U of S : Communications : OCN : Apr 9, 1998

Bachelor of Education, Program '98

In the revised B.Ed., most students will no longer be able to enter the College of Education directly as first-year students. Rather, all students will now enter the College upon the completion of 60 credit units of specified pre-education course work, as "post-academic" students. There are a few exceptions to this post-academic entry requirement, including the TEPs (Indian Teacher Education Program, Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program, and Northern Teacher Education Program).

In the consideration of Program '98 by the Planning and the Academic Programs committees and on the floor of Council, perhaps the most critical question raised was whether the education of teachers might better be done only after students had completed a B.A. or B.Sc., i.e., an 18- to 24-month post-degree program in Education.

Council accepted the College's position that a post-degree program, requiring five to six years for a B.Ed. as the sole option, is undesirable for practical, largely financial, reasons, and on pedagogical grounds.

Both the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation and the Saskatchewan School Trustees Association have rejected the post-degree-only program. In western Canada, only the University of Lethbridge does not offer either direct-entry or post-academic options.

The post-degree route to the B.Ed. remains an option in Program '98. Indeed, it's an option that's presently being taken by about 55% of the secondary and 28% of the elementary applicants to the College of Education.

Program '98 reduces the quota from 450 students to 300 students by 1999 - a consequence of significant downsizing of faculty and other resources. Additionally, the Departments of Educational Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children have been amalgamated.

Although there has been no change in the philosophy or rationale for the education of teachers, a number of relatively minor changes to the curriculum have been introduced.

Software engineering specialization in Computer Science

A specialization in software engineering has been added to the Honours B.Sc. program in Computer Science. Honours students in Computer Science can complete either the general program or the software engineering track by completing a required set of courses totaling 51 credit units, including a new course in ethics and the option of a professional internship.

There is considerable student demand for this specialization and excellent employment prospects for graduates.

The College of Engineering has raised serious objection to the use of the term "engineering" in the title of this program. Indeed, the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers has filed suit in Federal Court against another university over apparently the very same issue.

In brief, Engineers maintain that to name the specialization "software engineering" is a misuse of the word engineering, over which they hold trademark protection rights, because it's likely to be misleading or deceiving to the public.

On the other hand, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, which is assisting the several universities now in dispute with professional engineers over "software engineering" programs being offered outside Colleges of Engineering, argues that use of the word engineering falls outside the jurisdiction of the trademark rights of engineers and is commonly used in fields as diverse as "genetic engineering" or "financial engineering."

I suppose it will be up to the courts, one day, to finally render a decision. Meanwhile, it's unfortunate if such dispute makes it difficult for computer scientists and Engineers to collaborate on academic programs in this important area.

Biochemistry's undergraduate curriculum in Arts & Science

The Department of Biochemistry provides education in the discipline to medical students and offers a successful Arts & Science degree program as well as providing essential courses to students in Agriculture, Dentistry, and Pharmacy.

In a major revision to its offerings, Biochemistry has repackaged its courses into a more flexible set of offerings that will benefit students and reduce some duplication of courses. Most of the units that require Biochemistry of their students have chosen 6 or 9 credit units of new introductory courses to include in their programs.

The laboratory component in the introductory Biochemistry course has been removed, due to a chronic lack of the financial resources required to run a introductory lab for some 600 students. A "wet lab" introductory course will be available to about 200 students whose life science programs require it.

While Council does not have jurisdiction over budgetary matters, it was clearly the view of Council and the committees that considered the Biochemistry program that additional budget resources for funding the laboratories were much needed.

Revisions to the B.Sc. in Nutrition

In a major revision, the B. Sc. in Nutrition has moved from a four-year, direct-entry degree program for 35 students a year to a four-year, non-direct-entry program with an admission quota of 25 students.

As a non-direct entry program, one year of pre-Nutrition in Arts & Science is now required. The major revision in the Nutrition program is the addition of 22 weeks of professional practice in dietetics during the fourth year.

Students will be eligible for registration as dieticians upon graduation from the program, which makes it unique among nutrition programs in Canada outside Quebec. The professional practice requirement will be offered in partnership with the Regina Health District and Saskatoon District Health. The lower quota of 25 students a year is necessitated by limitations in the number of professional practice placement available in the province.

- John Conway is chair of the University Council.

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