Winter | December 2025


In this newsletter...

  • A faster path to teacher certification
  • Master's degree moving to one intake per year
  • Upcoming events
  • Research corner
  • Alumni features

Happy Holidays

As we wrap up another meaningful year of learning, growth, and connection, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community partners. Your dedication to creating inspiring educational experiences—both in and beyond the classroom—continues to shape our community in remarkable ways.

Wishing you a restful holiday season filled with joy, reflection, and time with those who matter most. We look forward to welcoming you back in the new year and continuing our shared work in teaching, research, and community engagement.

Warmest wishes,

The Okanagan School of Education

Please note: Our offices will be closed starting on Wednesday, December 24, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. The office will re-open in the new year on Monday, January 5, 2026.

A Faster Path to Teacher Certification

We’re excited to share an important update about the UBC Okanagan Bachelor of Education program.

Beginning in August 2026, the program will transition from a 16-month format to an 11-month structure. This update was approved by Senate on November 27, 2025 and is pending final approval by the British Columbia Teachers’ Council in early February 2026. Applicants will be notified following their decision.

This change creates a more efficient route to graduation and employment, allowing future educators like you to begin teaching sooner while maintaining the same high-quality learning experiences and field placements that UBC Okanagan is known for.

One key change is the program start date, which now begins on Thursday, August 20, 2026. The program will conclude on June 25, 2027. You can find the proposed course schedule and course descriptions at education.ok.ubc.ca/bachelorofeducation.

​​​Master's Degrees Moving to One Intake Per Year

The Okanagan School of Education now offers one program intake per year, beginning each September. As a result, May and January intakes are no longer available, and students cannot defer their application or admission to a future term.

The deadline to apply is January 31, 2026 to start in September 2026. 

Frequently Asked Questions about our Master's Degrees

​​​​​​​Can I use the M.Ed. to apply to a doctoral degree?

If you plan to pursue an EdD, the MEd with Capstone Project is the most suitable option, as it allows you to demonstrate research experience through the capstone component.

While it may be possible to complete the MEd with Capstone and later apply to a PhD, students intending to pursue doctoral research are generally advised to choose the MA in Education, which includes a thesis and provides stronger preparation for PhD-level study.

Can I start my M.Ed. right after my B.Ed.?

Yes, many students follow this pathway and work as a teacher-on-call while pursuing graduate studies. Obtaining your M.Ed. can provide a TQS category upgrade for teachers in BC and can open to the door to varied professional opportunities.

How long does the degree take to complete?

Our M.Ed. coursework only pathway can be completed in one year. Most students who are working fulltime complete the degree in under two years. A MA typically takes students two years or less. 


Upcoming Events

RSS Wellness Evening

Monday, December 15, 2025 | 4:00pm–8:00pm
Rutland Senior Secondary, 705 Rutland Rd N

Join the BARK team for a very special event — we'll be at Rutland Senior Secondary for a wellness evening, including the BARK dogs (5 to 6 pm), art rooms, Just Dance, movies, board games, karaoke, food and more!

Entry is $10 for university students and members of the community. Proceeds go towards Youth Mental Health Resources.

This event is organized by students and supported by teachers from Rutland Senior Secondary. 

Learn more

alumNIGHTS: UBCO Heat swish and slice

Saturday, January 17, 2026 | 3:30pm–7:30pm
UBCO Heat Gymnasium

Bring family, friends, and fellow alumni to this sizzling UBC Okanagan Heat basketball doubleheader when we take on Calgary’s Mount Royal Cougars! Enjoy free admission, complimentary pizza and pop, and plenty of activities in the alumni UBC fan zone. Make posters, play party games, win prizes, and bring the noise as we cheer on our UBCO Heat!

Learn more

Research Corner

Student reflections and recollections: Key outcomes of a post-secondary English for academic purposes program moved online

Scott Douglas and Karin Wiebe | Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics

​​​​​​​Article Link

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The entry-level workplace for newcomers: An intercultural space of workplace community and customer communication

Chrstine Doe, Scott Douglas and Liying Cheng  | TESL Canada Journal

​​​​​​​Article Link

 

​​​​​​​5 Traits of the Ideal Canine Companion

John-Tyler Binfet | Psychology Today

Article Link​​​​​​​

Alumni Features

Teaching democracy: From theory to classroom reality

For Kyle Hamilton, PhD '26, the path to teaching began with a single moment of belonging. In high school, an improv theatre group—and a teacher who created space for connection—showed him what it feels like to be part of a community that truly sees you.

Years later, that memory came full circle as he began to ask deeper questions about how such communities are built in classrooms today. His dissertation explores how teachers can thoughtfully engage with democratic approaches by embracing the complexity of real classrooms and reimagining them as communities of co-learning, where teachers and students learn how to live well together.

Read more

Teaching Good: How one educator is bringing moral inquiry into the classroom

Master of Education graduate and local humanities teacher Isaac Massey explored how moral understanding develops in the classroom for his capstone project—work that grew into a full-length book titled Teaching Good.

“Curriculum often claims it cares about student wellbeing and civic duty, but seldom commits to what could actually be described as “moral education,” he said. “I see this as a missed opportunity to develop core competencies such as personal and social responsibility."

Read more


Okanagan School of Education
Okanagan Campus
Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory
EME 3115 - 1137 Alumni Ave
Kelowna, BC Canada V1V 1V7

education.ok.ubc.ca

 

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