Post-Baccalaureate Certificate and Diploma
The Education Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (12 credits) and Post-Baccalaureate Diploma (30 credits) provide professional development opportunities for educators and respond to the needs of schools and districts for education specialists. These are post-degree professional programs designed to complement post-secondary education that has already been achieved. The Post-Baccalaureate Certificates and Diplomas do not carry credit toward certification to teach in public schools in British Columbia. A Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (12 credits) or a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma (30 credits) will be issued upon completion.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate/Diploma programs requires a bachelor's degree, teacher's certification, or permission of the Okanagan School of Education. Students wishing to enrol in individual courses but who are not in a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate or Diploma program require third-year standing as well as permission from the Okanagan School of Education.
Advanced Standing and Transfer Credit
Courses permitted for advanced standing or transfer credit must be senior-level university coursework, and must be conceptually consistent with the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate/Diploma specialization. A minimum of 60% of the credits applied towards the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate/Diploma program must be taken within the Okanagan School of Education. Transfer courses require approval from the Director of Professional Programs and/or the Dean of Education. A maximum of 3 credits of coursework may be transferred toward the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate. A maximum of 12 credits of coursework may be transferred toward the Post-Baccalaureate Diploma. All transfer credits will be from a recognized institution and must be disclosed and approved at the time of application or authorized by a letter of permission from the Okanagan School of Education. Transfer courses must not have been used for credit toward other certificates, diplomas, or degrees.
Program Structure
To respond to professional schedules, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate/Diploma courses are offered as Saturday sessions (during winter terms), online, and blended format, and also as regularly scheduled Summer Session courses. The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is awarded after the completion of 12 credits. The Post-Baccalaureate Diploma is awarded after the completion of 30 credits. Students may complete the courses as available in sequence, or take the required number of courses within a maximum six-year period (certificate/diploma programs).
Note: some courses may require prerequisites.
Application to Receive Certificate or Diploma
Upon completion of all required courses, students must apply to receive their certificate or diploma by contacting postbac.education@ubc.ca. Certificate and Diploma students are not part of the UBC Okanagan graduation ceremonies.
Interdisciplinary Studies in Contemporary Education Post-Baccalaureate Certificate and Diploma
The Interdisciplinary Studies in Contemporary Education Post-Baccalaureate program is for educators seeking flexibility where areas of study can be tailored to meet their needs and interests. The program is designed to prepare teachers to work with children and adolescents in a variety of areas, including educational studies, early learning, inclusive education, and language and literacy. Educators can focus on one, two, or all three of these program areas, while still meeting the educational needs and requirements for specialization (learning assistance or resource teachers). The purpose is to expand current knowledge and understanding with practical implications within school environments to support teacher development and so that all students have equitable access to learning and achievement.
Interdisciplinary Studies in Contemporary Education Course Options
| ECED 405 | Foundations of Early Childhood Education |
| ECED 416 | Kindergarten Curriculum |
| ECED 420 | History of Early Childhood Education |
| ECED 421 | Supporting Young Children through Home, School, and Community Relationships |
| ECED 438 | Observation and Documentation in Early Childhood Settings |
| ECED 440 | Play and Early Childhood Education |
| ECED 441 | Indigenous Language Nests in Early Learning |
| ECED 443 | Theories of Early Learning |
| ECED 444 | Early Numeracy |
| ECED 445 | Social Equality and Early Learning |
| ECED 463 | Early Language and Literacy Development |
| ECED 480 | Special Topics in Early Childhood Education |
| EPSE 406 | Typical and Atypical Development in Infants and Children |
| EPSE 407 | Developmental Disabilities |
| EPSE 421 | Assessment of Learning Difficulties |
| EPSE 431 | Programming for Children with Specific Learning Disabilities |
| EPSE 433 | Assessment and Positive Behavioural Support in School and Community Settings |
| EPSE 437 | Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Behaviour Disorders |
| EPSE 464 | Literacy for Diverse Learners in the Elementary Grades |
| EPSE 465 | Literacy for Diverse Learners in Middle and Secondary Grades |
| EPSE 466 | Numeracy for Diverse Learners |
| EPSE 467 | Social and Emotional Development of Diverse Learners |
| EPSE 468 | Creating Positive Learning Environments for Inclusive Education |
| EPSE 469 | Education for Students with Sensory Loss or Motor Impairments |
| EPSE 470 | Selected Topics in Inclusive Education |
| EPSE 471 | Applied Project in Inclusive Education |
| EPSE 472 | Issues in Inclusive Education |
| LLED 441 | Introduction to Teaching Children's Literature |
| LLED 449 | Teaching Adolescents' Literature |
| LLED 450 | Teaching and Learning Language and Literacy: Kindergarten and Primary Grades |
| LLED 451 | Teaching and Learning Language and Literacy: Intermediate and Middle Grades |
| LLED 452 | Literacy in the Content Areas: Intermediate and Secondary |
| LLED 460 | Theoretical Foundations and Research in English Language Arts Education |
| LLED 461 | Assessment of Literacy and Learning |
| LLED 463 | Early Language and Literacy Development |
| LLED 464 | Literacy for Diverse Learners in the Elementary Grades |
| LLED 465 | Literacy for Diverse Learners in Middle and Secondary Grades |
| LLED 466 | ESL and Literacy Education |
| LLED 467 | Drama in English Language Arts Education |
| LLED 468 | Language, Literacy, and Numeracy |
| LLED 481 | Digital Media in English Language Arts Education |
| LLED 490 | Special Topics in Language and Literacy Education |
| LLED 494 | Introduction to Additional Language Teaching and Learning |
| LLED 495 | Curriculum and Materials Design in Additional Language Teaching and Learning |
| LLED 496 | Theory and Practice in Additional Language Teaching and Learning |
| LLED 497 | Practicum in Additional Language Teaching |
| EDST 497 | Contemporary Educational Issues |
| EDST 498 | Contemporary Educational Practice |
| EDST 499 | Studies in Educational Leadership |
Teaching English and Additional Languages (TEAL) Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
The Teaching English and Additional Languages (TEAL) Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is designed to prepare students who are new to teaching as well as offer professional development for current teachers and people with previous teaching experience to work with additional language learners in Canada or abroad. The certificate develops the skills to work as English as an additional language (EAL) teachers in adult contexts, heritage language teachers, English Language Learning specialists, Learning Assistance Teachers, and other district-level consultants, school-based teachers, and educational practitioners in additional language teaching and learning settings.
The Teaching English and Additional Languages (TEAL) Post-Baccalaureate program consists of 12 credits: LLED 494 (3), LLED 495 (3), and LLED 496 (3) and LLED 497 (3).
Students already enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at UBC Okanagan are eligible to receive the TEAL Post-Baccalaureate Certificate upon successful completion of the certificate requirements and their undergraduate degree.
Students are expected to contact an academic advisor before enrolling in the Certificate program to assess their eligibility and academic progression.
Certificate Requirements
- 12 credits of:
LLED 494(3) Introduction to Additional Language Teaching and Learning
LLED 495(3) Curriculum and Materials Design in Additional Language Teaching and Learning
LLED 496(3) Theory and Practice in Additional Language Teaching and Learning
LLED 497(3) Practicum in Additional Language Teaching and Learning
Note: Not all courses are offered every year. Students should contact the Okanagan School of Education for current Post-Baccalaureate courses.
Application to Receive Certificate
Upon completion of all required certificate courses, in addition to an undergraduate degree, students must apply to receive their certificate by contacting postbac.education@ubc.ca.