Future Teachers

Associate of Arts Graduation Requirements:

• Successful completion of 60 University Transfer¹ credits
• Require a minimum GPA of 2.00

In addition to completing the general requirements for an Associate of Arts Degree, the courses outlined below are a guide to choosing courses that will assist students in meeting the admission requirements to SFU's PDP Program and are transferable to SFU.

University Transfer credits include any Douglas College course that receives transfer credit at any of the following research universities: SFU, UBC, UBC-O, UNBC, or UVic. 

A second year Arts elective is an Arts course that transfers to the second year at one of the following research universities: SFU, UBC, UBC-O, UNBC, or UVic. 

MATH 1191 is only required for students planning to teach elementary school. An Associate of Arts Degree requires students to take a math, statistics or computing science course.

All students entering SFU's PDP are encouraged to take Education courses. Douglas College offers Education courses in History (HIST 2230), Philosophy (PHIL 2220), Psychology (PSYC 2207) and Sociology (SOCI 2245). These courses transfer to SFU as second-year education courses. Please check Program and Course Catalogue for prerequisites.

SFU's PDP recommends that students who teach elementary school take Performing and Fine Art courses and Biomedical and Physiology Kinesiology courses. Many of Douglas College Performing and Fine Arts courses transfer to SFU as do our Sport Science courses (check the BC Transfer Guide to ensure they transfer as Fine Arts and Biomedical and Physiology Kinesiology courses).

For SFU’s PDP program, applicants must have a completed Bachelor's degree before starting the PDP. For applicants interested in elementary education, a minimum 90-credit degree is required. Applicants may submit their PDP application with their degree still in-progress (providing that it is completed by August 31).  To teach at the secondary level, a student must complete a degree (minimum of 120 credits), including a teachable major subject or two teachable minor subjects, plus two English courses.

The following are the general requirements for an Associate of Arts Degree at any B.C. college:

6 credits first-year English* electives
6 credits Humanities** electives
6 credits Social Sciences** electives
6 credits Arts ** electives
18 credits second-year Arts** electives in 2 or more subject areas
3 credits Lab Science elective
3 credits Math, Statistics or Computing Science elective
3 credits Math, Statistics or Science elective
9 credits other University Transfer electives

Notes:

*English courses can include courses in written Communications and Creative Writing that transfer to one of the B.C. research universities (SFU, UBC, UBC-O, UVic or UNBC) as English credit. A maximum of 3 credits can come from such an equivalent; at least 3 credits must be earned in an actual ENGL course, so-named. For purposes of the Associate of Arts degree, English courses cannot be counted as Humanities courses.

** Arts courses are available in the Faculty of Languages, Literature, and Performing Arts, and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. To confirm whether a course is designated as "humanities" or "social sciences", check with an Academic Advisor. Courses in Economics and Mathematics also may be used as Arts electives toward an Associate of Arts Degree.

Definitions 

A course is defined by the subject for which it is granted transfer credit at one of the research universities (SFU, UBC, UBC-O, UNBC, or UVic).

1. An Arts course is defined as any course in a subject area for which there is a Baccalaureate of Arts Degree at one of the research universities.
2. A Science course is defined as any course in a subject area for which there is a Baccalaureate of Science Degree or Baccalaureate of Applied Science Degree at one of the research universities. 
   The requirements specified above are intended to provide breadth of exposure to a variety of disciplines in both Arts and Sciences. In some instances there may be some ambiguity as to whether a course is in the Humanities or Social Sciences and is an Arts course or a Science course. Most Physical Geography and Mathematics would be designated as Science courses.
3. A course in an "other" area is defined as any course in a subject area for which there is a Baccalaureate Degree other than in Arts, Science or Applied Science at one of the research universities.
4. A first-year course is defined as a course that has assigned or unassigned transfer credit at the 100-level at one of the research universities.
5. A second-year course is defined as a course that has assigned or unassigned transfer credit at the 200-level or higher level at one of the research universities.
6. A laboratory science course is one in which a substantial component of instruction involves the study of natural phenomena, either in the laboratory or possibly in the field. 

For detailed information you may book an appointment with an Academic Advisor.

Co-operative Education Option

Students enrolled in this program may be eligible for a Co-operative Education designation. Co-operative Education involves alternating full-time academic and work terms. For information contact the Co-operative Education Office.