Mount Allison University is bringing back a Bachelor of Education degree, a move university leaders say will help prepare a new generation of teachers for the realities of today’s classrooms while responding to growing demand across New Brunswick.
The new program is expected to welcome its first cohort in 2028 and will focus on preparing educators for increasingly diverse and complex learning environments.
Mount Allison President Dr. Ian Sutherland said the program builds on the university’s nearly 200-year tradition of producing graduates equipped to lead, innovate and adapt throughout their careers.
“Today’s announcement comes from Mount Allison’s deep desire and commitment to help, to step up and to respond,” Sutherland told a packed audience.
While the program is designed to help address teacher shortages, Sutherland said its broader purpose is to prepare educators for the challenges facing modern classrooms.
The curriculum will emphasize inclusive education, social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practice, digital literacy, educational technology, literacy and numeracy instruction, and Indigenous education.
Mount Allison has a long history of educational leadership
“For nearly 200 years, Mount Allison has been contributing to the prosperity and vibrancy of New Brunswick, our region and indeed our country and the world,” he said.
The 16-month, four-term degree is for students with an undergraduate degree and offers elementary (Kindergarten–Grade 5) and secondary (Grades 6–12) streams.
University officials said graduates will complete three practicum experiences, including a 12-week teaching placement, and will be eligible for Level 5 teacher certification in New Brunswick.
Applications are expected to open in October 2027, with the inaugural class beginning in May 2028. The university anticipates admitting between 70 and 90 students in the program’s first year.
According to a news release, the renewed post-baccalaureate degree combines small-cohort learning, close faculty mentorship, community partnerships, and extensive classroom experience. The program has been designed with today’s classrooms in mind, with areas of study including inclusive education, literacy, Indigenous education, evidence-informed teaching, diverse learner needs, and teacher leadership.
Randy MacLEAN, superintendent of the Anglophone East School District, which serves about 21,000 students and employs approximately 1,600 teachers, welcomed the announcement.
MacLean said strong partnerships between universities and K-12 education systems are critical as schools navigate increasing enrollment growth, rising complexity and changing student needs.
“The greatest impact on student achievement is the teacher,” he said. “Education is a human endeavour between an adult and a child in a classroom.”
He said the program will create opportunities for local students to pursue teacher education close to home and strengthen connections between Mount Allison and schools throughout southeastern New Brunswick.
Opportunity for the province
“This is an opportunity for this community. And this is an opportunity for this nation,” MacLEAN said.
Faculty member Dr. Sasha DeWolfe, who helped shape the curriculum, said the program is being designed with extensive input from educators, families, Indigenous leaders and community partners.
She said future teachers will be trained not only in classroom fundamentals such as assessment, literacy and classroom management, but also in collaboration, wellness and community engagement.
“We want children to walk into their schools knowing they belong, that their voices matter, and that the people around them see their potential,” DeWolfe said.
University leaders say the program represents an investment in the future of education in New Brunswick, with a focus on preparing teachers who can meet the needs of students today and adapt to the challenges of tomorrow.
