FAQs
What is the Bachelor of Arts in Adult Education degree? Who studies in the Adult Education program?
Why study Adult Education at UFV?
What are the entrance requirements?
Can I receive credit for prior learning?
What are the program requirements? How much will it cost? I'd like to learn more about this program. May I speak with someone about my options?
I'm interested. What should I do next? What kind of assistance is there to help me adjust?
What is the Bachelor of Arts in Adult Education degree?
This
degree is a unique mid-career professional development program for
people who are instructing, administering, developing programs, or
providing educational support for adult learners. While the program is
equivalent to a four-yeardegree, you have the option of full-time or
part-time study. Most of our students enroll on a part-time basis,
taking one or two courses per semester. This program offers students
the opportunity to link both practical and theoretical coursework to
the challenges they meet in their work setting while enhancing their
knowledge, skills, and appreciation of the field of adult education.
Who studies in the Adult Education program?
Adult
educators come from diverse backgrounds. They may be experienced
instructors or educational consultants in vocational or industrial
programs. Some work in health or recreation where they provide
community-based education or adult recreation programs Adult educators
often work in areas of literacy,
teaching English as a second
language, employment counselling, life skills coaching, and
post-secondary education. You will find adult educators active in
international education, community service, and performance technology.
What they all have in common is their interest in working with adult
learners.
Most students in the program are working in the field.
They enroll to learn more about the rapidly evolving field, gain formal
credentials, or prepare for career advancement.
Why study Adult Education at UFV?
UFV
delivers British Columbia’s only undergraduate program in adult
education. This degree is one of UFV’s most flexible programs. Although
it is designed as a four-year degree, the actual time to complete the
degree depends on you. You can tailor your studies to fit your busy
schedule — study part time or
full time.
Your study plan can be flexible because the program:
- offers evening and Saturday classes
- provides online courses on a rotating schedule
- recognizes prior learning, including that from non-traditional settings
- sets the foundation for further professional or graduate studies.
The
program has a long track record of success. Since its introduction in
1994, more than 100 students have graduated with the BA degree in Adult
Education. Our instructors are experienced, highly knowledgeable, and
passionate about the field in which they teach. At UFV classes are
generally small compared to those at other post-secondary institutions
and the classes tend to be interactive and learner-centred. In all
courses there are opportunities for students to link theory with their
field practices.
What are the entrance requirements?
You must have the equivalent of three years full-time, recent experience in one, or a combination of, the following areas:
- teaching adults
- development of education programs for adults
- counselling/advising adults
- providing educational support services to adult learners
- any other area related to the practice of adult education.
Your field of practice may be acquired through a combination of any
previous training, education, employment, and/or volunteer experience.
Can I receive credit for prior learning?
Yes.
There are a variety of arrangements to recognizie your prior learning
to meet a portion of the requirements of the degree program. In
particular, we work to facilitate the “laddering” of previously earned
credentials. Students who have completed formal studies at a recognized
public post-secondary institution can transfer up to 90 credits. So,
for example, if you already have an Associate degree, a diploma in
Social Services, a nursing designation, some college and university
courses, or other academic credentials, you will likely be granted
credit toward the degree.
Transfer credits are assessed on the
basis of official transcripts, which you should submit to the UFV
Admissions and Records office. For information about many other
credentials that receive transfer credit, it’s best to consult the
program advisor.
Examples of other programs recognized for transfer credit
- Provincial Instructor’s diploma at VCC up to 15 credits
- Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education at UVIC up to 24 credits
- Native Adult Instructor diploma up to 15 credits
- Teaching ESL certificate at VCC or TWU up to 31 credits
- Diploma in Adult Education at UBC up to 30 credits
- Diploma in Adult Education at VCC up to 15 credits
- Trades qualifications determined by the length of the apprenticeship
What are the program requirements?
Most
UFV courses taken by Adult Education students represent three credits.
The BA in Adult Education requires completion of 120 credits with a
minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C average). Some of the credits
must be for required courses, while many can be elective courses. This
degree program is very flexible in terms of your elective requirements,
so you may tailor the elective course selection to meet your personal
interests. However, you may find that your previous studies only
partially satisfy this aspect of the program and we encourage you to
mix both adult education and elective courses from other areas of
study. Of the 120 credits required for graduation, a minimum of 30
credits must be from UFV credit offerings and at least 45 must be from
upper-level courses.
How much will it cost?
You
can get a breakdown on UFV tuition and other fee details through UFV’s
Fees and Other Expenses web page by following the links at www.ufv.ca/aded.
You should budget $60– $100 per course for resource materials such as
textbooks, although this amount can be much higher for courses in the
sciences and other areas.
It’s worth a visit to UFV’s Financial
Aid and Awards office, which facilitates the disbursement each year of
about $12 million in federal and provincial student loans, grants,
bursaries, scholarships, and awards to UFV students. A helpful budget
planning worksheet is available online at www.ufv.ca/fineaid/budget
I’d like to learn more about this program. May I speak with someone about my options?
We
highly recommend that you talk with the Adult Education program advisor
to determine if this is the program for you. You may contact the
program advisor at 604-864-4621 or email aded@ufv.ca. You’ll find more detailed information about this degree program on the Adult Education website at www.ufv.ca/aded
I’m interested. What should I do next?
Consult our online calendar at www.ufv.ca/calendar
and review the BA Adult Education section carefully. You can download
an application form then submit it, along with any requireddocuments
and the $45 application fee, to the Admissions and Records office at
any UCFV campus or centre or transmit it through the internet at www.pas.bc.ca.
Along with the application form, you must attach your resumé and a
completed questionnaire that outlines your work experience, prior
training and education, and learning goals. You can get a copy of the
questionnaire from the BA in Adult Education website at www.ufv.ca/aded/forms
. We’ll also need official transcripts from every post-secondary
institution you’ve attended and proof of any previously earned trades
qualifications, certificates or diplomas. These official transcripts do
not need to be included with your initial application.
What kind of assistance is there to help me adjust?
Please visit www.ufv.ca/studentservices to learn about the broad range of services designed to help you learn about and adjust to the university environment.
