The Associate of Arts Degree (Education) is awarded to students who complete two years of planned coursework at Northern Lights College. The Associate of Arts Degree (Education) prepares students for entry into the Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education, the joint teacher-training program offered by Simon Fraser University and NLC. Credits may also be applied toward a degree.
The Associate of Arts Degree (Education) is offered as part of the University Arts and Sciences division, which provides university-level learning opportunities that reflect the intellectual and creative modes of inquiry practiced in the Arts and Sciences.
Career Prospects
Students who complete the Associate of Arts Degree designed for prospective teachers are eligible for AHCOTE and will eventually be seeking careers as teachers. Note, however, that completion of the designated Associate of Arts Degree is not a guarantee of admission into AHCOTE.
Details
Intakes
| Location | Starting | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Chetwynd* | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Dawson Creek | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Fort Nelson* | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Fort St John | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Tumbler Ridge* | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time |
* requires a mix of online and video-conference courses
Length
62 credits (900 hours), minimum.
This is a two year program taken over four semesters with minimum of 15 credits per semester. Part-time studies will take longer.
Estimated Program Fees
Program fee type: Academic
Costs indicated are estimates for a full-time course load.
Book, instruments, supplies, uniforms/clothing and third-party fees are additional.
Domestic Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees (includes GST) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 3,700.78 | $ 150.96 | $ 51.84 | $ 3,903.58 |
| Year 2 (estimated) | $ 3,774.80 | $ 153.98 | $ 0.00 | $ 3,928.77 |
International Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees (includes GST) | International Medical Insurance | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 11,966.00 | $ 150.96 | $ 51.84 | $ 828.00 | $ 12,996.80 |
| Year 2 (estimated) | $ 12,710.00 | $ 153.97 | $ 51.84 | $ 828.00 | $ 13,743.81 |
Still have questions?
Contact:
- info@nlc.bc.ca if you are in Canada
- info@international.nlc.bc.ca if you are outside of Canada
- academic-chair@nlc.bc.ca if you are currently an NLC student
Admission Requirements
English Requirement
For applicants from countries that practice Standard Written English, one of the following:
- English Studies 12 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- English First Peoples 12 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- ENGL 050 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- ENGL 099 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- Any university-level English course with a grade of C or higher
- NLC Writing Assessment with placement at the college level (100)
For all other applicants, one of the following:
- IELTS result with an overall score of 6.0 or higher with no band less than 6.0*
- TOEFL iBT of 78
- Canadian Academic English Assessment (CAEL) 60 overall band
- Canadian Language Benchmark Assessment (CLBA) 8 in each section
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) 57
- Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) 76
- Cambridge-Michigan Language Assessment (CaMLA) 69 plus NLC’s Writing Assessment
- A post-secondary level credential with equivalent English language requirements
- Two years of full-time secondary school education in English in Canada and completion of English 12, English Studies 12, English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, or equivalent with a minimum grade of B.
- Completion of the Citation in English for Academic Purposes Level 060
The General Academic English Language Proficiency Requirements outline more details of the academic English requirements.
* Students with a writing band of 6.0 or less are required to complete ENGL 099 with a B grade or higher before or during the first semester of their program.
Math Requirement
One of the following:
- Pre-calculus 11 with a C grade or higher, or equivalent
- Principles of Mathematics 11 with a C grade or higher, or equivalent
- Foundations of Math 11 with a C grade or higher, or equivalent
- MATH 040 with a C grade or higher, or equivalent
- Readiness for MATH 050 as determined by the CCP Math appraisal.
Note
Elective courses may have specific prerequisites. Meeting entrance requirements for the program does not ensure course prerequisites have been met for all available courses.
Post-Admission Requirements
- A clearance letter from the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP), for a Schedule “B” Criminal Record Check (CRC), WORKS WITH Children and Vulnerable Adults. For information and regulations, see Criminal Records Checks.
Note: Students will be unable to register in EDUC 252 – Introduction to Reflective Practice until a CRC is received.
Important Notes
- The program is eligible for Canada Student Loans. Visit StudentAidBC to apply for financial assistance online. Note that dual credit students are not eligible for Student Aid.
- Course transfer agreements allow students to receive course-by-course transfer to other colleges, universities, and institutes in BC, as indicated in the BC Transfer Guide.
- Transfer agreements allow graduates to receive:
- Admission to Simon Fraser University’s Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education (AHCOTE) program. Note that completion of the associate degree is not a guarantee of admission into the AHCOTE program.
- Associate of Arts degree (block) transfer to BC public post-secondary institutions.
- This program is affiliated with Simon Fraser University and School Districts 59, 60, and 81.
Program Requirements
| Residency Requirement | 25% of all coursework must be completed at Northern Lights College. |
|---|---|
| Minimum Grade Requirements | 2.00 program Grade Point Average (GPA); D grade (50%) minimum in all courses |
Semester One
All of:
- ENGL 100 – Academic Writing (3.0 credits)
- GEOG 103 – The Regional Geography of Canada (3.0 credits)
- HIST 104 – Canada, Post-Confederation (3.0 credits)
- Two First-year Electives Minimum credits: 6.0
Semester Two
All of:
- HIST 103 – Canada, Pre-Confederation (3.0 credits)
- MATH 190 – Principles of Mathematics for Teachers (4.0 credits)
- Two First-year Electives Minimum credits: 6.0
And one of:
- ENGL 105 – Nonfictional Prose (3.0 credits)
- ENGL 111 – Poetry and Drama (3.0 credits)
- ENGL 112 – Prose Fiction (3.0 credits)
Semester Three
All of:
- EDUC 100 – Questions and Issues in Education (3.0 credits)
- EDUC 240 – Social Issues in Education (3.0 credits)
- EDUC 252 – Introduction to Reflective Practice (4.0 credits)
- One Second-year Elective Minimum credits: 3.0
And one of:
- FNST 100 – Indigenous Peoples of Canada (3.0 credits)
- FNST 102 – Treaties and Aboriginal Rights (3.0 credits)
- ANTH 203 – Contemporary Canadian Native Peoples (3.0 credits)
- HIST 209 – History of the First Nations of Canada (3.0 credits)
Semester Four
- Four Second-year Electives Minimum credits: 12.0
And one of:
- CPSC 100 – Introduction to Computers and Computer Applications (3.0 credits)
- CPSC 101 – Introduction to Computing (3.0 credits)
First-year Electives
Students must select a total of four electives (12-14 credits) as:
a) One laboratory science course (3-4 credits) AND Three Arts and/or Science courses (9 credits); OR
b) Two laboratory science courses (6-8 credits) AND Two Arts and/or Science courses (6 credits)
Students planning to enroll in SFU’s AHCOTE program should note that in some cases two NLC lab science courses are required to meet the SFU lab science requirement, eg., GEOG 112 and GEOG 114 or PHYS 103 and PHYS 104
Second-year Electives
Students must select a total of five electives (15-19 credits) as:
a) Four Second-year Arts Courses (12 credits)*; AND
b) One open elective in Arts or Sciences (3 credits)
*Note that PSYC 211 is recommended as a 200-level Arts elective. However, PSYC 211 requires PSYC 101 and PSYC 102 as prerequisites.
Credential
Associate of Arts Degree (Education)