January 2026

Important Note: Students who have not registered for courses for one or more years must apply for Continuance before they can register. More information

Winter PBDE Courses

EDUC-5402-770 Expanding Gifted Education

Instructor: K. Anderson Leachman
Dates and Times: January 2026 to April 22, 2026; Tuesdays; 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: LIVE: Scheduled class times will take place using an online platform. Students must be available during the posted lecture times for live streaming and/or group interactions. High speed internet is mandatory.

Gifted education in most school districts has traditionally been reserved for high-achieving, teacher-pleasing students. This course explores the expansion of enrichment programming to include hitherto marginalized students: nonconformists, dropouts, the "tough bright," children and youth from minority groups, and young people whose talents surface in domains other than reading, writing, and arithmetic. Specific topics such as inclusive philosophies and models, segregation versus integration, real-world problem solving, mentoring, self-directed learning, and strategies for developing the talents of all students in the regular classroom are examined.

This course counts as an elective in the School Counselling, Inclusive Education, and General streams.

EDUC-5421-770 Theories and Issues in School Counselling

Instructor: C. Pitura
Dates and Times:

Monday, January 12th, 2026; 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 17th, 2026; 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 31st, 2026; 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 21st, 2026; 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 7th, 2026; 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Monday, March 16th, 2026; 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Location: LIVE: Scheduled class times will take place using an online platform. Students must be available during the posted lecture times for live streaming and/or group interactions. High speed internet is mandatory.

This course provides an overview of the fundamental theories of school counselling including: the contexts of effective treatment systems, person-centered therapy, existential and gestalt therapy, emerging counselling approaches, rational emotive behavioural therapy, action-focused therapy, reality and behavioural therapy. Also considered are values, objectives, ethical issues, and the counsellor-student relationship. Throughout, emphasis is placed on practical counselling strategies for early, middle, and senior years levels. Through lectures, readings, class activities, discussions and video clips, students learn about the fundamental components of the major theories, examine differences and similarities amongst the various approaches, and consider practical issues that school counsellors face.

This is a core course in the School Counselling and counts as an elective in the General stream.

EDUC-5423-770 Senior Years Counselling

Instructor: TBA
Dates and Times: January 2026 to April 22, 2026; Wednesdays; 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: LIVE: Scheduled class times will take place using an online platform. Students must be available during the posted lecture times for live streaming and/or group interactions. High speed internet is mandatory.

This course offers a study of school counselling as it relates to students at the senior years level. Emphasis is placed on the role and function of the school counsellor within the framework of a comprehensive developmental
guidance program model. Contemporary issues related to students at the secondary level are explored and
techniques for counselling are investigated.

This is a core course in the School Counselling and counts as an elective in the Inclusive Education and General streams.

EDUC-5427-001 Supervised School Counselling Program

Instructor: P. Locken
Dates and Times: January 2026 to April 22, 2026; TBA
Location: LIVE: Scheduled class times will take place using an online platform. Students must be available during the posted lecture times for live streaming and/or group interactions. High speed internet is mandatory.

The practicum in school counselling provides an opportunity for students to synthesize the theoretical information on individual counselling and group counselling from their coursework and apply it in an early, middle, or senior years school setting. The course provides both a laboratory experience and a field experience under the joint supervision of a U of W supervisor and a site supervisor. The school counselling practicum is designed to assist students in learning the function and procedures that accompany the role of a school counselor through observation, shadowing, and reviewing relevant documentation. Students are required to complete a minimum of 100 hours in a supervised school setting. Paid working hours in a school division shall not count towards these practicum hours. Please see website on current application procedures. Field placements are limited and placements will only be arranged by the Faculty of Education Placement Coordinator.

Pre-requisite: EDUC-5426 with a minimum grade B and have a B. Ed. degree with at least two years of
appropriate teaching/work experience.

This is a core course in the School Counselling stream and counts as an elective in the Inclusive Education and General stream.

EDUC-5441-001 Inclusive Education II

Instructor: M. Mitchell-Pellett
Dates and Times: Saturdays; January 10, 24, February 7, 21, and March 7; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: 1L06

This course provides a more in-depth look at some of the topics covered in Inclusive Education 1. Specifically,
assessment, service delivery, adaptations, and individualized educational and behavioral programming are
explored. As well, emphasis is placed on examining practical strategies for meeting the needs of under-served
children and youth, establishing mentorship programs, and introducing enrichment activities in the regular classroom. Models, history, current issues, and strategies in providing supports, accommodations, and differentiated curriculum in inclusive environments are explored.

Pre-requisite: EDUC-5440 Inclusive Education I

This is a core course in the Inclusive Education stream and counts as an elective in the General stream.

EDUC-5441-770 Inclusive Education II

Instructor: Mitchell-Pellett
Dates and Times: January 2026 to April 22, 2026; Mondays; 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: LIVE: Scheduled class times will take place using an online platform. Students must be available during the posted lecture times for live streaming and/or group interactions. High speed internet is mandatory.

Pre-requisite: EDUC-5440 Inclusive Education I

This is a core course in the Inclusive Education stream and counts as an elective in the General stream.

EDUC-5443-001 Working With Children and Youth With Special Learning Needs and Abilities II

Instructor: TBA
Dates and Times: Saturdays; January 17, 31, February 14, 28, and March 14; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: 1L06

This course builds on the knowledge from Working with Children and Youth with Special Learning Needs and Abilities 1. It emphasizes an inclusive philosophy with consideration of how to meet the needs of all students. It focuses on teaming, planning, and intervention for more significant special needs, including cognitive, behavioral, and physical and sensory disabilities and disorders. Students concentrate on strategies that apply directly to their own school situations while learning from the varied experiences of their colleagues.

Pre-requisite: EDUC-5442 Working With Children and Youth With Special Learning Needs and Abilities I

This is a core course in the Inclusive Education stream and counts as an elective in the General stream.

EDUC-5443-770 Working With Children and Youth With Special Learning Needs and Abilities II

Instructor: K. Anderson Leachman
Dates and Times: January 2026 to April 22, 2026; Thursdays; 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: LIVE: Scheduled class times will take place using an online platform. Students must be available during the posted lecture times for live streaming and/or group interactions. High speed internet is mandatory.

Pre-requisite: EDUC-5442 Working With Children and Youth With Special Learning Needs and Abilities I

This is a core course in the Inclusive Education stream and counts as an elective in the General

EDUC-5450-770 Risk & Resilience

This course examines the characteristics and issues facing vulnerable children and youth, particularly those children called "at risk". This course seeks to emphasize strengths that might compensate for weaknesses, health instead of illness, normality instead of pathology, and hopefulness instead of professional cynicism. This population of youth is particularly threatening to untrained adults who are regularly lured in counter-aggressive or avoidant behavior. It is important that adults who work with these youth with unmet needs are able to provide corrective responses.

This is a core course in the Inclusive Education stream and counts as an elective in the School Counselling and General streams.