Overview

Why study this program?

The Faculty of Education offers programs leading to graduate degrees in the areas of Educational Policy Studies, Educational Psychology, Educational Studies, Elementary Education, Health Sciences Education, Library and Information Studies, and Secondary Education. 

The Faculty also offers Graduate Certificates in School Leadership and Educational Studies.

Program configurations vary and a number of specializations are available, details of which are provided below.

Education:
The Graduate Certificate in School Leadership offered by the Faculty of Education is for teaching professionals seeking specialization in school leadership. The focus of this certificate is enhancing educators’ leadership knowledge, skills and attitudes. Delivery will be a blended format, including both face to face and online courses.

The Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies offered by the Faculty of Education is designed around a cohort model and is for teaching professionals seeking specialization in school leadership. The focus of this certificate is enhancing educators’ leadership knowledge, skills and attitudes.

Educational Policy Studies:
The Faculty of Education offers master’s and doctoral programs in the following specialized areas of study in policy studies: Adult, Community and Higher Education; Studies in Educational Leadership; Indigenous Peoples Education; and Social Justice and International Studies in Education.

The Faculty of Education strives to develop critical and creative scholars who have a substantive understanding of the important systemic and contextual factors that bear upon Canadian and international education.

Graduate study in the above specializations is supported by a diverse group of full-time faculty, whose active research and publications (listed on the Faculty website), are in the following general areas: aboriginal and indigenous perspectives in education; administration, leadership, and governance; careers and work; cultural, sociological, philosophical, historical, and political analysis of education; educational discourses and systems of thought; educational policy; educational reform; equity, diversity, and inclusivity in education; adult teaching and learning, professional development, and program evaluation; international and global education; and postsecondary education.

Educational Psychology:
The Faculty of Education offers programs in Educational Psychology leading to the degree of PhD in the following specializations: Psychological Studies in Education; School and Clinical Child Psychology (CPA accredited); Counselling Psychology (CPA accredited); Special Education; Measurement, Evaluation and Data Science; and Studies in Teaching and Learning English as a Second Language (TESL Canada accredited). Programs leading to the degree of MEd (thesis-basis) are offered in the following specializations: Psychological Studies in Education; School and Clinical Child Psychology; Counselling Psychology (approved by the College of Alberta Psychologists); Measurement, Evaluation and Data Science; and Special Education. Course-based MEd programs are offered  in Counseling Psychology (approved by College of Alberta Psychologists), Measurement, Evaluation and Data Science, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL Canada accredited), School Counseling and Special Education. School Counseling admits a cohort in odd years, and Special Education admits an online cohort in even years.

The MEd and PhD programs are designed to provide specialized education and preparation for teachers, administrators, consultants, psychologists, academics, research personnel, and others requiring specialized preparation in the program areas. Normally, a student’s graduate program includes a combination of professional and research graduate-level courses offered by the Faculty of Education and other Faculties in the University.

Educational Studies:
The MEd in Educational Studies offers leadership development for educators and administrators. The program is designed to provide theory, skills, and insights into practice that can be readily applied in the workplace. The program, designed for working professionals, is completed through a combination of summer residencies and online courses in a cohort model.

Elementary Education:
The Faculty of Education offers a variety of options at the Master’s and Doctoral levels. We offer both on-campus programs and online instruction in some of our programs, designed to accommodate the lifestyles of working professionals. Please see the Faculty of Education Elementary Education website for specific information about the various options. Information about current faculty members’ research interest(s) and teaching area(s) can be found here.

Health Sciences Education:
The MEd in Health Sciences Education extends the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals and clinical faculty. The program explores foundational theory in the areas of educational pedagogy, educational research, and interprofessional leadership that can be readily applied in the health professional workplace. Designed for working health professionals in a wide number of disciplines, the program can be completed in a minimum of two years of part-time study. This is a cohort-based, blended program.

This is a part-time program designed for health professionals or health professional educators who are working full-time.

Library and Information Studies:
The School of Library and Information Studies, the only graduate professional library and information studies program in the prairie provinces, offers the Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) degree. The MLIS degree is offered on campus or completely online.

As a professional degree, the MLIS represents a program designed to develop the knowledge, understanding, attitudes, and skills that will prepare graduates to help people define their information needs, make their information seeking more effective, use information tools efficiently, evaluate information, critically examine Internet resources, make informed decisions about what to read, and help organizations manage their records and knowledge.

The MLIS program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of the American Library Association. This accreditation is also recognized by the Canadian Library Association.

Student Organizations:
The Library and Information Studies Students’ Association represents all students enrolled in the MLIS program. Students elect their own officers, with the presiding officer representing them at meetings of the School Council. LISSA provides liaison between students and faculty and encourages participation in a variety of academic, professional, and extracurricular activities.

Secondary Education:
The Faculty of Education offers programs in Secondary Education leading to the Master of Education, Master of Education with a Specialization in Technology in Education, Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education degrees. Graduate instruction in these programs is designed to develop competencies as master teachers, educators in the specific disciplines, curriculum and instruction specialists, and curriculum and instruction scholars.

Graduate programs in the Faculty normally include advanced studies in the following areas: curriculum studies, curriculum perspectives, modes of inquiry, aboriginal and indigenous studies, career and technology studies (CTS), English language arts education, fine arts and media education, mathematics education, physical and health education, research methodologies, science education, second language and ESL, social studies education, teacher education, and technology in education. Programs of an interdisciplinary nature are possible. Programs for each student are designed in consultation with an advisor or supervisor.

Before applying for admission, it is strongly recommended that applicants ascertain whether the intended area of study is congruent with those of the Faculty. It is also recommended that prospective students contact professors in their area of interest to determine availability and interest. This information may be found on the Faculty Education’s webpage.

Applications for admission are conducted on line through the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies webpage.

Additional information about graduate programs, policies, and procedures can be found in the Faculty of Education’s Graduate Student Handbook.