Master of Education

The Master of Education program is designed to develop the leadership abilities that emerge from graduate study, including critical reflection, research and writing.

Overview

• full-time or part-time study
• most classes are face-to-face and a few are blended (face-to-face and online)
• 2 degree patterns: 6 half-courses plus thesis or 8 half-courses plus project
• coursework is flexible to allow students to pursue their research interests
• each course is seminar style and consists of 36 instructional hours
• students are assigned a program advisor who develops a study program that meets the student's professional goals and the program’s aims
• students are expected to meet regularly with their advisor/supervisor to ensure adequate academic progress
• the Graduate Studies Office holds an informal “Meet and Greet” lunch in September for new and continuing students, faculty, and program staff
• students are provided with Surviving and Thriving as a graduate student meetings annually led by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
• program staff are available to assist students individually with any administrative concerns they may have throughout their program
• information sessions to assist students with Ontario Graduate Scholarship and Social Sciences and Humanities Fellowships are offered annually by the Manager and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Education
• other information sessions are also arranged if a particular need is identified by students and/or faculty
• there is an opportunity for students to voluntarily participate in a student mentoring program
• graduate students have access to a Graduate Student Facility for socialization, kitchen facilities, conference room, computers, internet access, lockers, and individual work stations (for those who apply)
• minimum time for degree completion is 12 months of full-time study or 24 months of part-time study
• average time for degree completion is 18-24 months (full-time) and 36-48 months (part-time)
• degree requirements must be completed within 5 years of initial registration

Fields of Study

Students in the MEd program are not required to select a field of study. They will follow a general program selecting courses of interest from our graduate course offerings in consultation with their program advisor.

Courses

Brief descriptions of the courses offered in the MEd program can be found in the School of Graduate Studies calendar. All students in this program must take EDUC-890* (Introduction to Educational Research), and it is a prerequisite for all of the advanced research courses, i.e. 892, 894, 895, and 896.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Queen's MEd program undertake or return to successful careers in a wide variety of professional settings, positions of increased responsibility in school boards, teaching at the college, primary or secondary school level, or continue graduate study in the field of education as a doctoral student.

Admission Requirements

• professional experience, a BEd degree or its equivalent, and a minimum of a B- average in a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent, or
• two years professional or industrial experience, and a minimum of a B- average in a Bachelor's Honours degree or its equivalent, or
• a BEd degree, and a minimum of a mid-B average in a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent

Part-time students may begin their program in September, January or July. Full-time students are normally considered for September admission.

Special Admission Requirements

Applicants who do not have professional teaching experience or a BEd degree, but who have a record of high academic achievement (80% or higher) in an Honours Degree or its equivalent as well as demonstrated exceptional ability to undertake research, are also encouraged to apply. A maximum of five full-time students may qualify for special admissions annually.

Prior to admission, applicants in this category must present courses that constitute preparation for research in education and, in Pattern I (thesis route), they must develop a program of study with a member of Graduate Faculty.

The program of study may require more than the normal 10 half-courses, and may include courses from other Faculty programs. The program of study must be approved by the Faculty's Graduate Studies and Research Committee before the application can be approved.

Application Deadline and Program Start Dates

Applications are due by January 15th, 2014. Most acceptances are adjudicated in late February.

Full-time students are normally considered for September admission. A new application and non-refundable application fee are required if the applicant for September 2014 is accepted but requests to begin the program in July 2014 instead.

Part-time students may begin their program in September, January or July. Note that part-time applicants who choose to apply for July 2014 admission are applying to the last term of the 2013/2014 academic year. A new application and non-refundable application fee are required if the applicant for July 2014 is accepted but requests to begin the program in September 2014 instead.

Late Applications

Applications will be accepted from domestic applicants until April 15, 2014, including the submission of all supporting documentation, for the 2014/2015 academic year if there is still space in the program after the original offers of admission have been made.

Late applications are not accepted from international applicants. All available spaces in the program are filled by applicants who submit their application and all supporting documentation by the January deadline.