Mar 14, 2025  
University of Alberta Calendar 2025-2026 
    
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University of Alberta Calendar 2025-2026

Master of Education (Secondary Education)

Both thesis-based and course-based Master of Education programs are available through the Faculty.

Program Requirements

Course-based MEd

Students in the course-based MEd program normally must successfully complete 27 units of graduate-level courses and a final research/capping exercise (equivalent to 3 units) for a total of 30 units.

Required Courses (9 units):

Elective Courses (18 units):

  • Students will take six 3-unit Elective Courses. Elective Courses in the course-based MEd program will be determined in consultation with the academic advisor with consideration for student’s academic background and requirements for the proposed capping exercise.
  • The number of Individual Study (EDSE 502 ) courses that can be taken is limited to 3 units per semester and 6 units per program.

Capping Exercise

Ethics requirement for course-based MEd

Completion of ethics training hours. Faculty Ethics component (equivalent to 8 hours) through successful completion of EDSE 510  and EDSE 900  plus GPS component.

Professional Development Requirement

Students in the course-based Master of Education in Secondary Education automatically fulfill the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Professional Development requirement through their program.

Thesis-based MEd

Students in the thesis-based MEd program normally must successfully complete 21 units of graduate-level courses, as well as preparing and defending a thesis.

Required Courses (12 units):

Elective Courses (9 units):

  • Students will take three 3-unit Elective Courses. Elective Courses in the thesis-based MEd program will be determined in consultation with the supervisor with consideration for the student’s academic background and proposed thesis.
  • The number of Individual Study (EDSE 502 ) courses that can be taken is limited to 3 units per semester and 6 units per program

Thesis

  • Registration in 900-level THES.

Ethics requirement for thesis-based MEd

Completion of ethics training hours. Faculty Ethics component (equivalent to 8 hours) through successful completion of EDSE 510  and EDSE 511  plus GPS component.

Professional Development Requirement

Students in the thesis-based Master of Education in Secondary Education automatically fulfill the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Professional Development requirement through their program.

Residence Requirement

There is no formal residency requirement for the course-based MEd. A period of residence of one academic year (fall and winter terms) is recommended for the thesis-based program.

Length of Program

The time taken to complete the program will vary according to the education and experience of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken. A minimum of two years is usually required.

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

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