Graduate programs in Elementary Education engage graduate students in scholarly inquiries central to innovative teaching and learning. These programs challenge and support professionals to develop conceptual understandings, critical thinking, and research skills needed to provide leadership in curriculum and pedagogy in elementary and middle schools.

Principles of Elementary Education Graduate Programs

The following principles serve as general guidelines in the development and implementation of our graduate programs.

  1. To be rigorous in their aims at preparing first-class professionals and researchers in elementary and middle-years education.
  2. To provide opportunities for expanding professional knowledge through course work and experiences both within and outside the Elementary Education program area.
  3. To engage students in learning experiences that allow for meaningful integration of theoretical knowledge and practical experiences.
  4. To make provisions for both individual and community experiences to develop a strong community of educational scholars.
  5. To foster critical understanding of a range of research and theoretical paradigms and their application in educational contexts.
  6. To include rich learning experiences through a variety of instructional strategies: face-to-face, blended and online.

Master's Programs

On Campus Master's Program

The Master of Education program is an advanced degree for educators who are concerned with professional matters of curriculum, teaching, and pedagogy. This program prepares educators for positions as master teachers, consultants, supervisors, clinicians and other school and school district personnel.

This program is for students who are able to take courses on campus and is especially suited for professionals who want to expand their knowledge base in relation to their current practices, leadership roles, and future responsibilities.

Our graduate program should include opportunities for coursework and experiences both within and outside Elementary Education programs. We provide the opportunity for the integration of theoretical and practical experiences. We strive to develop a strong community of scholars by fostering critical understandings of a range of research paradigms.

Program Routes

All master's applicants are admitted to the course-based route. Once admitted, students will meet with their assigned Program Advisor to begin planning their coursework and overall program of study. There are two routes to the master degree: course-based and thesis-based. Students may request to change to the thesis route after completing EDEL 567 and one graduate course in their area of study.

Students who are interested in the thesis route should discuss this with their Program Advisor and plan to take EDEL 567 early in their program.

Students normally complete *21 credits of course work (the equivalent of 7 3-credit courses) and a *9 credit thesis. No residence period is required but a one year residency is recommended.

In the thesis-based program, students normally complete *21 credits of coursework (the equivalent of 7 3-credit courses) and a *9 credit thesis. No residence period is required but a one year residency is recommended. Thesis-based master's students must register in both Fall and Winter sessions (September to April) in coursework, thesis, or continuous registration in order to keep their programs active. Students will be automatically registered by GPS in THES for Spring and Summer to maintain active registration.

View Elementary Education Program Planning Sheets:

For course-based route 

For thesis-based route

Please note: Students from outside of Alberta should be sure to check with their local teacher qualification services to determine program eligibility for salary or other purposes.

 

Online Master's Program

The University of Alberta's fully online Master of Education degree offers the convenience and flexibility you need as a busy early childhood, elementary or middle school classroom teacher. The degree provides opportunities for professionals to engage in conversations about diversity in teaching, learning and curricula in a global context.

As you move forward into your Master of Education in Curriculum and Pedagogy degree, you will also explore the processes of curriculum development to better help you situate your own practices within the broader context of curriculum in Canada. To help you be better able to read and critique educational research, you will also take a course that provides an introduction to educational research. Here you will be able to continue your inquiry into problems of practice by finding, reading, evaluating and summarizing current research on your topic.

Courses will allow you the flexibility to select options that meet your learning needs as well as providing you with more in-depth study into different curricular areas. Through your connections to your peers and instructors, you will develop a network of colleagues who can support your learning during your studies and beyond. Technology will be thoughtfully infused into all courses and you will be able to explore multiple ways of presenting and sharing new understandings.

View Elementary Education Program Planning Sheets:

For course-based route 

For thesis-based route

Master of Education - HPE Cohort

Master of Education - HPE Cohort

The Health and Physical Education MEd cohort is designed for teachers who want to complete their degree part-time in a structured program. If you are interested in an MEd that features a core of desirable courses such as health literacy, physical literacy and more, then this cohort is for you!

The program consists of 10 courses and a capping presentation taken over a two year period. Courses are taught by leaders in the field and are delivered on-campus in the summer and online during the school year. Thesis options are available.

Proposed Schedule

Year One

Summer: on-campus (2 weeks)
  • Knowing & Being: Foundations of HPE
  • Physical and Health Literacy
Fall: online
  • Intro to Educational Research
Winter: online
  • Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Curriculum
Spring: online
  • Practitioner Research in Education

Year Two

Summer: on-campus (2 weeks)
  • Health Promoting Schools
  • Inclusive HPE
Fall: online
  • Research in Practice
Winter: online
  • Meaningful Physical Education
Spring: online
  • Capping Project and Presentation

Courses may vary due to scheduling and instructor availability.

Cohorts are typically offered every two years. Please contact Dr. Doug Gleddie at dgleddie@ualberta.ca for more information.

Additional information about the program can be found on the Health and Physical Education MEd Cohort website.

DOCTORAL PROGRAM

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Doctoral program prepares individuals for academic research and teaching and for leadership positions in central offices, provincial departments of education, faculties of education and other educational institutions. Doctoral programs are normally tailored for each individual student according to their interests, previous background and experience. The program will be individually planned to focus on the subject areas of the elementary school and on more general areas such as early childhood education, curriculum studies, instructional studies and teacher education. The exact course requirements will be worked out on an individual basis in consultation with a supervisor and scholarly experiences beyond those offered in courses will be considered a significant part of the doctoral program.

The PhD will appeal to educators who want to pursue a career of research, post-secondary teaching, and leadership. It will attract those who wish to dedicate themselves to academic teaching, research, and service.

View PhD Program Planning Sheet

Admission Requirements

Master's Program
  1. an undergraduate degree equivalent to a University of Alberta Bachelor of Education degree (BEd);
  2. teaching certification;
  3. a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4 point grading system (if you wish to apply to the MEd program and your GPA is less than 3.0, please contact the department before applying);
  4. at least one year of successful teaching experience at the early childhood, elementary or middle classroom level (student teaching and substitute teaching does not qualify).
Doctoral Program

Minimum Requirements

  1. a master's degree or its academic equivalent from an academic institution recognized by the University of Alberta;
  2. a minimum grade point average of 3.3 on most 4 point grading systems, based on your most two years of full-time study is required;
  3. at least one year of successful teaching experience at the early childhood, elementary or middle classroom level (student teaching and substitute teaching does not qualify);
  4. A program supervisor who has agreed to supervise their doctoral program and research.

Application Process 

Eligibility

Please review the admissions requirements to confirm your eligibility. An applicant's undergraduate academic performance, letters of reference, work experience, letter of intent, and areas of academic interest are all taken into account during the selection process for all graduate programs. Due to the necessity for quotas in many program routes and the limited resources of the Faculty, many highly qualified applicants cannot be admitted. While the Faculty encourages as many applicants as possible, it also recommends applicants apply to other universities in the event they cannot be admitted to the University of Alberta.

Obtaining Supervision

Applicants are encouraged to correspond with academic staff who may be suitable as a potential supervisor or program advisor. Review the faculty member's profile before contacting them. Please include a detailed CV, a statement indicating your interest in their program, a brief background of completed courses and work/research experience.

At the doctoral level, applicants must have a faculty member agree to supervise their program before admission is approved. We strongly recommend obtaining supervision prior to applying online.

At the Master's level, applicants are not required to identify a potential supervisor (thesis-based) or program advisor (course-based) at time of application, but it is recommended.

Applying Online & Submitting Documents

Once you have verified your eligibility, please apply for admission through the Graduate Studies Management System (GSMS). The  Graduate Studies Management System is managed by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) which plays a key role in providing final admissions approval for all graduate students across the University of Alberta. 

All items must be received by the application deadline, including reference letters. Therefore, please ensure that your application for admission is submitted at least two weeks before the deadline.

Please note that the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies requires all transcripts and mark sheets to meet specific guidelines.

In order to successfully submit your application for admission, you will be required to upload the following supporting documents to the online application system:

Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A CV (resumé) portraying scholarly studies and professional educational activities, such as teaching, curriculum development, consulting, etc. (we recommend that you do NOT use the template provided by FGPS because it does not allow you the space to highlight your experiences).

References

Three (3) original letters are required.

In the online application system, provide your three referees' contact information, including email addresses. As your referees will be asked about your academic abilities, selecting individuals who can accurately assess this aspect of your work is important.

Upon submission of your application (i.e. payment of the application fee), your referees will be sent an email containing a link to securely submit their reference. Referees should submit the form and upload a reference letter by the stated application deadline. We recommend giving your referees at least 2-4 weeks to complete recommendation letters.

Statement of Intent

A carefully and thoughtfully prepared Statement of Intent, describing one's reasons for wanting to pursue advanced study in Elementary Education. Applicants to the doctoral programs should also describe the area of scholarship they intend to pursue

Applicants to the doctoral programs should also describe the area of scholarship they intend to pursue, as well as the name of the faculty member who has agreed to supervise their program.

Doctoral applicants must address how they meet the funding requirements in their letter of intent. If you are a working professional employed at or above the 0.5 FTE, please upload the Confirmation of Employment form into the GSMS portal, or email the signed copy to essgrad3@ualberta.ca to be added to your application.

Transcripts

You must scan and upload each page (front and back) of your transcript(s). Please see FGPS's requirements for academic documents. Include every post-secondary institution you have attended (including incomplete studies, exchange and transfer credit courses).

All North American transcripts must be issued within 12 months of the date of application. Preference is for official scanned copies of transcripts. If not, follow the instructions for online/web versions strictly.

International applicants must scan and upload academic transcripts and degree certificates from all post-secondary institutions in the official language of instruction, accompanied by a translation (if applicable).

  • Transcripts or Marksheets - Original Language
  • Transcripts or Marksheets - English Translation (if applicable)
  • Degree Certificate - Original Language
  • Degree Certificate - English Translations

If admission is approved, applicants will be required to submit original official copies of all transcripts to FGPS before the start of the program. Official hard copies of transcripts, which are to be sealed, stamped and sent from your previous institution. Further instruction will be given to successful applicants.

Writing Sample (Doctoral Applicants Only)

Please include a sample of your writing as a PDF. Maximum 20 pages.

English Language Proficiency (ELP)

All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission either by: 

  • Possession of a degree or its academic equivalent from an academic institution recognized by the University of Alberta, where the language of instruction is English;
  • A satisfactory score on an approved English language examination as described below.

Note: Applicants with qualifications from certain countries and international universities are exempt from the English language requirements.

To be admitted an Elementary Education program, applicants must meet the minimum exam scores as outlined below:

  • TOEFL: minimum score of 580 (paper-based), 237 (computer-based), or a total score of 93 with a score of at least 24 on speaking and writing and 20 on reading and listening (internet-based)
  • MELAB: minimum score of 90
  • IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 6.5 on each band
  • CAEL: overall minimum score of 70, with at least 60 on each subtest
  • PTE (Academic): overall minimum score of 64

Notwithstanding the above, graduate programs reserve the right to require a further demonstration of English language proficiency.

Await the Official Admission Decision

Once we have received all of the required documents, your application is considered complete and the application will move forward to the review process. Applicants will be notified in the GSMS Application Portal once an official decision has been made.

Successful applicants will receive the official letter of acceptance issued by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) in the GSMS portal. A department letter will follow that will outline further details of the admission including potential information such as funding offers or program information. Successful international applicants will require the letter of acceptance from FGPS in order to proceed with the application for travel documents such as a study permit and VISA.

IMPORTANT: Official documents (transcripts, degree certificates, etc.) may be required upon receiving the conditional offer of admission letter. Documents must be sent directly from the post-secondary institution to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies office. Detailed instructions will be outlined in your offer letter.