Laddering into a Master's Program
A Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (GCES) from the University of Alberta provides students with up to 12 credits in advanced standing in the Master of Education in Educational Studies Program*. Students admitted into the program will follow this tentative program plan (subject to change):
Tentative Schedule - General Cohort**
Summer Term I
EDU 510 Fundamentals of Educational Research
Students learn how to understand and apply educational research to educational problems. Specific focus on conceptualizing methods of educational research to specific and individual educational sites and issues.
EDU 514 Planning for Educational Change
Students learn how educational research can enhance educational change toward school improvement, and focus on the creation of a site-based research proposal which utilizes appropriate research methods.
Fall Term
Elective I
Note: Electives must be taken prior to taking EDU 900, unless permission has been received from the department for an altered course of study. Professional Learning offers a variety of electives; check the website for current offerings, or contact us to determine if the elective you want to take is approved for the program. Once you are admitted to a graduate program, you can no longer take courses through Open Studies until after you graduate.
Winter Term
EDU 515 Conducting Educational Research**
Students complete a supervised research assignment specific to their educational context. They will develop and apply knowledge and skills related to data collection, data analysis techniques and research report presentation.
Spring Term
Elective II
Summer Term II
EDU 900 Program Synthesis
A reflection and synthesis of learning from the Master of Education in Educational Studies in relation to the concepts of school/educational improvement that are the foundations of the program.
Other Laddering Options
Students in the GCES in Science Education, Technology in Education, or Mathematics Education may prefer to ladder in to the MES STEM Cohort.
Students in the GCES in Structured Literacy and Reading Science may prefer to ladder in to the MES SLRS Cohort.
Alternatively, any GCES can ladder into the M.Ed. in Elementary Education, Curriculum and Pedagogy, or Secondary Education - contact Dr. William Dunn at wdunn@ualberta.ca. Online and on-campus options available.
*Completion of a GCES does not guarantee acceptance into any master's program. Course availability is dependent upon sufficient enrollment.
**The schedule of courses is determined on an annual basis. Alternate schedules may be available in future years.