Master of Education - Educational Studies

M.Ed. (Educational Studies) Courses

Please note that the following information is relevant only for those students who commenced their studies in July 2007 or later.  Students who commenced their studies earlier than this should see this page for information. 

Accelerated Path or full time - minimum of three terms; normally takes 4-6 terms to complete program [course work plus Thesis or Directed Research Project (DRP)]. The Comprehensive Exam Option is being phased out and will not be available for new students commencing in September 2007.  Cohort students (i.e. M.Ed. Curriculum - On-line, Leadership and Leadership for First Nation Schools) who are registered as full time are able to take a standard path/part time course load.  

Standard Path or part-time - normally takes 6 terms (2 years) to complete program [course work + Thesis or Directed Research Project (DRP)]. The Comprehensive Exam Option is being phased out and will not be available for new students commencing in September 2007. Cohort students (i.e. M.Ed. Curriculum - On-line, Leadership and Leadership for First Nation Schools) who are registered as full time are able to take a standard path/part time course load.

Typical Program for students commencing in September 2007

Term	Thesis Standard	Thesis Accelerated	DRP Standard	DRP Accelerated
1-Fall	1 course	3 courses	1 course	3 courses
2-Winter	1 course	2 courses	1 course	3 courses
3-Summer	2 courses	*IPP & Thesis	2 courses	1 course & *IPP
4-Fall	1 course	Thesis	1 course	Project
5-Winter	*IPP & Thesis	Thesis	1 course	(Project)
6-Summer	Thesis		1 course
7-Fall	Thesis		IPP*
8-Winter			project

*IPP = Individual Proposal Preparation (calendar description posted on the "Course Descriptions and Timetables" page)

See Section C below for an outline of required core courses for each field of study.

The "3 Year Plan of Study" is posted on the Course Descriptions & Timetables page and this illustrates which courses are offered in which term.  Timetables are posted one term at a time on the same page.  Classes generally meet as follows:

Fall Term 6:30-9:30 pm (a course meets one night per week for 12 weeks September to December)
Winter Term 6:30-9:30 pm (a course meets one night per week for 12 weeks January to April, minus March Break)
Intersession 6:30-9:30 pm (a course meets two evenings per week for 6 weeks beginning in May)
Summer Session 9:00-12:00 noon or 1-4 pm - (a course meets 3 mornings or afternoons per week for 4 weeks in July)

A) Study Routes

The Masters program in Educational Studies can be completed by one of the following routes: (a) 5 half courses, Individual Proposal Preparation (IPP) and a Thesis OR (b) 7 half courses,  Individual Proposal Preparation (IPP) and a Directed Research Project (DRP).  The Comprehensive Exam Option is being phased out and will not be available for students commencing studies in September 2007. 

The Thesis option is recommended for students intending to continue on to Ph.D. studies. 

Prospective students are not required to secure a Thesis or Directed Research Project (DRP) Supervisor at the time of application; however, those wishing to ensure there are faculty members on staff who research in their area of interest are invited to review the Faculty Research page.  At the time of admission, students are assigned an Academic Advisor who will guide them through course and program planning.  When students are ready to begin work on their IPP, they may approach any Faculty of Education faculty member to act as Thesis or DRP Supervisor (more information about this is available in the Thesis and DRP guides). 

Please Note:  It is the responsibility of a student who is intending to write a Thesis or DRP to maintain an accurate record of courses taken and a portfolio of original papers as marked by instructors.  If the student wishes a faculty member to supervise a Thesis or DRP, it is the student's responsibility to submit the portfolio to the instructor for review at the time the request for supervision is made (i.e. before commencing the IPP).

B) Fields of Study

Students must select one of the following three fields of study at the time of application:

1. Curriculum Studies (On-site or on-line)
2. Educational Policy Studies
   *Educational Policy Studies - Leadership focus
   (Click here for more information.)
3. Educational Psychology/Special Education
   (Click here for more information.)

Each of these fields has two or three compulsory core courses (see Section D below).

C) Progression Requirements

Program requirements are completed in combination with course work, Individual Proposal Preparation and either a Thesis or Directed Research Project (DRP). Each field has required core courses that must be completed, as detailed below.  Please also see the Program Policies page with regard to administrative policies and procedures relating to successful course and program progression.

Calendar descriptions of the courses below can be found on the Course Descriptions & Timetables page.

Field/Focus-specific Core Courses:

MEd Educational Studies (all fields/foci) students commencing studies in September 2007 or later (as well as the Leadership for First Nations students who commence studies in July 2007), will have a new core, compulsory course: 684 Individual Proposal Preparation (IPP).

Core courses in Curriculum Studies (on-site or on-line) are 580 (An Introduction to Curriculum) and 678 (Diverse Traditions: Approaches to Educational Research), with 580 normally completed at the beginning of a program of studies.  The course 678 should not be taken until 580 and at least two other half courses have been completed.

Core courses in Educational Policy Studies are 500 (Power, Politics and Policy in Education:  Historical and Contemporary Perspectives),  600 (The Management of Educational Policy in Ontario, 1960 to the Present) and 678 (Diverse Traditions: Approaches to Educational Research).

Core courses in Educational Policy Studies - Leadership focus are 500 (Power, Politics and Policy in Education:  Historical and Contemporary Perspectives), 501 (Theories of Educational Administration), 507 (Graduate Seminar in Leadership),  *503 (Educational Finance for School Leaders), *508 (Educators and the Law) and 678 (Diverse Traditions: Approaches to Educational Research).  *Thesis students register for one of 503 OR 508 and Directed Research Project (DRP) students register for both 503 and 508.

Core courses in Educational Policy Studies - Leadership for First Nations Schools focus are 500 (Power, Politics and Policy in Education:  Historical and Contemporary Perspectives), 501 (Theories of Educational Administration), 507 (Seminar in Leadership), and 678 (Diverse Traditions: Approaches to Educational Research).

Core courses in Educational Psychology/Special Education are 526 (Psychology in Education: Issues, Theories and Practices), 622 (Research Design in Education) and 657 (Problems and Issues in Special Education).

Thesis Option (five half-courses plus IPP plus Thesis)
	Students who commenced studies in July or September 2007 and are enrolled in the Thesis Option are required to complete five half-courses (or the equivalent) plus the IPP plus a Thesis. Programs of study within Thesis Option must include: Required core courses (see section D above); Elective half-courses in your research area of interest; IPP Thesis -- 590.
Project Option (seven half-courses plus IPP plus project)
	Students who commenced studies in July or September 2007 and are enrolled in the Project Option are required to complete seven half-courses (or the equivalent) plus the IPP plus a Directed Research Project. Programs of study within Project Option must include: Required core courses (see section D above); Elective half-courses in your research area of interest; IPP Directed Research Project -- 589.