VANCOUVER—St. Mark’s College is offering a new program for students who want to become teachers.
The Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Culture program offers aspiring educators a faith-based background and helps fill a need in the Catholic school system.
“For those who are specifically interested in teaching in Catholic schools, St. Mark’s is now the place for them to go,” said Gabriel Pillay, dean of student services.
The degree includes concentrations in English, history, and Catholic studies. St. Mark’s is the only school in this province offering the third component, he said.
Students would transfer into the new program after two years of undergraduate studies at nearby Corpus Christi College or another institution, then complete their BA at St. Mark’s in their third and fourth years. They would round off with a final year of teaching certification at UBC (where St. Mark’s is situated) or at another university.
“Students who do our program can also teach at public schools, but they are going to get an edge and an advantage,” Pillay continued.
The advantage is more time in the field. He said a practicum will be integrated into the fourth year so that teachers-to-be will have classroom experience under their belts before their last year.
The new program is good news for superintendents, including Doug Lauson of the Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese. He said the faith-based, teacher-focused BA will “fill a void.”
“It has been the long-time dream of several archbishops to have a Catholic school in Vancouver that helps prepare Catholic teachers to teach in our 78 Catholic schools,” he said.
“I look forward to seeing the program’s graduates enter the Catholic school system.”
The program will start in September 2015. There are going to be two information sessions, Feb. 23 and Feb. 25, and information is available at www.stmarkscollege.ca.
