Programs

Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education (AHCOTE)

Program Description

The Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education is a joint teacher education program offered by Simon Fraser University (SFU), School Districts 59, 60, and 81, the University of Northern British Columbia, and local teacher associations. The AHCOTE program has existed at NLC for more than two decades. It is an external, Professional Development Program in Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Education.

Students entering AHCOTE with a full degree can finish the program in 1.5 years and start teaching with a Professional Teaching Certificate. Students entering AHCOTE, with 60 credits in designated areas, or with NLC’s Associate of Arts Degree – AHCOTE, can begin teaching after completing AHCOTE, but will need approximately 30 more degree-completion elective credits to earn SFU’s Bachelor of General Studies (Education) and a Professional Teaching Certificate.

Depending on how the completion of NLC’s Associate of Arts Degree – AHCOTE aligns with alternating-year AHCOTE intakes, students may want to take 30 degree-completion elective credits before enrolling in AHCOTE.

Career Prospects

AHCOTE graduates receive either a Professional or Provisional Teaching Certificate from the B.C. College of Teachers.

Professional Certificate (no expiry date): Awarded to AHCOTE graduates who have a full degree.
Provisional Certificate (five year duration): Awarded to AHCOTE graduates who are still working toward a degree. They must complete a degree within five years to continue teaching.

Details

Location: Fort St. John Campus

Length: 1.5 years

Start: September 2014

Fees: Current Fee Schedule

Admission Prerequisites

Applicants may be admitted to AHCOTE if they meet one of the following criteria:

completion of NLC’s Associate of Arts Degree – AHCOTE;

completion of a minimum of 60 university-level credits that include coverage in designated subject areas (credits must also be transferable to SFU and approved by SFU’s Faculty of Education);

completion of a degree from an accredited university.

Note: Admission is subject to academic performance and a suitability interview.

Important Notes

The program is eligible for Canada Student Loans. Visit StudentAid BC to apply for financial assistance online.
With minimal additional coursework, students who hold a degree upon entering AHCOTE may also qualify for SFU’s Bachelor of Education as a Second Degree after completing AHCOTE.
AHCOTE students who do not have a degree when they begin the program are recommended to enrol in SFU’s Bachelor of General Studies (Education). Recommended completion of this degree includes the following allotment of credits:
- 60 lower-division transfer credits comprising NLC’s Associate of Arts Degree – AHCOTE (AAA).
  - Year 1, Fall Semester: English 100, History 103, Math 190, a Laboratory Science, and an open elective in Arts or Sciences;
  - Year 1, Winter Semester: English 105, 111 or 112, History 104, Geography 103, Lab Science and/or two open electives.
  - Year 2, Fall Semester: Education 100, Education 252, two 200-level Arts electives, and open elective in Arts or Sciences.
  - Year 2, Winter Semester: Education 240, Computer Science 101, First Nations Studies 100 or Anthropology 203 or History 209, and two 200-level Arts electives. (Where an NLC course that is part of the AAA does not transfer directly to an SFU course or department, General Elective Credit will be granted.)
- 3 transfer credits for Education 220 taken through NLC as part of AHCOTE.
- 30 upper-division credits from SFU: Education 352 (4), Education 472 (4), Education 475 (4), Education 404 (15) plus one elective course taken by distance (3).
- 27 credits from any degree granting-institution. All 27 credits must be transferable to SFU and approved by SFU’s Faculty of Education. Further, a minimum of 15 credits must transfer as upper-division credits. Courses from UNBC or from SFU’s Centre for Online and Distance Education are recommended.
- 30 credits consisting of SFU’s Education 401, 402 and 405.
The information on the page is a summary of the official Program Completion Guide approved by NLC’s Education Council.

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Program Chair: Lisa Verbisky
Program Contact: Jaclyn Jones

AHCOTE Program Outline

Fall - (Semester 1) NLC Education 220 SFU Education 352 (non-degreed students only; degreed students take Education 252 from the AA curriculum) SFU Education 472-412 SFU Education 475 SFU Upper-Division Elective by Distance Education (for non-degreed students only)
Spring - (Semester 2)(PDP Begins) SFU Education 401/402
Intersession -(Semester 3) SFU Education 404: Additional Education coursework
Fall -(Semester 4) SFU Education 405: Teaching Semester