.
    Example: 30 units of math, with 24 upper division math 
  • For 2 Teachable Subjects, you must have completed 30 units in each subject, with 15 upper division units in each subject.
    Example: 30 units of math, with 15 upper division math AND 30 units of physics, with 15 upper division physics

SFU Teacher Education accepts the following Teachable Subjects:

• Arts (Studio Art, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture; not Film, Media Arts, Web Design, Fashion Design)
• English Literature (English Literature, World Literature, Creative Writing; not Linguistics or Teaching English as an additional language)
• French Literature and Language
• Mathematics (Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics; not Statistics, Finance or Accounting)
• Music (Performance; see Music course requirements)
• Physical and Health Education (Physical Education, Coaching, Human Kinetics, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK))
• Science (Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics)
• Social Studies (see Social Studies course requirements)

The following subjects are considered secondary teachable subjects but must be combined with another teachable subject:

• Computer Science
• Dance
• Drama

Note: All secondary coursework must be completed by AUGUST 31.