STEP ONE:

Read through the entire application procedures. Please print a copy of the application procedures and retain for your records.

Please note that the application fee is $55.00.

Questions for elementary applicants:

1. Will you have 76 credits complete and acceptable for credit at SFU by the application deadline?

 

2. Will you have completed all prerequisite courses by the application deadline? (if any prerequisite coursework is in progress after the application deadline you are ineligible to apply at the elementary level. French applicants please contact the admissions office)

 

If you answer no to any of the above questions you are ineligible to apply. Feel free to contact PDP admissions if you have questions or need clarification.

Questions for secondary applicants:

1. Have you completed or will you be registered in 6 credits of English (minimum of 3 credits in English literature) by the application deadline?

 

2. Will you have a 4 year degree complete with a teachable major or two teachable minors one full semester before the PDP begins (SFU students can be completing their degree requirements just prior to beginning PDP)?

 

If you answer no to any of the above questions you are ineligible to apply. Feel free to contact PDP admissions if you have questions or need clarification.

STEP TWO:

Complete the PDP online Application Form.  You may apply for more than one grade level (indicating order of preference) if you meet the academic requirements for those levels. The non-refundable PDP application fee of $55 must be paid online with Visa/Mastercard or by cheque/money order in Canadian funds payable to SFU by the application deadline.

STEP THREE:

Ensure your full name is clearly indicated on all supporting documents submitted - contact your referees to ensure that they include your full name in their reference letters. All supporting documents must be received in the PDP Admissions Office no more than two weeks after the deadline. Late submission of supporting documentation may result in rejection of the application as incomplete. A cover letter is not part of the application process.

 

Please note: Applicants to the French Language program are encouraged to submit their written assignment and resume in French.

 

Supporting documentation includes:

 

A. WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT

Please write about a significant educational experience in your work with children/adolescents

Reflect upon this experience and make connections to your beliefs and understandings about teaching and learning

 

Your written assignment will be assessed in relation to the following Teaching Dispositions:

 

• Pedagogical sensitivity: acknowledges the importance of the adult-child relationship in consideration of what may be the best ways to engage different students in different situations.

• Reflective capacity: demonstrates self-knowledge developed through reflection, open discussion, and a quest for understanding one’s experiences.

• Other directedness: demonstrates an openness to diversity, differing points of view and sensitivities. Understands the community basis to learning.

• Critical mindedness: the practice of never being content and certainly never complacent with teaching children. Understands the complex and problematic nature of teaching.

 

Format:

submission must be word processed/typed; not hand written;

response must be clear and concise; cannot exceed 500 words

12 point font is requested;

use your own words and language in your response.

 

B. RESUME

Your résumé should outline: instructional and non-instructional work experience; brief summary of post-secondary education; travel; skills (i.e. certificates, languages) and other information you consider relevant to your application. Maximum of 2 pages. This should not be in a narrative or cover letter format however, details are necessary to explain teaching related experience. PDP applicants are encouraged to have related experience working with children-classroom volunteer work in BC Public/Independent Schools working with the provincial curriculum is strongly recommended. You should indicate the number of hours you have spent gaining this experience including details to explain the experience.

 

C. LETTERS OF REFERENCE

Instructions to be given to your referee

Two confidential letters of reference are required in support of your application. You may submit a third confidential reference if you wish. These letters should be written on school/company letterhead, must be original, and must be signed by the referee. One reference letter must come from an educator who has observed you interacting with children/adolescents in an educational setting (public and/or independent school). All references should be mailed directly by the referee or handed in to the PDP Admissions Office in a sealed envelope with referee's signature across the seal. Previous applicants to PDP must submit one up-to-date reference and may submit up to 3 new letters (letters on file will be attached to the new application).

Note: We reserve the right to select references at random and call referees for verification of information provided. Also, applicants may be interviewed at random. References from relatives and close friends are not accepted.

 

D. TRANSCRIPTS

If you are an SFU student and have attended other post-secondary institution(s) you must submit official transcript(s) from those institution(s) to PDP Admissions. (If you submit transcripts intended for PDP Admissions to SFU Admissions we cannot retrieve them). We will obtain your SFU transcript.

 

We do not confirm the receipt of the supporting documents. Instead, if documents are missing when we begin to assemble applications, applicants are contacted regarding these missing documents. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their written assignment and resume are submitted within two weeks of the application deadline and we will not offer an extension on the receipt of these documents. If transcripts or reference letters are missing, we will do our best to offer a small extension for the submission of these documents.

 

STEP FOUR:

All students who apply to PDP must also be eligible for admission to SFU..You do not need to apply to SFU Undergraduate Admissions before applying to the PDP. All applicants must be eligible for admission to SFU and must apply for admission or readmission to the University before the Undergraduate Admission deadline. "Eligible for admission" does not mean admitted and we encourage applicants to wait to apply to Undergraduate Admissions as we are almost always able to have decisions made before the Undergraduate Admissions deadline. We encourage applicants to be aware of the application deadlines to Undergraduate Admissions and to contact the PDP admissions directly if decisions have not been made by the day before the Undergraduate deadline.

 

If you are accepted to PDP and you have not attended SFU you will need to apply to SFU for Undergraduate Admission. There are deadline dates and application fees associated with the Undergraduate application and SFU Admissions will also require official transcripts. (If you submit transcripts intended for PDP Admissions to SFU Admissions we cannot retrieve them)

 

If you have been away from SFU more than 3 semesters, or you have recently graduated from SFU, then it will be necessary to apply for readmission or reactivation to the University. There are deadline dates and application fees associated with the undergraduate application. Please refer to the web site for current information.

 

If you apply to the secondary level PDP and your degree is in progress you must submit an official transcript showing conferral of degree by May 15 (for the September intake) or September 15 (for the January intake). This transcript is in addition to the one which you submit on application to PDP. SFU students are not required to submit transcripts.

 

Please do not send Secondary (High) School transcripts.

 

If you apply to the International Teacher Education Module you must provide a cover letter. This letter will help the Admissions Committee determine a student's eligibility for the module. This cover letter should articulate previous international experiences and draw some connections with current understandings of what it means to be a teacher and a learner.

Include the kinds of skills/attitudes you think the ITEM experience will support in your future teaching career.

For the Fall intake, please feel free to indicate your preference for Dharamsala, India or Oaxaca, Mexico.

For the Spring intake Dalian, China is the sole ITEM destination.

If you apply to the Indigenous Perspectives Education Module (IPTEM) - Urban Experience you must provide a cover letter. This letter will help the Admissions Committee determine an applicant's eligibility for the module. There are no specific instructions about the structure of this letter but remember that this is your opportunity to convey your suitability for this unique module. This module is offered in the Spring intake only.

If you are interested in the French module we would also encurage you to consider the Dual Certificate Progran.

Mail or deliver supporting documents to:

 

Professional Development Program Admissions
Faculty of Education, EDB Room 8624
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6

 

 

Decisions on admission to PDP are usually made in late April for the September intake and mid-September for the following January intake. All students are advised by letter of the decisions made on their application.

 

Please note: Persons convicted of a criminal offence and considering a teaching career should write to the BC College of Teachers for clarification of their status before undertaking a teacher education program.

 

In accordance with BC's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Professional Programs staff will only release application information to the applicant unless a letter of permission to release information to a designated third party has been received by the PDP Admissions office.