Canadian Culture and Education Studies Certificate (CCES)
Brock University Faculty of Education
Key Information
Campus location
St. Catharines, Canada
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
8 months
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
CAD 18,696
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
Sep 2024
Scholarships
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Introduction
The CCES certificate prepares students for the rigors of post-secondary studies in the broad field of Education and related disciplines. An internship is included in the second term.
Program outline
CCES provides a background in educational theory, Canadian educational context, and Canadian culture. Crucial skills, such as research, critical thinking, academic communication, and problem-solving, are provided through an educational studies context and an internship. The student will be well-prepared to apply to and succeed in, an academic program at a Canadian postsecondary institution.
CCES and LCBE combined benefits
- Apply for Consecutive Admission for both the CCES and the Leadership in Community-based Education (LCBE) certificate program. Students would enroll first in CCES and then continue with LCBE. One offer of admission is provided.
- The two certificate programs are designed to work together to provide the best possible experience and preparation for international students who are transitioning to Canada and Canadian higher education studies.
- Students who complete both certificates will receive a $2000 Dean’s Bursary, to be credited as a discount on tuition for the second certificate.
- Students have approximately 4 months (May to August) to work or volunteer between completion of CCES and commencement in the LCBE.
- Completing the CCES and LCBE certificates within a 2-year period meets eligibility requirements for the 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).*
- Graduates are prepared to seek employment in community-based settings with summer work experience, internships, and two certificates to list on a resume ─ indicating to Canadian employers that an applicant is equipped with culturally-relevant and transferrable skills.
- Canadian education is valued worldwide. Canada’s education system is ranked #4 in the world (Maclean’s Magazine University Rankings, 2020).
Admissions
Curriculum
CCES Program Sequence
Fall term: September to December
- CCES 6P00 - Introduction to Educational Studies
- Acculturation process experienced by international students studying in Canada. Introduction to the academic and social expectations of study-life within Canadian postsecondary programs.
- CCES 6P01 - Advanced Study Preparation Seminar
- Academic and social skills needed to successfully transition to graduate advanced post-secondary studies in Canada. Topics include identifying appropriate graduate postsecondary programs, securing referees, understanding application protocols, writing statements of intent, and succeeding in interviews.
- CCES 6P02 - Canadian Cultural Practices
- Acculturation process experienced by students studying in Canada. Introduction to the academic and social expectations of study-life within Canadian postsecondary programs.
- CCES 6P05 - Self, Society, and Research
- Develop an understanding of self and society as consumers of research. Explore the impacts of research (past, and present) on professional and personal lives. Build an understanding of research vocabulary and develop foundational research literacy skills.
- CCES 6P07 - In/Equity, Diversity and Change in Education
- Critical understanding of social in/equity through the intersecting discourses of gender, race, class, sexuality, age, ability, and language, and how this discursive matrix frames educational experiences. Institutional and individual strategies developed to re/situate, re/visit, and re/claim the politics of meaning and experience.
Winter term: January to April
- CCES 6P03 - Critical Pedagogy and Social Justice
- Exploration of Paulo Freire, Henry Giroux, bell hooks, and others' writing within critical pedagogy as the basis for the connection between ’education’ and social justice projects. Topics include oppressive regimes of power/knowledge, indigenous knowledge, and critical pedagogy as a social movement, as revolutionary and transformative.
- CCES 6P08 - The Organization of Canadian Higher Education
- Postsecondary education work that supports students’ development and learning. Topics include knowledge creation, distribution, and maintenance; academic freedom; dissenting opinion; academic integrity; student agency and accountability; the teacher-student dynamic and regulatory structures within higher education. Emphasis on the interconnectedness of issues and acculturation for international students.
- CCES 6P09 - Introduction to Research Methods
- Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods were undertaken for research within Education and related disciplines. A deeper understanding of the nature and processes of research and skills to critically read, conduct and evaluate research.
- CCES 6P11 - Wellness in Canadian Higher Education
- Promotion of wellness and self-care through a variety of theoretical perspectives.
- EDUC 3P96 Advanced Community-based Internship
- Field experiences enable students to explore the work of educators employed in settings outside of traditional schools.
Program Outcome
CCES provides:
- Academic credit to demonstrate the student’s ability to perform well in the Canadian system;
- 4th-year academic credit for those who have a 3-year bachelor’s degree;
- Community involvement, cultural adaptation, and professional development;
- References from instructors;
- Assistance in applying for subsequent advanced studies at Brock University or other institutions;
- The opportunity to continue in the Leadership in Community-based Education (LCBE) certificate without having to retake an English proficiency test. 70% overall GPA in CCES is required.
Program Tuition Fee
English Language Requirements
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