Bachelor of education (primary/elementary)

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Faculty: Education Campus: St. John's
Length: Five years (Two years of prerequisite courses + three years in B.Ed. program)
Practical experience: School visit days and one-semester internship 
Prospective students: Fill out our student inquiry form to receive updates from Memorial.
Program website University Calendar


The bachelor of education (primary/elementary) as a first degree is a 150 credit hour program designed to prepare teachers of kindergarten through grade six. This full-time, professional program, which extends over six semesters (three years), includes school visit days and a one-semester internship placement.

Admission requirements

IntakeApplication deadlineDocument deadline

Fall (September) semester

Jan. 15 Feb. 1


Direct entry to the Faculty of Education from high school is not available. To apply for admission into the faculty, indicate your desired degree option in the appropriate place on the undergraduate application for admission

To be considered for admission to the bachelor of education (primary/elementary) as a first degree program, you must have successfully completed 60 credit hours (20 courses) with either a cumulative average of at least 65% or an average of at least 65% on the last attempted 30 credit hours (10 courses).

The 60 credit hours (20 courses) for admission must include:

  • 12 credit hours in English, including at least six credit hours at the 2000-level or above (English as a Second Language courses cannot be used to satisfy this requirement)
  • six credit hours in mathematics or three credit hours in calculus
  • six credit hours in psychology
  • six credit hours from two separate science areas, three credit hours must have a laboratory component. Chemistry 1900 may be used to satisfy three credit hours of the laboratory requirement.
    The science areas are: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, environmental science, ocean sciences, physics
  • six credit hours in any combination from anthropology, archaeology, economics, folklore, gender studies, geography, history, indigenous studies, linguistics, philosophy, political science, religious studies, or sociology
  • a minimum of 18 credit hours in any one focus area
    No more than six credit hours at the 1000 level can be used to fulfill this requirement
  • additional credit hours from subject areas other than education

The bachelor of education (primary/elementary) as a second degree offers a French as a second language option.

Consideration will be given to the courses for which you are registered at the time of application. If you will have completed all requirements for admission by the end of the spring semester of the year that admission is being sought, your application will only be considered as time and resources permit.

In assessing applications for the program, consideration will be given to your overall academic performance, personal statement and references.

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Additional documents required for admission

Your application to the bachelor of education (primary/elementary) will require you to submit the following:

  • personal statement (included as part of the online application)
  • academic and non-academic references
  • official transcript(s)

The Faculty of Education provides full details on supporting documents required for admission.

Sample first year

Wondering what courses you would take in your first year? Check out a sample program of suggested courses for students planning on applying for the bachelor of education (primary/elementary) as a first degree.

Sample courses beyond first year

ED 3273 - Science in the Primary/Elementary Grades
ED 3951 - Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in the Primary/Elementary School I
ED 4425 - Introduction to Educational Administration

Career opportunities

Our graduates teach in schools worldwide where they enjoy considerable success in their chosen profession. The skills developed during this program will open up many other career paths. Our graduates also occupy leadership positions in other educational (non-school), business and industry settings.