All students are required to register for the English Exam for Teacher Certification (EDEC 215) in the Fall term of their first year (U1 year) in the program. Please refer to the English Language Requirement section of the Internships & Student Affairs website for details.
Registration plans are provided because of the tight nature of the program - to ensure timely completion of your program, you are advised to follow the sequence of courses as outlined above.
The Four Year Overview is for most students, and it allocates space for completing all of the requirements in your K/Elementary B.Ed. degree. Please note, students needing to complete a Foundation year will be starting in year 0, thus, will be following a five year study plan.
The Three Year Overview is designed for students who have significant advanced standing, (typically students with transfer credits from other universities) and does not include room in your schedule for completing the subject area and elective course portions of the Kindergarten and Elementary program.
A complete list of courses, course descriptions and prerequisites can be found below.
The Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) - Kindergarten and Elementary Education program requires 120 credits and leads to teacher certification. Students who have not completed Quebec CEGEP, French Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, or at least one year of university studies prior to commencing the B.Ed. must also complete a minimum of 30 credits of Freshman courses (in addition to the 120-credit program) for a total of 150 credits.
The Kindergarten and Elementary Education program leads to certification to teach children between the ages of 5 and 11 years (kindergarten and elementary school). The program consists of academic and professional courses, as well as studies in pedagogy and educational foundations. Each year of the program provides a school-based practicum.
Please note that graduates of teacher education programs are recommended by the University to the Quebec Ministry of Education for Quebec teacher certification. For more information about teacher certification in Quebec, please refer to the Faculty of Education section under "Overview of Faculty Programs," "Undergraduate Education Programs," and "Quebec Teacher Certification."
Students normally complete 30 credits in their Freshman (U0) year.
The Freshman year is the time to take introductory-level courses in the subjects taught in elementary school, as well as to explore areas that are not normally taken as "teachable" subject area courses within B.Ed. programs (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, etc.). Students should also investigate the possibility of taking one of the First Year Seminar courses offered by the Faculty of Arts or the Faculty of Science.
In addition, in consultation with the Program Adviser, students may select courses from the recommended course list below or other courses. Included in the list are several French Second Language (FRSL) courses for which placement tests are required to determine the appropriate level. Also recommended are any 100- or 200-level courses with the subject codes of ANTH (Anthropology), ENGL (English), GEOG (Geography), HIST (History), MUAR (Music-Arts Faculty), POLI (Political Science), PSYC (Psychology), RELG (Religious Studies), and SOCI (Sociology). For 200-level courses, information about any required prerequisites is found in the Minerva Class Schedule by "clicking on" the course CRN for registration. Check prerequisites before registering.
Elementary Education: Selection and use of literature suitable for children in the elementary school.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Admin & Policy Studies in Ed: An introduction to contemporary issues in education in local, national and international contexts, including a critical perspective on educational issues by drawing on a variety of analytical frameworks.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Secondary Education: Selection and use of literature for the differing abilities and interests of high school students.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
French as a Second Language: A comprehensive introduction to basic vocabulary, grammatical structures and speech patterns of written and oral French for students in any degree program having no previous knowledge of French. Learning to communicate at a functional level in a French-speaking environment. Short essays, cultural readings, mandatory lab practice.
Offered by: French Language Centre
French as a Second Language: A comprehensive introduction to basic vocabulary, grammatical structures and speech patterns of written and oral French for students in any degree program having no previous knowledge of French. Learning to communicate at a functional level in a French-speaking environment. Short essays, cultural readings, mandatory lab practice.
Offered by: French Language Centre
French as a Second Language: This two-term course uses a task-based approach to provide students with authentic materials related to Canadian culture and prepares them for real life communication. Therefore, class time will be mostly dedicated to the completion of communicative tasks which often rely on the use of technology (mobile apps, blogs and other online tools). This course tackles different topics that students can relate to in their personal, social and academic life, and provides a review and further training in elementary language structures to develop their communication skills and digital literacy in French.
Offered by: French Language Centre
French as a Second Language: See FRSL 207D1 for course description.
Offered by: French Language Centre
French as a Second Language: Language lab attendance required. Grammar review, comprehension, vocabulary development, selected readings and group discussions.
Offered by: French Language Centre
French as a Second Language: See FRSL 211D1 for course description.
Offered by: French Language Centre
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci): Sets and functions. Numeration systems. Whole numbers and integers, algorithms for whole-number computations, elementary number theory. Fractions and proportional reasoning. Real numbers, decimals and percents. A brief introduction to probability and statistics.
Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics
Religious Studies: This course is an introduction to classic and contemporary approaches to the academic study of religions. This includes perspectives from philosophy, theology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, phenomenology, and feminism. Students are also exposed to applications of these perspectives from visiting scholars who treat some aspect of a religious tradition in light of current-day interests and events. The primary objective is to introduce students to the principal theories and methods that have shaped our understanding of religion, its various meanings as well as its roles and functions in society.
Offered by: Religious Studies
Written and Oral Communication: Academic research-based writing across the disciplines. Article summary, critical analysis, rhetorical strategies, citation and paraphrase of academic sources, and editing for cohesion and clarity.
Offered by: McGill Writing Centre
Curriculum and Instruction: Orientation to the culture and community of school and to teaching as a profession. Focus on the general functioning of schools and complexity of the teacher role. Competencies and working professional portfolios will be addressed.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Curriculum and Instruction: Written and oral communication in Education (in English): emphasis on strategies for identifying, analyzing and solving writing and speaking problems. Course work based on academic and professional communication in education, with a particular focus on classroom communication.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Curriculum and Instruction: The English Exam for Teacher Certification (EETC) is a Quebec Ministry of Education-required component of the B.Ed. degree. The exam is coordinated by an independent organization, the Centre for the English Exam for Teacher Certification (CEETC). Consists of a 2-hour exam designed to assess teacher candidates' competency in the language of instruction. Must be completed before the 3rd Field Experience. Students must register for EDEC 215 and register for the EETC on the CEETC website. Students who do not pass after four attempts require permission from the Internships & Student Affairs Office to re-take the exam.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Curriculum and Instruction: An exploration of Indigenous knowledge and pedagogy, primarily in Canada but also world-wide. Consideration of the diverse social, cultural, linguistic, political, and pedagogical histories of Indigenous communities. Examines how a teacher's professional identity and practice can be influenced by an understanding of Indigenous knowledge and worldviews.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Curriculum and Instruction: The organization of Quebec education, including Indigenous education, from historical, political, social, cultural and legal perspectives. The implications and contributions of policy decisions to schools, students, and families.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Curriculum and Instruction: Preparation for the second field experience through development of basic practices in planning and teaching in elementary school classrooms. Competencies and working professional portfolios will be addressed.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Curriculum and Instruction: Ideas essential for the development of a coherent educational theory and sound professional practice. Reflections on: the nature of the person, of reality, of knowledge, and of value; the aims of education, the nature of the school and the curriculum, the roles and responsibilities of professional educators.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Curriculum and Instruction: Orientation to the equipment and systems of educational technology. Examination of theories of educational technology, media education and technology education and the exploration and development of possible applications in school settings.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Curriculum and Instruction: Preparation for the final field experience and entry into the teaching profession. Emphasis will be placed on developing the ability to demonstrate ethical and responsible professional behaviour in the performance of duties across all professional competencies. Final transition from working professional portfolios will be addressed.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Elementary Education: Different approaches to language arts education in the contexts of kindergarten and elementary classrooms will be investigated. Explores current research and theories related to language and literacy development, learning and teaching. Opportunities for cultivating techniques for aligning language arts pedagogy, curriculum, instruction and assessment will be provided.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Elementary Education: Elementary Education: The first of two courses specially designed for elementary school pre-service teachers. Focused on key areas of what teachers need to know and be able to do to support students' development of mathematical understanding (focus on mathematics content, students' reasoning, and pedagogy). Provides insight and understanding of the Quebec elementary mathematics program.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Elementary Education: Elementary Education : An orientation to the Kindergarten curriculum. Integration of the school subject areas (language arts, second language, mathematics, social sciences, science, expressive arts, moral and religious education, and physical education) in a manner appropriate to the developmental level of the pre-school child.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Elementary Education: Methods and materials for the teaching of reading.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Elementary Education: Science as a means of exploring and explaining our environment. A study of some of the fundamental concepts and process skills common to most elementary programs.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Elementary Education: Elementary Education : A study of science programs and teaching strategies appropriate for providing elementary school children with an appreciation of the nature and method of science inquiry.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Elementary Education: Designed for elementary school teachers. A multi-disciplinary and cross-curricular investigation of various citizenship education themes, geographical regions and historical periods as outlined in the Quebec Education Program.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Elementary Education: Elementary Education : Programs, materials and strategies for social studies from Kindergarten through grade six.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Elementary Education: Elementary Education: The second of two courses specifically designed for elementary school pre-service teachers. Provides opportunities for the development of increasingly sophisticated knowledge and practices specific to elementary mathematics teaching. Provides insight and understanding of the Quebec modern elementary mathematics program.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Elementary Education: Theory-based strategies for setting up, managing and teaching in the elementary school classroom. Methods for integrating the individual subject areas in the elementary school curriculum, using the Quebec curriculum as the primary example. Professional portfolios and professional competencies will be addressed.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Elementary Education: The role of evaluation within kindergarten/elementary school programs. Topics include the kinds of information needed, different techniques for collecting that information, and ways of interpreting it to make educational decisions. Principles and a variety of methods for evaluation are discussed and practiced.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Religious Studies: Teaching methods and pedagogical resources for programs in ethics and culture in the k/elementary school curriculum.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Student Teaching: Students are assigned to a school for a "participant observer" field experience. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships & Student Affairs website at http://www.mcgill.ca/isa.
Offered by: Education - Dean's Office
Student Teaching: Supervised student teaching. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships and Student Affairs website at www.mcgill.ca/isa.
Offered by: Education - Dean's Office
Student Teaching: Supervised student teaching in a school. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships and Student Affairs website at www.mcgill.ca/isa.
Offered by: Education - Dean's Office
Student Teaching: Supervised student teaching in a school. Students will be expected to assume a much increased responsibility for student learning, classroom management, and evaluation. Students are expected to apprise themselves of Field Experience dates, duration and responsibilities as outlined on the Internships and Student Affairs website at www.mcgill.ca/isa.
Offered by: Education - Dean's Office
Ed Psych & Couns (Psychology): Selected theories, models, and concepts relevant to planning and reflecting upon educational practice and improvement. Overview of development, learning, thinking, motivation, individual difference, etc. In relation to applications in classroom teaching and learning, the complementary role of counsellors and psychologists, educational computing and technology. The Youth Protection Act.
Offered by: Educational&Counselling Psych
Ed Psych & Couns (Inclusive): Inclusion debates; review of the evolution of the history of inclusive education; models of development ( eco-systemic models); characteristics, teaching practices; teachers' roles in inclusive classrooms. Overview of characteristics, causes, needs, and teaching strategies for diverse and exceptional students, teaching and learning for differences in intellectual, emotional, behavioural, sensory, physical and learning domains found in effective inclusive classrooms. Working with families.
Offered by: Educational&Counselling Psych
Ed Psych & Couns (Inclusive): Developing, planning, implementing and evaluating effective learning programs for diverse learners, and consideration of their more general applicability. Adapting curriculum and instruction for learners with varying abilities, learning styles, and needs. Collaboration with students, families, and other educators (or stakeholders) in the instructional process. Application of adaptations at the classroom and school level for all students in inclusive schools.
Offered by: Educational&Counselling Psych
12 credits of courses selected as described below:
3 credits from:
Curriculum and Instruction: Introduction to and exploration of contemporary issues and theories about equity in education and society in Quebec/Canada from a range of perspectives, including the historical, political, social, and economic. Provides learning opportunities for future educators to critically reflect upon and engage with equity issues and concerns in relation to schooling, including the exploration of classroom resources and activities that foster anti-racism, anti-oppression and intercultural approaches.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Curriculum and Instruction: A cross-curricular, interdisciplinary approach to teaching/creating learning experiences for students. It will foster critical thinking and nurture lifelong global understanding, active engagement and participation in relation to questions of social, economic, and environmental justice, by infusing these issues in the classroom.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
3 credits from:
Religious Studies: An approach to the study of world views including both religious and non-religious perspectives. This course explores humanity's major religious traditions, especially Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Indigenous traditions, and non-religious traditions such as atheism and agnosticism.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Religious Studies: An introduction to the beliefs, practices, and religious institutions of these three world religions.
Offered by: Religious Studies
Religious Studies: This course is an introduction to classic and contemporary approaches to the academic study of religions. This includes perspectives from philosophy, theology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, phenomenology, and feminism. Students are also exposed to applications of these perspectives from visiting scholars who treat some aspect of a religious tradition in light of current-day interests and events. The primary objective is to introduce students to the principal theories and methods that have shaped our understanding of religion, its various meanings as well as its roles and functions in society.
Offered by: Religious Studies
Religious Studies: The constitution and mutual entanglements of selected religions and cultures originating and thriving in varied regional contexts. Focus on highlighting the symbolic (visual, aural) expressivity of religions via ritual, myth, and rational speculation and its impact on high and popular cultures.
Offered by: Religious Studies
Religious Studies: Introduction to the subject. Faith and reason, theistic arguments, values and destiny, the problem of evil, religious language.
Offered by: Religious Studies
3-6 credits from:
Arts Education: An introduction to theories on children's visual expression and perception, lesson planning, and classroom-oriented studio practice.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Arts Education: Pedagogical theory and practical applications in the teaching of developmental drama, dramatic forms, improvisation and theatre arts.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Arts Education: Study of materials and instructional techniques grounded in an understanding of basic musical concepts and contemporary theories of music teaching and learning. Definition of musical objectives and rationales, selection and development of materials, review of MEQ guidelines. Participation through singing, movement, listening, discussion and lesson planning and implementation.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
0-3 credits from:
Students may select both their Methods courses from the list above for Art, Drama, or Music.
* Note: EDSL 447 has EDSL 350 as a prerequisite.
Kinesiology&Physical Education: Principles, programs and procedures that an elementary teacher may use to promote the designing and teaching of elementary school P.E.
Offered by: Kinesiology and Physical Ed
Education in Second Languages: Intermediate-level skills in planning and teaching appropriate lessons, activities, and projects for ESL learners in a variety of programs at the elementary and secondary school levels.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
18 credits selected in consultation with the Program Adviser as follows:
9 credits in "teachable" subject area courses of the elementary school curriculum from the lists below for Art, English, Ethics and Religious Culture, French, Mathematics, Music, Natural Sciences, Physical Education, and Social Studies.
And
9 credits, 3 credits from each of any three subject areas not chosen above.
No more than 9 credits may be selected from any single course list.
Students may select up to 9 credits from this list and from Art History (ARTH) courses.
Arts Education: Development of sound drafting skills through the study of organic forms and the human figure in various media.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Arts Education: Investigation of color, media, tools, techniques. Studies of natural forms, the human figure.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Arts Education: An introduction to media that can be easily adapted to elementary classroom studio exploration.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Arts Education: Exploration of the basic elements of visual art through two dimensional composition and three-dimensional constructions. Investigation of materials and tools and the processes of manipulating and relating materials.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Arts Education: Continuation of course EDEA 205 with emphasis on drawing and structure.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Arts Education: A course designed to further the individual's natural drawing ability, and to develop a keen, perceptive approach to varied subject matter, including figure drawing.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Arts Education: The course is designed to address the need for teachers to be able to lead students to increased perceptual awareness and critical thinking in relation to their visual environment. Museum visits are a regular component of this course.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Arts Education: An investigation of basic sculpture methods and concepts with a view toward developing personal aptitudes. Development of three-dimensional thinking through direct experience with processes using new and traditional materials.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Students may select up to 9 credits from this list.
Classics: A survey of the myths and legends of Ancient Greece.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
Communication Studies: The social and cultural implications of major developments in communications from prehistory to the electronic era. Thematic and conceptual introduction to the underlying media technologies and to some key issues and practices of historical thinking about their role in society.
Offered by: Art History & Communications
Communication Studies: The social and cultural implications of media. Surveys theory and case studies relevant key issues such as the ownership, structure and governance of media industries; the significance of emergent media technologies; and the roles of media as cultural forms and practices.
Offered by: Art History & Communications
Communication Studies: An overview of the growth and impact of 20th century media such as radio, television, cinema and the mass-circulation press; their role in shaping the technological, socio-political and aesthetic dimensions of urban modernity.
Offered by: Art History & Communications
Communication Studies: Introduction to feminist studies of the media. Impact of feminist and queer theory on media studies; current issues about gender in the media. Emphasis will be placed on critical analysis of media representations of gender in relation to other social differences, such as race, class and sexuality.
Offered by: Art History & Communications
Communication Studies: The relationship between mass media and empire-building, as well as the role of mass and alternative media in anti-imperialism movements. Topics may include: Print technologies and the British Empire; shipping technologies, industrialization and the slave trade; new media and the anti-war and anti-globalization movements.
Offered by: Art History & Communications
Communication Studies: Introduction to a range of theories and qualitative methods in communication studies for the critical analysis of media practices in cultural life.
Offered by: Art History & Communications
Elementary Education: Selection and use of literature suitable for children in the elementary school.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Secondary Education: Selection and use of literature for the differing abilities and interests of high school students.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Education in Second Languages: Analysis of English phrases, clauses and sentences up to discourse level in connected text. Emphasis on distinguishing between grammatical form, meaning, and function. Identification, analysis and correction of common errors made by ESL learners.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
English (Arts): A survey of English literature before 1750 for students not registered in English programs.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): A survey of English literature after 1750 for students not registered in English programs.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): A study of a selection of plays, in their intellectual and theatrical context, with an emphasis on the interplay of text and performance.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): A study of the literary works of earlier American writers.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): A study of the literary works of later American writers.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): A study of literary works which may be thematic or may deal with a special group of authors.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): A chronological survey of Canadian literature, Part 1.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): A chronological survey of Canadian literature, Part 2. A continuation of ENGL 228.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): An introduction to dramatic literature, text analysis, textual and performance theory, and theatre history.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): An introduction to literary study through a survey of a literary genre, mode, or form.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): An introduction to film aesthetics, with emphasis on narrative, style and genre throughout the history of cinema.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): An introduction to film's social, historical, and technological contexts, including its relationships to other mass media.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): A study of selected representative works in modern drama and theatre.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): An examination of issues relating to literature and its social contexts, such as implications of gender, race, ethnicity.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): A study of selected texts that significantly enhance understanding of English literature.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): A study of representative texts from Beowulf to the late Renaissance period in relation to their background in folk tradition. A focus on the origin and development of folklore motifs.
Offered by: English
English (Arts): History and development of important forms of popular culture. Topics may include traditional ballads; fairs; carnivals and popular festivity; material culture; popular fiction; mainstream television.
Offered by: English
Linguistics: General interest course; intended for students in all fields. Topics include: linguistic competence vs. performance, language and the brain, language acquisition, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, language universals, pragmatics.
Offered by: Linguistics
Linguistics: General introduction to linguistics, the scientific study of human language. Covers the core theoretical subfields of linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Also provides background on other subfields including sociolinguistics, pragmatics, historical linguistics, linguistic variation, and language acquisition.
Offered by: Linguistics
Students may select up to 9 credits from this list. Students may also choose other Religious Studies (RELG) courses with the permission of the Program Adviser.
* Note: Courses marked with an asterisk ("*") may be used as Ethics and Religious Culture courses or as Social Studies.
Religious Studies: An exploration of Jewish holidays and life cycle rituals. Emphasis is placed on their historical development and philosophical meaning. Curriculum developed for teaching this material in various Jewish educational frameworks is examined and evaluated.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Religious Studies: An approach to the study of world views including both religious and non-religious perspectives. This course explores humanity's major religious traditions, especially Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Indigenous traditions, and non-religious traditions such as atheism and agnosticism.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Religious Studies: A philosophical critical inquiry into the relationship between belief and conduct oriented toward the teacher and his/her role in education.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Religious Studies: Factors influencing patterns of stability and change in major social institutions and the implications for formal and non-formal education.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Religious Studies: An examination of the moral and spiritual challenges of the modern and post-modern world. Emphasis will also be placed on the role and responsibility of education in meeting these challenges.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Gender,Sexuality,Feminist,and: Introduction to the key concepts, issues, and modes of analysis in the interdisciplinary fields of feminist and social justice studies. Emphasis on the intersections of gender, race, class, sex, sexuality, and nation in systems of power from historical and contemporary perspectives and the means for collectively transforming them.
Offered by: Inst for Gender, Sex & Fem St
Jewish Studies: The history, literature and beliefs of Judaism's formative period. Both Biblical and non-Biblical materials will be studied. The Bible in the context of cognate literatures of the Ancient Near East; non-Biblical documents will be analysed for their bearing on the Jewish tradition.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
Jewish Studies: Consideration of the history of the Holocaust and the literary, theological and cultural responses to the destruction of European Jewry.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
Philosophy: A course treating some of the central problems of philosophy: the mind-body problem, freedom, scepticism and certainty, fate, time, and the existence of God.
Offered by: Philosophy
Philosophy: A survey of a number of historically important and influential theories. Philosophers to be discussed may include Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Bentham, Mill, and Moore.
Offered by: Philosophy
Philosophy: An introductory discussion of central ethical questions (the value of persons, or the relationship of rights and utilities, for example) through the investigation of currently disputed social and political issues. Specific issues to be discussed may include pornography and censorship, affirmative action, civil disobedience, punishment, abortion, and euthanasia.
Offered by: Philosophy
Religious Studies: To provide students of the humanities with knowledge of the Bible as a tool for interpreting religious references in Western literature, art and music. Biblical stories (e.g. Creation, Exodus), key figures (e.g. David, Job, Mary), and common motifs (e.g. Holy City, Pilgrimage, Bride) are explored, then illustrated by later cultural forms.
Offered by: Religious Studies
Religious Studies: An introduction to the beliefs, practices, and religious institutions of these three world religions.
Offered by: Religious Studies
Religious Studies: This course is an introduction to classic and contemporary approaches to the academic study of religions. This includes perspectives from philosophy, theology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, phenomenology, and feminism. Students are also exposed to applications of these perspectives from visiting scholars who treat some aspect of a religious tradition in light of current-day interests and events. The primary objective is to introduce students to the principal theories and methods that have shaped our understanding of religion, its various meanings as well as its roles and functions in society.
Offered by: Religious Studies
Religious Studies: The interaction of Hinduism and Buddhism in India with special reference to the law of Karma, caste, women, ritual, death, yoga, and liberation. Determination of interpretative principles for understanding the religious psychology of Hindus and Buddhists.
Offered by: Religious Studies
Religious Studies: This course introduces East Asia's major religions comparatively by addressing the continuous exchange of ideas and practices between traditions. Rather than adopting a mere chronological approach, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism will be discussed thematically, taking in to account topics such as gender constructs, the secular and the sacred, material culture, and the apparent contrast between doctrine and practice.
Offered by: Religious Studies
Religious Studies: Environmental potential of various religious traditions and secular perspectives, including animal rights, ecofeminism, and deep ecology.
Offered by: Religious Studies
Religious Studies: Exploration of intersections between religion, gender and sexuality in diverse cultural, historical and contemporary contexts.
Offered by: Religious Studies
Students may choose up to 9 credits of French as a Second Language (FRSL) courses and/or French (FREN) courses and/or:
Education in Second Languages: Développement de la littératie en langue seconde; les stratégies d'enseignement et d'apprentissage de la lecture et de l'écriture; l'exploration et l'utilisation de la littérature enfantine et de jeunesse propre à la francophonie dans divers contextes scolaires.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Students may choose up to 9 credits of Mathematics (MATH) courses at the 200 level or higher.
Note: Students admitted with CEGEP mathematics (or equivalent) may not take MATH 111 for credit. MATH 111 is a recommended course for Freshman students.
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci): Sets and functions. Numeration systems. Whole numbers and integers, algorithms for whole-number computations, elementary number theory. Fractions and proportional reasoning. Real numbers, decimals and percents. A brief introduction to probability and statistics.
Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics
Students may choose up to 9 credits from this list. Students may also select any Music course with the MUGT, MUHL, MUIT, or MUCT subject codes.
With the permission of the Program Adviser, students without a formal music background may choose courses with the MUAR subject code.
* Note: Courses marked with a single asterisk ("*") require permission from the Schulich School of Music to register.
Arts Education: Musical knowledge is developed and articulated through a structured approach to listening. Using recorded examples, students learn how to recognize, identify and discuss musical elements, devices, styles and genres.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Jazz Studies: Fundamental aural and theoretical skills associated with the jazz idiom. Nomenclature, chord construction, chord/scale relationships, harmonic progression, circle of 5ths, simple turnarounds, simple substitution, symmetrical scales and chord relationships, voice leading.
Offered by: Performance
Jazz Studies: Simple and advanced substitution, borrowed chords, reharmonisation, modes of harmonic minor and melodic minor diatonic systems, unresolved tensions, odd and infrequent modulations, mixed two-five-ones, introduction to polychords, slashchords and non-functional harmony.
Offered by: Performance
Students may choose up to 9 credits from this list.
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences: A survey of the Earth's atmosphere, weather and climate system. Topics include the fundamental processes that determine interactions between the atmosphere, ocean and biosphere; anthropogenic effects such as global warming, the ozone hole and acid rain; a perspective on future climate change.
Offered by: Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences: An introduction to ocean sciences with particular emphasis on physical oceanography. Topics typically include seawater properties, sea ice, airsea interaction, seafloor topography, large-scale ocean circulation, waves, tides, physical control of biological processes, the role of oceans in climate, and impact of human activities.
Offered by: Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences: Physical processes associated with severe and hazardous weather affecting the Earth. Topics are taught at a fundamental level, without equations, to provide a complete and up-to-date understanding of such extreme events as blizzards, ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and droughts.
Offered by: Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences: This course examines the science behind different types of disasters and our ability or inability to control and predict such events. From this course the student will gain an appreciation of natural disasters beyond the newspaper headlines and will better understand how the effects of disasters can be reduced.
Offered by: Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences
Biology (Sci): An introduction to biological science that emphasizes the manner in which scientific understanding is achieved and evolves and the influence of biological science on society. Topics will include cell structure and function, genetics, evolution, organ physiology, ecology and certain special topics that change from year to year.
Offered by: Biology
Chemistry: Risks, water, air pollution, sick-building syndrome, the chemistry of the car, energy (fossil fuel, nuclear), nano and biotechnology, smells, garbage and human waste, dental chemistry and green chemistry.
Offered by: Chemistry
Chemistry: A series of lectures on the historical, practical, and simple chemical aspects of: food, food additives; vitamins; minerals, diet and cancer; dieting; food-borne illnesses, health food and cooking.
Offered by: Chemistry
Chemistry: Aspects of chemical technology including publishing of scientific articles, rocketry, space travel, materials (metals, plastics art), household products, forensic science, money, combustion science, computers and cosmetics.
Offered by: Chemistry
Chemistry: Drug history and marketing, over the counter drugs (e.g. aspirin, cough and cold remedies, allergy preparations), street and heart drugs, mental illness, hormones, brain chemistry and diabetes.
Offered by: Chemistry
Curriculum and Instruction: Familiarizes students with major environmental issues, engages them in interdisciplinary problem-based inquiries and draws attention to the interrelatedness of biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem. Promotes understanding of the impact of individual and collective civic and economic choices on environmental resources.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Elementary Education: A lecture, laboratory and field course to train elementary school teachers in the principles and practices of field biology and nature tours. The observation and identification of various organisms and a study of their ecological relationships in the web of life.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Earth & Planetary Sciences: A comparative survey of the planets of our solar system with an emphasis on the terrestrial planets and their implications for the Earth as a planet. Topics include: structure and origin of the solar system, meteorites, and comparisons of the terrestrial planets in terms of their rotational properties, magnetic fields, atmospheres, surface histories, internal structure, chemical composition, volcanism, and tectonics.
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences
Earth & Planetary Sciences: Introduction to the relationship of geological processes and materials to the human environment; geologic hazards; hydrogeology; impacts of waste disposal, energy use, land resource development.
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences
Earth & Planetary Sciences: This course examines the science behind different types of disasters and our ability or inability to control and predict such events. From this course the student will gain an appreciation of natural disasters beyond the newspaper headlines, and will better understand how the effects of disasters can be reduced.
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences
Earth & Planetary Sciences: Learn about Earth's origin, its place in the solar system, its internal structure, rocks and minerals, the formation of metal and fossil fuel deposits, and the extinction of dinosaurs. Discover the impact of the volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and mountain chains on Earth's past, present and future. Explore 125 million-year-old Mount Royal.
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences
Physics: A nonmathematical, conceptual look at physics, beginning with the idea of space and time, continuing with the historical development of Newtonian mechanics of celestial motion, electricity and magnetism, ether and light, Einstein's special and general theories of relativity, quantum mechanics, matter and antimatter, cosmology and the big bang.
Offered by: Physics
Physics: The day-to-day physics behind the materials and phenomena around us. Demonstrations of the intriguing properties of materials and the simple physical theories explaining them.
Offered by: Physics
Physics: An elementary course on astronomy and astrophysics. Positional astronomy and finding your way about the sky. Our evolving picture of the universe. Properties and origins of the solar system. The Big Bang and modern cosmology.
Offered by: Physics
Physics: An elementary course on astronomy. Star origins and star formation, supernovae, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. Galaxies, their structure and their interactions. Stellar clusters, the interstellar medium. Galactic classification and galaxy evolution.
Offered by: Physics
Students may take up to 9 credits of Physical Education (EDKP) courses from the list with the permission of the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education.
* Note: EDKP 292 is available as an academic Physical Education course. All other EDKP courses are restricted.
Kinesiology&Physical Education: A study of the teacher's role in the total school health program at both elementary and high school levels; current issues in contemporary health education.
Offered by: Kinesiology and Physical Ed
Kinesiology&Physical Education: Nature and mechanical function of human movement in sport, dance, physical recreation and adapted movement activities.
Offered by: Kinesiology and Physical Ed
Kinesiology&Physical Education: Changes apparent in motor behaviour from conception to old age. Two perspectives are emphasized: 1) contemporary and historical theories of human development, 2) development of motor behaviour and influences of physical growth, sensori-perceptual development, information processing and socio-cultural factors.
Offered by: Kinesiology and Physical Ed
Kinesiology&Physical Education: This course will examine the role of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water in a balanced diet. Students will be introduced to the affects of nutrition on exercise, sport performance and wellness. The validity of claims concerning nutrient supplements will be studied.
Offered by: Kinesiology and Physical Ed
Kinesiology&Physical Education: The psychological aspects of participation in sport and physical activity relative to performance enhancement.
Offered by: Kinesiology and Physical Ed
Students may take up to 9 credits from this list below which represents a balance of History (HIST), Geography (GEOG), and Citizenship courses offered by several departments. Anthropology (ANTH) and Sociology (SOCI) courses not on the list below may not be counted as Social Studies courses in the program requirements. Students may take them as electives only.
Students may select additional History courses as follows:
Any 3 credits in European History
Any 3 credits in Asian, African, or Latin American History
Any 3 credits in any topic or field of history
* Note: Courses marked with an asterisk ("*") may be used as Ethics and Religious Culture or Social Studies courses.
Anthropology: An introduction to ways of understanding what it means to be human from the perspective of socio-cultural anthropology. Students will be introduced to diverse approaches to this question through engagement with a wide range of ethnographic cases.
Offered by: Anthropology
Canadian Studies: Key cultural, economic, social and political institutions and their evolution over time.
Offered by: Institute for Study of Canada
Canadian Studies: This course traces the history of Canadian cultures from the middle of the 19th century to the present. It focuses on the diversity of Canadian cultural identities through literature, drama, art and the mass media.
Offered by: Institute for Study of Canada
Geography: Introduction to geography as the study of nature and human beings in a spatial context. An integrated approach to environmental systems and the human organization of them from the viewpoint of spatial relationships and processes. Special attention to environmental problems as a constraint upon Third World development.
Offered by: Geography
Geography: An examination of global change, from the Quaternary Period to the present day involving changes in the physical geography of specific areas. Issues such as climatic change and land degradation will be discussed, with speculations on future environments.
Offered by: Geography
Geography: Introduction to key themes in human geography. Maps and the making, interpretation and contestation of landscapes, 'place', and territory. Investigation of globalization and the spatial organization of human geo-politics, and urban and rural environments.
Offered by: Geography
Geography: An introduction to urban geography. Uses a spatial/geographic perspective to understand cities and their social and cultural processes. Addresses two major areas. The development and social dynamics in North American and European cities. The urban transformations in Asian, African, and Latin American societies that were recently predominantly rural and agrarian.
Offered by: Geography
Gender,Sexuality,Feminist,and: Introduction to the key concepts, issues, and modes of analysis in the interdisciplinary fields of feminist and social justice studies. Emphasis on the intersections of gender, race, class, sex, sexuality, and nation in systems of power from historical and contemporary perspectives and the means for collectively transforming them.
Offered by: Inst for Gender, Sex & Fem St
History: A survey of early Canada, from periods known mainly through archaeological records to the Confederation era. Social, cultural, economic and political themes will be examined.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
History: A survey of the development of Canada from Confederation to the present day. Social, economic and political history will be examined in a general way.
Offered by: History and Classical Studies
Jewish Studies: Consideration of the history of the Holocaust and the literary, theological and cultural responses to the destruction of European Jewry.
Offered by: Jewish Studies
Political Science: An examination of the central governmental institutions, including parliament, federalism, and the judiciary.
Offered by: Political Science
Political Science: An introduction to contemporary political life in Canada that examines how demands are identified and transmitted through the political systems. Emphasis will be placed on: the Canadian political culture; socialization and political participation; the electoral system; elections and voting; the role and structure of political parties; and the influence of organized interest.
Offered by: Political Science
Students whose highest level of education is high school (normally out of province) are admitted into Year 0 (U0) to complete the Foundation Program.
The Foundation Program consists of 30 credits of the students’ choice, verified by an advisor. There are no required courses in the Foundation Program, though the department recommends that students use the opportunity to take 100 or 200 level courses in the subjects taught in Elementary school, as well as to explore areas that are not normally taken as teachable subject area courses within B.Ed. programs (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, etc.).
The department also recommends the following courses:
Admin & Policy Studies in Ed: An introduction to contemporary issues in education in local, national and international contexts, including a critical perspective on educational issues by drawing on a variety of analytical frameworks.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Elementary Education: Selection and use of literature suitable for children in the elementary school.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Secondary Education: Selection and use of literature for the differing abilities and interests of high school students.
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed
Religious Studies: This course is an introduction to classic and contemporary approaches to the academic study of religions. This includes perspectives from philosophy, theology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, phenomenology, and feminism. Students are also exposed to applications of these perspectives from visiting scholars who treat some aspect of a religious tradition in light of current-day interests and events. The primary objective is to introduce students to the principal theories and methods that have shaped our understanding of religion, its various meanings as well as its roles and functions in society.
Offered by: Religious Studies
Written and Oral Communication: Academic research-based writing across the disciplines. Article summary, critical analysis, rhetorical strategies, citation and paraphrase of academic sources, and editing for cohesion and clarity.
Offered by: McGill Writing Centre
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci): Sets and functions. Numeration systems. Whole numbers and integers, algorithms for whole-number computations, elementary number theory. Fractions and proportional reasoning. Real numbers, decimals and percents. A brief introduction to probability and statistics.
Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics
If you are admitted into McGill with advanced standing (International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, etc.), those credits may be used to fulfill some or all of your Foundation requirements.
Thinking of transferring to PIF? Consider the PIF Foundation Year
Foundation students who have a strong background in French (ex. Grade 12 French Immersion Program) should consider registering for the Foundation en français year (offered through the Faculty of Arts). Following successful completion of this program and the French Language Proficiency Test (FLPT), students will be transferred to the PIF program for Year 1. For details, please see the information for prospective PIF students website or speak with your advisor.
Foundation Advising including
All Foundation Year students must have their Fall and Winter course selections verified prior to the start of classes. This can be done by email or by attending the group advising session in late August. To verify your course selection by email, send a message to advisedise.education [at] mcgill.ca with the subject “Foundation Course Selection” including your student ID number and Advisor name.
Students who attended University prior to coming to McGill may be eligible for transfer credit. Please verify the credits already awarded to you by Admissions on your Minerva unofficial transcript. If you believe that you are entitled to additional credits, please review the Advanced Standing Guidelines and speak with your advisor. Please use the following Request for Transfer Credit Form to keep track of your equivalencies.
Orientation gives you the opportunity to meet your Student Advisor and your peers in-person, ask questions about your program and gain knowledge about supports that are designed to help you succeed at McGill!
Orientation Dates for August 2024: TBA
Please note, attendance is mandatory.
Tabitha Beedle, Academic Advisor
Susie Vodopivec, Academic Advisor
Grace Wong- McAllister, Academic Advisor
Step by step instructions and a tutorial video can be found on this website. In addition, the Internships & Student Affairs office is available to help you with registration difficulties.
Registration for courses for newly admitted students begins in June and ends a couple weeks after classes in the semester begin. A complete list of registration start and end dates can be found here.
“U0” or “Foundation Program Student” is the term used to define students who have been admitted without advanced standing. Generally, this refers to students who are admitted to McGill from outside Quebec. Admitted students who have completed CEGEP are considered U1 students. Refer to the section titled “Foundation Program Advising” for further information.
See the overviews above to find the semesters in which you should complete your field experiences. In addition, the start and end dates for all field experiences each year can be found on the Internships & Student Affairs website.
No it does not. If you are registering for the fall semester courses found on the overview (4 year or 3 year), your Fall semester courses will end early, in November, after which your First Field Experience (EDFE 200) and your First Year Seminar (EDEC 201) will begin and run until mid-December. Your first Fall semester will be unique in this way.
EDFE 200 and EDEC 201 must be registered for simultaneously. To do this, make note of the CRNs of both courses (first column on left when you search for courses) and enter them both into the "Quick Add" feature on Minerva (step 2 on the registration menu).
Yes, the provincial government requires that all students in teacher education programs demonstrate their proficiency in the language of instruction. More information can be found here
A complete list of subject area courses, descriptions and prerequisites can be found in the "Kindergarten & Elementary Education - Subject Areas" section of the eCalendar. You are advised to take a course from more than one subject area during your first year at McGill.
If you are getting an error such as 'program restriction' or 'reserve closed' when attempting to register for a course, first ensure that you are selecting the section designated for your program (if applicable: see the notes under the course in class schedule search on Minerva). If you are still having trouble, contact the department offering the course (Educational and Counselling Psychology for EDPE and EDPI courses, Linguistics for LING courses, English for ENGL courses, etc.). The calendar entry for the course will indicate the offering department.
Information about French courses and the French Placement Test can be found on the French Language Centre website.
For details, please see the information for prospective PIF students website or speak with your advisor.
In the Faculty of Education students are eligible to receive advanced standing only for courses that are applicable to their programs. The admissions office makes decisions on advanced standing for all incoming students over the summer. Your advanced standing may not appear on your transcript immediately.
Until the admissions office has entered your advanced standing on your transcript, you are advised to attempt to get a sense of the transfer credits you might receive by looking at the program requirements on the program checklist (above). Students typically receive advanced standing for subject area courses rather than required education courses (unless their previous university education was in a teacher training program). Additional advice for self-assessing your transfer credits can be found on the Internships & Student Affairs website.
When the admissions office has assessed your advanced standing, you should review it, and if you feel that you might be eligible for additional courses, contact your advisor.
The information on this program is organized for three distinct groups:
Prospective Students Newly Admitted Currently Registered Students
