Welcome to the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University. With Undergraduate and Graduate programs at both the Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses, and a robust online Additional Qualifications Program, the Faculty has an illustrious history in teaching, research, and service to the education community across a range of cultures.

A significant part of our history is a longstanding commitment to Indigenous Education. Since the 1970s, the Faculty has developed and supported Indigenous Language programs that have promoted the teaching, learning, and maintenance of languages across the regions we serve. Language is central to culture, and by giving these programs added importance, the Faculty and wider University continue to address the issues of Truth and Reconciliation by building relationships with Indigenous communities. Our Indigenous-focused education programs will continue to evolve as we embrace traditional approaches to Indigenous learning including ‘Aki’ (land/earth) based programming, Elder and community involvement, and research by, for, and with Indigenous communities.

Our faculty members have expertise in a broad range of educational areas, and have distinguished themselves nationally and internationally through their scholarship and research. Our courses are taught by instructors who are committed to student engagement and success, and many have received awards for the excellence of their teaching. In our Bachelor of Education program, we work with hundreds of teachers, across Ontario and around the world, to give our students the best possible introduction to the teaching profession.

Now is an excellent time to pursue a career in teaching. Teachers are in demand in Ontario, across Canada, and around the world. With this in mind, our Indigenous Education and Bachelor of Education degree programs continue to provide excellent preparation for future teachers, and are fully accredited by the Ontario College of Teachers. Our programs successfully combine both theory and extensive practicum time in schools, opening opportunities to teach in a range of other settings, including overseas, in remote communities, and in non-school settings such as science and outdoor education centres and community-based organizations.

Looking to find and explore new opportunities in education? At the Graduate level we offer the Master of Education program and Joint PhD program. The Master’s program is available entirely online and includes specializations in Social Justice Education, Environmental Education and Sustainability, and Indigenous Education. The Joint PhD Program allows opportunities for research and scholarship using the combined resources of three universities. This unique program is currently celebrating 20 years of promoting study at the highest level.

And finally, to support your ongoing professional learning, we offer a wide range of Additional Qualifications courses through our Department of Professional Development in Education. These include single credit and three-part specialist courses, Additional Basic Qualifications, and programs for educational leaders. The quality of our programs is reflected in the fact that many leaders in education across Ontario are graduates of our programs.

As part of our commitment to improving the quality of our programs, we are currently reviewing our undergraduate and graduate programs with the aims of making them more responsive to the needs of a changing world and reinforcing the strong links between educational excellence and equity.

Thank you for looking at Lakehead University’s Faculty of Education. Please take some time to explore our website further and discover how much we have to offer learners at all stages of their academic and professional journeys. And if there are any questions, please ask.

- Dr. Wayne Melville