Dec 30, 2024  
University of Alberta Calendar 2022-2023 
    
University of Alberta Calendar 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Education with a specialization in Social Justice and International Studies in Education (Educational Policy Studies)


[Oct. 5, 2022] Please Note - EDITORIAL UPDATE. The word Department was replaced with the word Faculty on this page. Please see Amendments to the Calendar  for more information.

Social Justice and International Studies in Education (SJI) focuses on the theoretical, philosophical, and ideological underpinnings of education as well as the social and cultural contexts in which education takes place. Formerly known as “educational foundations,” the SJI specialization draws heavily on philosophy, history, sociology, and other social sciences in its approach to the study of education within varying local, national and international settings. Accordingly, ethics, epistemology, historiography, political economy, sociology, social and political theory, comparative education, and cultural studies provide the conceptual lenses through which education is systematically examined. SJI courses thus explore linkages between education and economic, political and cultural systems, and expose students to a range of political, moral-ethical, and epistemological frameworks for thinking about social and economic inequality, gender and race relations, multiculturalism, sexual orientation, school-to-work transitions, and North-South conflicts.

Program Requirements


In addition to the program core courses (6 units), students must complete specialization core courses and optional courses selected from the following for a total of 33 units for course-based programs, or 24 units for thesis-based programs.

Options/Electives


  • 500-level and above courses taken across the faculty, chosen in consultation with the supervisor or program advisor.
  • Students may undertake a supervised individual study course if permitted by their specialization program and only with prior approval by their advisor/supervisor and the Graduate Coordinator. Permission will not be granted if the proposed content is available through regular course offerings.

Thesis-based Program:


  • Registration in 900-level THES. All students in a thesis-based Master of Education shall present a thesis embodying the results of their research on a topic approved by their supervisor.

Ethics Requirement


Students in both the course-based and thesis-based Master of Education with a specialization in Social Justice and International Studies in Education must meet the FGSR Ethics and Academic Citizenship Training Requirement  through the completion of INT D 710  (for both master’s and doctoral students) by the end of the first term of registration in their degree program.

Professional Development Requirement


Students in both the course-based and thesis-based Master of Education with a specialization in Social Justice and International Studies in Education fulfill the FGSR Professional Development Requirement  through their program.

Length of Program


There is no residence requirement for the Master of Education program.

The maximum time to complete the course-based MEd program as set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research is six years.

The maximum time to complete the thesis-based MEd program as set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research is four years.