General Information
The Department of Educational Policy Studies offers master’s and doctoral programs in the following specialized areas of study: Adult, Community and Higher Education; Educational Administration and Leadership; Indigenous Peoples Education; and Social Justice and International Studies in Education as well as a graduate certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
The Department of Educational Policy Studies 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 website at www.ualberta.ca/educational-policy-studies) 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.
Entrance Requirements
For the MEd degree, the Department’s minimum admission requirements are an undergraduate degree with an admission GPA of at least 3.0 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last ★60 of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.
For the EdD and PhD degrees, the Department’s minimum admission requirements are a master’s degree with an admission GPA of at least 3.5 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last ★60 of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework. In special circumstances a student with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.5 may be considered for admission.
The Educational Administration and Leadership specialization for both the master’s and the doctoral programs requires applicants to have a minimum of two years of teaching experience or equivalent.
As part of the admissions process, students considered for admission to the Indigenous Peoples Education Doctoral specialization are required to participate in an interview. The interview community will consist of the following: at least two Indigenous Peoples Education specialization faculty members; a graduate student currently studying in the Indigenous Peoples Education specialization; and an Elder.
The Social Justice and International Studies specialization for both the master’s and the doctoral programs requires applicants to have advanced skills in independent research, essay writing, logical argumentation, and narrative analysis. Applicants must have a strong background in the social foundations of education and/or one or more of the following humanities and social sciences: philosophy, history, sociology, anthropology, political science, and cultural and communication studies. Applicants must also have substantial work experience in the educational sector (e.g., public or private schooling, adult education, NGOs, social movements, corporate or government communications).
Where applicable, applicants must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (refer to English Language Requirement). Any one of the following is acceptable:
- a minimum TOEFL score of 93 (Internet-based) with a minimum of 24 on the speaking and writing bands of the test, or equivalent. (FGSR’s minimum for the reading and listening bands of the TOEFL test is 21.)
- a minimum score of 70 on the CAEL exam
- a minimum of 7.0 on each band on the IELTS with an overall minimum score of 7.0,
- a minimum score of 63 on the Pearson Test of English (PTE).
For applicants with international qualifications, where either their country or their international university are recognized as using English as the official language of instruction, proof of English Language Proficiency is still required. No exemptions to this requirement will be granted by the department.
Applicants must submit three letters of reference, a CV/resume, a statement of intent, and (if applicable) a distinguished life experience essay. For doctoral programs, confirmation of a potential research supervisor is required.
Applicants to Adult, Community and Higher Education specializations, Indigenous Peoples Education specializations and Social Justice and International Studies specializations are required to submit a writing sample.
The completion of the Master of Education does not make the degree-holder eligible for teacher certification.
Application deadlines for all programs in Educational Policy Studies are as follows:
Master of Education programs
Oct 1 and March 1
Doctoral programs
January 15
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