New bachelors of education (elementary) degree offered exclusively online to commence in 2026
The new degree
Beginning in the Fall 2026 semester, a new bachelor of education degree (elementary) which can be completed remotely will be available for University of Regina (UofR) education students. The degree is aimed at better accommodating students who are from rural areas. This is a two-year, full time program, for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree and are residents of Saskatchewan.
In a press release, the UofR states the new degree works “to support the development of teachers in the areas that need them most”. It further elaborated that applicants who reside in rural or remote areas which are further than 100 km from Regina will be given preference. The faculty of education’s website says that “the program endeavours to attract teacher candidates from diverse backgrounds and representative of Saskatchewan demographics.”
“I think we are really excited,” said Michael Cappello, associate professor and associate dean, faculty of education. “We had 80 people sign up online […] and I think 50 people showed up, which for a new program, that’s a lot of traction.” said Cappello. Applications are now open. Priority will be given to students who submit their applications by Mar. 15 2026, but people will still be able to apply post Mar. 15.
Need for rural teachers sparks degree
“A lot of strikes last year, a lot of unrest in the sector, and a lot of those concerns are about complexity in the classroom,” said Cappello. Due to this, the Saskatchewan government emphasized an increased need for teachers, hiring over six hundred new teachers. Finding teachers in big cities is never hard, but once you get further away from places like Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, and Moose Jaw, it gets harder.
“We don’t have bodies, right? And so there has been a need. There continues to be needs in rural Saskatchewan that remain unmet,” said Cappello. He said that they are harder to fill and the turnover rates for rural areas are much higher than urban areas. This is why this online degree gives priority to those from rural communities.
Addressing a pressing need
“Rather than moving to Regina, which is a barrier for lots of folks, we thought we would create a degree that was fully online to appeal to folks who already live in a rural setting,” said Cappello. He added that the practicum experience would also be localized, situated in the area the remote learner is living in or prefers.
“If we could get people credentialed to teach without having to leave their community, there’s a greater chance that they’d stay in those communities and teach in those communities,”said Cappello. He added, “We want to be sort of fair to everyone to try and we don’t want folks who live somewhat close by to try to hold space for folks who can’t relocate to Regina.”
If we could get people to teach without having to leave their community, there’s a greater chance that they’d stay and teach in those communities.” – Michael Cappello, associate dean, faculty of education.
In-person learning still preferred
Cappello said that the degree is so far the only bachelors level degree that is exclusively online. He mentions that though it will hopefully help those in rural areas, having a strictly online degree is not the best. That is one reason this degree is for those who have already completed their degree, but want to add an elementary education degree to it since such people would still have had on the field experience.
Capello further highlighted the pros and cons of remote learning.“I appreciate that online makes some things possible, but it makes some things impossible,” he said. “So you’re in a class, you’re an education student, you are learning about teaching every moment. You’re watching the instructor start class, ask questions, answer questions, facilitate, share information, make space, move into groups, the kinds of assignments.” The on-site teaching is a must for teachers, as classrooms and settings vary Capello believes.
“You sort of watch that unfold and you watch your colleagues try it. And, you know, maybe they screw up with a little thing but you catch it.” Some of this, he thinks, is hard to learn online.
“You don’t read it in a book. And I think so much of education is embodied in person. It’s a performance,”he continued. He concluded by saying that while remote learning certainly opens doors for those in remote areas, it shouldn’t be a total substitute for in-person learning. “If we want to put like the best teachers in front of Saskatchewan audiences or students, they need to spend considerable time in person, embodied, listening, learning, [and] watching.”
Another addition to the program
Cappello feels that the University’s education programs help mold great teachers and it sets them apart from others. “There’s a commitment to practical education…. students get a chance every year to spend time in school, to spend time alongside practicing teachers, to spend time thinking about the role of school, their role as teachers.”
Another advantage of taking it at the UofR is that in many other places you are required to have a degree to enroll in an education program. “I think one of the unique things here is, you know, fresh out of high school, folks show up and can begin to learn how to be a teacher,”said Cappello. He added, “I think we’re the only institution in Saskatchewan that offers certified education degrees that lead to certification after degrees. And that’s a unique category.“
Taken together, Cappello says these advantages reinforce the UofR’s role as a leading contributor to Saskatchewan’s future teaching workforce.
