Teachers are one of our most valuable resources. They have the ability to plant the seed that grows into a life-long love of learning while shaping the lives of their students. If a career as a teacher interests you, consider starting with the Pre-Education certificate.
Program Overview
The one-year Pre-Education certificate gives you the opportunity to get a taste of the academic courses required to pursue a Bachelor of Education or a Bachelor of Arts degree. All of the courses in the certificate are approved by the BC Teacher Regulation Branch.
Courses can also transfer to many universities in BC and Alberta or be used as electives for an arts and science diploma or an associate of arts degree.
We recommend that you make an appointment with an Education Advisor for course selection.
Two English courses (6 credits)
Two Canadian studies courses (6 credits)
Two mathematics courses with a minimum C+ average (6 credits)
Two laboratory science courses (6 credits).
It is recommended that you take courses from more than one discipline.
Two academic electives (6 credits)
Course Descriptions
This course adopts a holistic approach to understanding health and wellness within Indigenous communities. Students examine many factors and conditions that impact Indigenous community health from a strength based rather than problem focused approach. This course also focuses on Indigenous worldviews in terms of how community health and wellness is articulated and maintained.
Traditional knowledge and Indigenous scholarship are incorporated alongside anthropological perspectives. Whether delivered face to face or online, the course is treated as an interactive lecture series. Indigenous representatives from local communities and scholars knowledgeable about course topics share their valuable insights and knowledge with students.
Through the use of a decolonized pedagogical framework students witness and explore Indigenous issues in Canada with a specific focus on British Columbia exclusively from an Indigenous perspective. Indigenous worldviews on these contemporary issues are heard through studying literature and other ways of knowing from Indigenous peoples. The meaning and impacts of decolonization, treaties, cultural appropriation, self-governance, empowerment, cultural survival, and nation rebuilding are also explored.
This course presents an overview of historical and modern astronomical knowledge. Topics include telescope design, astronomical methods, the planets of the solar system, the life cycle of stars, and our place among the galaxies. The accompanying lab introduces students to night sky observation and real world experience with astronomical photography.
An introduction to the structure and function of organisms with particular reference to molecular, biochemical and physiological aspects of the living world. Designed for students seeking a degree or diploma in a field of science or technology, BIOL 101, with BIOL 102, lays the foundations on which the higher-level courses in Biology are based. It is also suitable as an elective course for general interest or arts students.
BIOL 102 is an introduction to organismic and population biology with emphasis on reproduction, genetics, developmental biology, evolution, diversity and ecology.
Biology 151 focuses on environmental and ecological topics within biology from a local perspective. BIOL 151 helps inform students about local and global environmental issues, current events, and new and emerging technologies from a scientific perspective. Students, with the help of their instructor, will design and implement a research project that focuses on a local environmental issue and present it to members of the community.
This course is an introduction to the structural and functional aspects of the human musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. BIOL 181 is presented in a lecture-lab format. The physiology portion of the course is primarily taught during the lecture portion while the anatomy and application portion of the course is dealt with during the laboratory periods.
A continuation of BIOL 181, this course is designed to allow the student to explore the anatomical and physiological details of the nervous, endocrine, digestive, excretory, immune and reproductive systems. Attention is given to the integrated homeostatic balance of the body. BIOL 182 is designed to provide the student with a solid foundation in anatomy and physiology on which to build.
This course is an introduction to the fields of environmental studies and environmental chemistry. Qualitative and quantitative aspects of environmental processes are studied. Topics include atmospheric processes (including those involving carbon dioxide and ozone), air pollution, acid rain, natural waters, dissolved oxygen and the fate of chemical compounds in the environment. Where possible, examples involving local issues and current events are studied.
This course presents the fundamental principles of chemistry with particular reference to acid-base and redox chemistry, electronic structure of atoms and molecules, properties of liquids, gases, solids and their solutions, phase changes, and thermochemistry. The associated laboratory exercises emphasize proper experimental techniques, data collection and analysis, safety and technical writing skills.
Together with CHEM 101 and CHEM 102 provides a solid foundation in fundamental chemical principles. Topics include equilibrium, thermodynamics, kinetics, electrochemistry, chemistry of the main group elements and the chemistry of organic and biomolecules. The associated laboratory exercises emphasize proper experimental technique, data collection and analysis, safety and technical writing skills.
English 100 focuses on composition for academic purposes and develops a student’s ability to write clearly and effectively. Students also learn the fundamentals of critical thinking, persuasive writing techniques (including rhetorical appeals and devices), scholarly research, and academic reading.
An introduction to the critical reading of literature through the study and analysis of poetry and drama across historical periods from Shakespeare to twenty-first century poets and dramatists. While this course will teach students how to perform college-level literary analysis of canonical texts, it will also teach students how to question and evaluate the cultural narratives that literature circulates. As such, the class will explore questions of gender, class, race, nationhood/nation building, and the problematic literary canon in order to develop strategies for negotiating complex literary texts and to become better, more nuanced readers.
English 102 introduces students to the genre of literary fiction from the origins of the short story in early nineteenth century to the novels of twentieth and twenty-first century. The aim of English 102 is to read fiction with an understanding of genre, technique and form; to apply various critical strategies to literary texts; and to develop analytical writing skills appropriate to essays at the university level. Ultimately, the course encourages students to consider how narrative forms can shape, challenge and respond to their moral, social, and political contexts.
In this course, students learn about the history and development of children’s literature, from eighteenth and nineteenth-century fairy tales to twenty-first century young adult fiction. Students read a selection of the fairy tales that provide the roots for what we consider children’s literature as well as novels written for children and young adults, including Lewis Carroll’s illustrated classic Alice in Wonderland. In addition, since illustration plays such a large role in children’s literature, students also study picture books aimed for young children.
This course is an introduction to the multi-disciplinary field of Aboriginal studies. The prehistory, history, and traditional and contemporary cultures of Aboriginals in Canada and their various perspectives are addressed. Additionally, the historical overview of Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal relations and their effects are explored.
This course introduces students to concepts of Indigenous traditional knowledge, worldview and epistemology through witnessing Elder teachings, insights from Indigenous scholars and experiences of Indigenous community members. This course begins with a review of knowledge creation and ways of knowing. It then explores the value, importance and uniqueness of Indigenous ways of knowing and pedagogy in comparison to Western ways of knowing and pedagogy through exploring questions that are important to First Nations peoples.
This course examines the concepts and processes of physical geography that govern the function of the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere using an earth-systems approach. Course lectures and lab topics introduce the sciences of cartography, meteorology, climatology, geomorphology, hydrology, biogeography, and soils. A focus on how human activities impact the environment, such as climate change and other real world issues will also be addressed.
An introduction to the major principles of physical and historical geology covering the origin and structure of the Earth, plate tectonics, volcanism and other mountain building processes, the erosion of the Earth's crust, and the formation and properties of minerals and rocks.
This course is an introduction to the major principles of structural and historical geology. Historical geology topics include geologic time, relative and absolute dating techniques, organic evolution, the study of fossils and the geologic history of the earth from the Precambrian to the present. Mineral deposits and natural resource issues will also be examined.
This course surveys Canada’s past before 1867. It looks at original Indigenous inhabitants through French settlers and English conquerors to colonial immigrants, labourers, businessmen, politicians, and women, a panoply of fascinating historical agents. In addition, significant events, such as group contact/relations, expansion/settlement processes, economic undertakings, military battles as well as rebellions, social developments, and political evolutions, are examined. Attention is paid to time's impact on continuity and change throughout the period, but greater emphasis is placed on understanding these agents and events through the major analytical categories of race/ethnicity, gender, and class. Doing so helps foster students' interest in the importance of understanding this country's past and allows them to acquire greater historical consciousness to critically understand Canadians’ current context.
A historical survey of Canada, this course traces the country’s development from the immediate aftermath of Confederation to contemporary times. Over that period, significant actors and events, like the World Wars and the Depression, will be considered. Greater attention, however, will be paid to changes and continuities arising from Canada's territorial growth; consolidation under the national policy, including incorporating large numbers of immigrants into the country; cleavages in their various manifestations; imperialism-continentalism choices; industrialization/urbanization/reform movements; post-war international and social decisions; Sixties' upheavals, and Indigenous marginalization. All of these areas of study will help foster students' interest in the importance of understanding this country's past and allow them to acquire greater historical consciousness to critically question whether Canadians’ attempts to create a great nation were best for all.
This course explores the relationship between Canada and the United States, primarily in diplomatic terms, touching on the military, political, economic, and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Canada has not always shared peaceful interactions with its neighbour. Students also come to understand the mercurial nature of Canadians' attitudes to Americans. Students are also made aware of the adjunct role played by Great Britain in the Canadian-American relationship.
This course focuses on a number of important aspects of women's twentieth century experience in intriguing ways. Concepts such as domesticity and motherhood are examined through the study of marriage rituals, childrearing practices, and contraceptive methods. The sexual division of labour is analyzed in terms of women's paid and unpaid work during times like the Second World War. Consumption is examined by looking at shopping habits of the 1950s. Political involvement is measured not only in the progress women made in becoming persons, but also in becoming feminists. Attempts are also made to account for the experiences of immigrant and lesbian women.
Nature and humans have had a long, complex, reciprocal relationship, making for certain conceptions, processes, and complexities to develop. Those developments have led to three main areas of historical overview and deeper consideration: 1) How Canadians, including Indigenous people, have thought about the natural environment and colonized landscapes; 2) How development of resources and industrialization/urbanization in Canada have had short and long term effects; and 3) How Canada’s conservationists and environmentalists have responded at various junctures to address concerns. Using an array of interdisciplinary sources emerging in the burgeoning environmental history field, this course ultimately places the dynamic interplay between the environment and people under study to better understand that relationship over time.
This course introduces the student to basic human anatomy and physiology. The basic structure and function of various organ systems are discussed through a series of lectures and labs. Organ systems included in this course are skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, urinary and endocrine systems.
This course is an introduction to the structure and function of the systems involved in the control and execution of human movement. Special emphasis will be placed on the musculoskeletal, nervous and endocrine systems that are responsible for the integration and control of human movement.
A continuation of KNES 200, this course is designed to allow students to continue to explore the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Special emphasis will be placed on the systems that play a significant role in human movement and physical activity. These include the cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary and digestive systems. The lymphatic, immune, reproductive and integumentary systems will also be examined.
This course is intended for students who require an appreciation of higher mathematics, but don’t require calculus. Math 101 stresses a logical and critical thinking approach while investigating the following topics: an introduction to linear algebra, linear programming, the simplex method, set theory and counting, an introduction to probability and statistics, and Markov Processes.
Discrete mathematics plays an important role in logical thought and in computer science programming. This course provides an introduction to a variety of post-secondary mathematics which do not require calculus. MATH 102 is intended both for students who wish to see useful and real life applications of mathematics and for those needing to learn more about algorithms and problem solving in the context of computer science. Topics include: binary, octal, and hexadecimal number systems, formal logic, set theory and set algebra, Boolean algebra, introductory graph theory, algorithms and simple coding, and an introduction to formal mathematical proofs.
This course is intended for students who are pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree. Topics include: functions, limits, continuity, derivatives, their interpretation, differentiation rules, techniques of differentiation, implicit differentiation, inverse functions, exponential functions, logarithms, applications of differentiation such as linear approximations, Newton’s method, related rates, analysis of graphs, and optimization, the Mean Value Theorem, definite and indefinite integrals, integration by substitution, Riemann sums, and applications of integration. Calculus is a necessary step in any career in the sciences including Biology, Chemistry, Commerce, Computer Science, Engineering, Geology, Mathematics, Medicine, and Physics. It is also useful in any field which uses Statistics to analyze data.
Topics include: Logarithmic, exponential and hyperbolic functions, complex numbers, integration techniques (substitution, parts, partial fractions, trigonometric substitution, numerical methods), I’Hôpital’s rule, improper integrals, sequences, series, convergence tests (divergence, integral, comparison, limit comparison, ratio, root, and alternating series tests), Taylor Maclaurin and Fourier series, vectors (dot products, vector valued functions), and polar curves. Calculus is a necessary step in any career in the sciences including Biology, Chemistry, Commerce, Computer Science, Engineering, Geology, Mathematics, Medicine, and Physics. It is also useful in any field which uses Statistics to analyze data.
Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I is a math course that covers the important concepts, mathematical methods, and ideas required to teach the elementary mathematics curriculum. It emphasizes the foundational concepts needed to support abstract calculation and it broadens students' understanding of mathematics. The course blends theory, teaching models, and the use of a variety of manipulatives which are appropriate for teaching mathematics in the elementary grades. This course emphasizes the foundational topics taught in the early elementary grades including problem solving strategies; whole number operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; fractions and decimals; and incorporates local Indigenous knowledge, content, ways of knowing, and perspectives into each unit of study.
This course introduces the student to how calculus is used to build physical theory and to solve problems in kinematics, dynamics, momentum, and centre of mass calculations. In addition, the student is introduced to several conservation laws, in particular conservation of mechanical energy and linear and angular momentum.
This course builds on PHYS 103. Electric and magnetic fields are used as examples of vector fields, and the concept of flux and Gauss's theorem are used to calculate the electric field in simple cases. Line integrals and the gradient are introduced as a means of going between electric field and potentials. Students are taught the uses for resistors, capacitors, and inductors and how to do calculations for circuits which use them. Ideas from relativity and quantum mechanics are introduced.
This course introduces students to Canadian government and politics by concentrating on the theoretical constructs fashioned by political scientists. Students develop an even more in-depth comprehension of the historical foundation and current operation of the Constitution/Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as the four institutional components of the federal system. Students will be exposed to various issues surrounding these aspects of this national field of political science.
This course introduces the fundamental ideas of statistics and can be applied to any discipline. Topics include: collection, description, and presentation of data; calculating central tendency and dispersion; probability and statistical inference; hypothesis testing (means, proportions, variances, one and two samples); correlation and regression; decision making and sampling, Goodness of Fit Tests, and Contingency Tables.
Admission Requirements
Your Costs
| Tuition: | $3309.0 |
| Application Fee: | $30.0 |
| Student Association Fee: | $69.0 |
| Bus Pass Fee: | $88.8 |
| Lab Fee: | $303.72 |
| Health and Dental Fee: | $229.5 |
| Total | $ |
*These prices are for domestic students and may not be 100% accurate. However, these estimates will give you an adequate idea of tuition and fees for our programs. These prices do not include textbook costs. All prices are subject to change.
| Tuition: | $11700.0 |
| Application Fee: | $100.0 |
| International Fee: | $100.0 |
| Student Association Fee: | $69.0 |
| Bus Pass Fee: | $88.8 |
| Lab Fee: | $303.72 |
| Health and Dental Fee: | $229.5 |
| Total | $ |
*These prices are for international students and may not be 100% accurate. However, these estimates will give you an adequate idea of tuition and fees for our programs. These prices do not include textbook costs. All prices are subject to change.
Delivery Method:?
On-campus, Blended
Credential:
Certificate
Categories: Education, University Studies
Interests: Work With My Hands, Care for Others, Teach Others, Not Have a Desk Job, Complete a Degree
2700 College Way
Box 8500, Cranbrook, BC, V1C 5L7
Phone: 250-489-2751
Toll-free: 1-877-489-2687
Email: info@cotr.bc.ca