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Program Requirements

The International Education Studies (IES) program does not lead to an Ontario teaching certification but it is excellent preparation for you to apply to a Bachelor of Education program due to the courses and placements that have a strong education focus. 

Our partnership with Conestoga College provides an excellent option of earning a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), while earning your Bachelor of Arts degree. 

Total Credits

The IES program will require a total of 20.0 credits, including:

Not more than 6.0 credits may be at the 100 level.

Required Courses

For a list of suggested electives, see the undergraduate academic calendar.

Year 1 (5.0 Credits)

  • GS101: Introduction to Global Studies
  • GS102: Mapping Global Studies: Culture, Conflict, Development
  • INED101: General Teaching Methods
  • INED103: Introduction to Education in International Contexts
  • INED104: Theories of Learning and Development
  • WS100: Introduction to Women and Gender Studies
  • Non-English Language study (1.0 credit)
  • Electives (1.0 credit)

Year 2 (5.0 Credits)

  • GS201: Theories in Global Studies
  • GS202: Methods in Global Studies
  • Additional GS 200 level electives (1.0 credit)
  • INED201: Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy
  • INED203: Second Language Literacy Development
  • INED204: Introduction to Mathematics Education OR YC243
  • EM202: The Educational Divide(online)
  • 0.5 senior credit from either Religion and Culture, Women and Gender Studies or Anthropology
  • Elective (0.5 credit)

Year 3 (5.75 Credits)

  • TEFL Certificate Program (Standard 1; 2.5 credits) or at least 1.0 in additional non-English language credits (with 1.5 other electives)
  • Additional GS 300 level electives (1.0 credit)
  • GS391: Global Experience Pre-Placement
  • INED301: Introduction to Adult Education
  • ITC-International Teaching Certificate and internationally focused placement (1.5 credits) (taken during spring/summer leading into Year 4)

Year 4 (4.25 Credits)

  • INED401: Educational Leadership in International Contexts
  • INED402: International Integrated Curriculum
  • GS394: Global Experience Post-Placement
  • 1.0 GS 400 level credit; plus 0.5 additional senior GS credit (1.5 credits)
  • Electives (1.5 credits)

Language Requirement

The language requirement ensures that students in the program understand the benefits of learning another language. The minimum is 1.0 credits in a non-English language course.

Optional TEFL Certification

Our partnership with Conestoga College provides an excellent option of earning a certifcae in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), while earning your Bachelor of Arts degree. Students who choose this option complete the TEFL certificate while full-time students at Conestoga in the fall term of year 3 in the program. The TEFL certificate is offered at the Conestoga College campus just two blocks from Laurier's Waterloo campus.

To enrol in these certificate courses at Conestoga College, students must obtain a Letter of Permission by submitting the online request form.

Option for Program Graduates Intending to Apply to a BEd Program

The International Education Studies (IES) program provides you with an excellent preparation to apply to a Bachelor of Education program due to the courses and placements that have a strong education focus. However, it does not lead to an Ontario teaching certification. To be eligible for a teaching certificate in Ontario, you would need to complete a Bachelor of Education program following the IES program, available at Laurier and elsewhere in the province.

BEd programs are available at Primary/Junior (P/J; grades K-6), Junior/Intermediate (J/I; grades 4-10), and Intermediate/Senior (I/S; grades 7-12) levels. Laurier offers P/J and J/I levels. For students planning to apply to a BEd Junior/Intermediate program (teaching grades 4-10), electives in the IES program may be arranged such that they fulfill prerequisites for a teaching specialization.

Most BEd programs require three full credits or six half-credits in the specialization subject in upper year courses.

Laurier offers certification in the following teaching specializations: Math, Science, English, French as a Second Language, History, Health and Physical Education, Music (Vocal or Instrumental) and Geography.