Students, alumni, and members of the community gathered at a Mount Allison University auditorium for a long-awaited announcement – the university is reintroducing its bachelor of education program. Mount Allison president Ian Sutherland expressed the significance of this moment to the audience of over 100 attendees. Despite most current students not being around in 1997 when the school last offered this degree, the event highlighted the return of the program.
Ryan Gamm, a special adviser to the provost involved in designing the new degree, noted that changes in teacher education requirements and certification prompted the relaunch. The program will accept individuals with four-year bachelor’s degrees. Applications will open in October 2027, with the inaugural 16-month cohort scheduled to commence in May 2028, aiming to enroll between 70 and 90 students initially.
Feedback from students expressing interest in a bachelor of education program and the university’s understanding of the demand among graduates led to the decision. Mount Allison aims to address the shortage of teachers in New Brunswick through this initiative, aligning with the needs of the local context. Superintendent Randy MacLean of the Anglophone East School District emphasized the potential benefits of having graduates return as teachers.
The curriculum for the bachelor of education program includes an emphasis on Indigenous learning and a 12-week practicum in local classrooms. This comprehensive approach is intended to better equip students for the challenges of modern teaching. Mount Allison University is committed to ongoing efforts in Indigenization as part of the program’s evolution and implementation process.
