Certificate in International Baccalaureate Education

Improve Your Understanding of International Baccalaureate Principles and Practices

In cooperation with the International Baccalaureate* Organization, Bethel University is recognized as one of a select few universities world-wide approved to offer the IB Teacher Level 1 award.

The award aims to formally recognize teachers' knowledge and understanding of curricular, pedagogical, and assessment issues involved in implementing the IB program in which they teach or intend to teach.

Upon completion of Bethel's program, teachers will be eligible to register for the IB Teacher Level 1 award through the International Baccalaureate Organization.

According to Mark Waterson, Head of Teacher Education Services at the International Baccalaureate Organization in Cardiff, Wales:

"Students who have registered for the Level 1 award meet all the mandated requirements demanded of teachers and schools prior to authorization and evaluation. Hence the teacher with the Level 1 award is not required to complete any further professional development as far as the schools commitment to the authorization and evaluation processes is concerned."

IB programs

The Teacher Award Level 1 is available to teachers of all three IB programs.

•     * Primary Years Program (PYP) for ages 3-12
•     * Middle Years Program (MYP) for ages 11-16
•     * Diploma Program (DP) for ages 16-19
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Gain more understanding of:

    * Underpinning values that permeate the teaching and learning process of all three programs.
    * Four areas of inquiry: curriculum processes, teaching and learning, assessment and learning, and professional learning.
    * Essential questions within each area that relate to the effective implementation of a specific IB program.
    * Elements of critical reflection within the context of the IB programs.

Ideal learners are licensed teachers who are:

    * Teachers in an International Baccalaureate school who would like to deepen their understanding of IB programs.
    * Interested in working in schools offering one or more of the IB programs.
    * Wish to be eligible to register for the Teacher Award Level 1 in one of the three IB programs.

Complete your Certificate in International Baccalaureate Education

    * 10 graduate-level semester credits
    * Cohort based with a limit of 22 learners from K-12 settings
    * Content appropriate for learners in prospective, candidate, or authorized IB schools
    * Meets the minimum professional development requirements for IB program authorization and evaluation in schools
    * Opens up teaching opportunities in Minnesota and throughout the world
    * Faculty have extensive experience working in IB schools
    * Stand-alone certificate OR apply credits toward Bethel’s MA in Education K-12

Schedule designed for busy teachers

    * Take 1 course at a time
    * Most classes meet 1 evening each week for six weeks beginning in the summer
    * Complete the course work in two semesters
    * Online beginning spring 2011**