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Associate of Arts Degree (Education)


Location(s): Chetwynd, ​Dawson Creek, ​Fort Nelson, ​Fort St. John, and ​Tumbler Ridge

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

LocationStartingType
Chetwynd*FallFull-TimePart-Time
WinterFull-TimePart-Time
SpringFull-TimePart-Time
Dawson CreekFallFull-TimePart-Time
WinterFull-TimePart-Time
SpringFull-TimePart-Time
Fort Nelson*FallFull-TimePart-Time
WinterFull-TimePart-Time
SpringFull-TimePart-Time
Fort St JohnFallFull-TimePart-Time
WinterFull-TimePart-Time
SpringFull-TimePart-Time
Tumbler Ridge*FallFull-TimePart-Time
WinterFull-TimePart-Time
SpringFull-TimePart-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

 TuitionStudent FeesInstruction-related
Fees (includes GST)
Total
Year 1$ 3,774.80$ 153.98$ 52.88$ 3,981.66
Year 2 (estimated)$ 3,850.29$ 157.06$ 0.00$ 4,007.35

International Fees

 TuitionStudent FeesInstruction-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

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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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. This program is affiliated with Simon Fraser University and School Districts 59, 60, and 81.

Program Requirements

Residency Requirement25% of all coursework must be completed at Northern Lights College.
Minimum Grade Requirements2.00 program Grade Point Average (GPA); D grade (50%) minimum in all courses

Semester One

All of:

Semester Two

All of:

And one of:

Semester Three

All of:

And one of:

Semester Four

And one of:


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)