The Okanagan School of Education offers a certificate and diploma in Interdisciplinary Studies in Contemporary Education, and a certificate in Teaching English and Additional Languages.
The Interdisciplinary Studies in Contemporary Education Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (15 credits) and 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 program is designed to prepare teachers and education specialists to work with children and adolescents in a variety of areas, including early learning, inclusive education, and language and literacy.
The program is designed to be flexible so it can be tailored to meet the students’ needs and interests. Students can build their own individualized program 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.
This certificate and diploma program does not lead to teacher certification. However, if you are a teacher, they can lead to a category upgrade with the Teacher Qualification Service (TQS).
For more information visit the Okanagan Academic Calendar.
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is awarded after the completion of 15 credits.
The Post-Baccalaureate Diploma is awarded after the completion of 30 credits.
Students who begin and complete the certificate program may continue their studies and enroll in the diploma program. Email postbac.education@ubc.ca once you’ve completed the certificate program requirements.
To respond to professional schedules, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate/Diploma courses are normally offered in multiple formats including Saturday sessions, online or blended (online and in-person).
Upcoming courses can be viewed on the Certificate & Diploma Student Resource page.
Inclusive Education courses are designed to prepare individuals to work with children and adolescents with diverse needs. You will learn about establishing inclusive practices in settings such as classrooms and in schools so that all students have equitable access to learning and achievement. These courses may appeal to B.C. certified graduates who are currently employed as, or who wish to become, Learning Assistance Teachers or Resource Teachers.
For the complete list of courses students can take, visit the Academic Calendar.
Language and Literacy Education courses are designed for educators and educational leaders who wish to deepen and extend their knowledge in areas of Literacy and Language Arts. This includes oral and written communication, reading, children’s and adolescents’ literature, literacy in the content areas, new media literacy, assessment, and literacy for diverse learners.
For the complete list of courses students can take, visit the Academic Calendar.
Early childhood is a critically important period for establishing strong foundations for life-long learning and wellbeing. These courses provide professionals with the philosophy, understanding and skills to create optimal learning environments, assess children appropriately and design learning experiences to support children’s development. These courses may appeal to those who work with young children or are new to teaching kindergarten, pre-kindergarten and primary grades. It will also be of interest to experienced teachers who wish to expand their theoretical understandings in order to enhance learning opportunities for young children.
For the complete list of courses students can take, visit the Academic Calendar.
These courses take a multi-disciplinary approach and are designed for individuals who wish to explore and expand their knowledge in leadership, equity and social justice in education.
These courses are designed to develop skills in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) or teaching other additional and heritage languages to learners in a wide range of contexts. They prepare both students who are new to teaching as well as offer professional development for current teachers or those with previous experience.
For the complete list of courses students can take, visit the Academic Calendar.
In addition to meeting UBC’s general admission requirements, admission to the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate/Diploma program requires:
If you wish to enrol in individual courses, but are not in a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate or Diploma program, you will require a minimum of third-year standing.
Please complete and submit the Student Information Form to begin the application process. Once we have reviewed your student information form, if you meet the admission requirements, we will send you the appropriate next steps to completing your application.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, with accepted students able to start their studies in the term following their acceptance into the program. Winter Term 1 and Winter Term 2 generally start in September and January, respectively. Summer Term 1 and Summer Term 2 generally start in May and July, respectively.
For more information please contact postbac.education@ubc.ca.
MORE INFORMATION
Visit the UBC Okanagan Academic Calendar* for full admission and program requirements; the calendar is a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services and academic policies at the University of British Columbia.
* In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct.
Once your eligibility to register has been established, you will receive an email from Access Studies. Students may then register for each course online via the Student Services Centre (SSC).
Upcoming courses can be viewed on the Certificate & Diploma Student Resource page.
Students will be assessed tuition and student fees at the prevailing undergraduate rate. Details are available via the Academic Calendar.
Find out what students, faculty, and alumni have to say about their time at UBC Okanagan.
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world. At the Okanagan School of Education, you gain all the benefits of attending a globally respected university while studying in a close-knit learning community.
UBC’s Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of about 150,000 people—the fourth fastest growing population in Canada. In fact, the Okanagan Valley is rated one of the best communities in Canada to grow your business.
More than 160 buses travel daily from campus to key locations such as Kelowna’s cultural district and thriving downtown waterfront. The campus is two minutes from the Kelowna International Airport, one of the top 10 busiest airports in Canada.
UBC Okanagan is situated within the unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, whose spirit of stewardship for the land is reflected in the university’s respect for sustainability.
A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards and orchards, and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan Valley features sweeping stretches of lakeside and endless mountain trails for biking and hiking.
Check out this 360-degree video: Kelowna From Above.*
* Best viewed using desktop Chrome or Firefox (desktop) or YouTube app (mobile).
Centre for Scholarly Communication (CSC): Supports graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, staff and faculty in disseminating their research. The CSC provides one-on-one consultations and workshops, including writing support for theses, dissertations, journal articles and grant proposals.
Centre for Teaching and Learning: Provides support related to teaching, TA training and use of technology in educational programming.
