Master of Education
The program leading to a Master of Education degree is for teachers and others who wish to further their professional and academic studies. Three fields of study are offered: Curriculum Studies, Cognitive Studies, and Cultural and Policy Studies. Course work and research emphasize the application of knowledge to teaching and learning, and the development of students as professional leaders with a strong scholarly knowledge base. Curriculum Studies includes the exploration of all aspects of curriculum, including the intended curriculum, the enacted curriculum, the learned curriculum, and the relationships among these constituents of curriculum. Cognitive Studies examines the psychological foundations of human learning and development. The domain encompasses both the mental processes of the individual learner and the situated contexts of learning. It focuses on processes by which people learn to think, reason, solve problems, and make meanings. Cultural and Policy Studies examines, from a critical perspective, the implications of the social, cultural, philosophical, historical and political contexts for education, in its broadest sense, and for institutional policies and practices. Normally, full-time students can anticipate needing between eighteen and twenty-four months in order to complete the degree. Most full-time students will find it possible to complete all course work within the three terms of their full-time year, and to have begun work on the thesis or project. Thesis or project work can be completed in additional terms either on-campus or off-campus. All students are required to complete the degree requirements within five years of initial registration. The minimum period of completion of the courses necessary for graduation is 12 months for full-time students and 24 – 28 months (dependent upon choice of a Master’s thesis or Master’s Project) for part-time students (evenings and summers).
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission an applicant must possess evidence of the following:
a. Professional experience, a B.Ed. degree or its equivalent, and a minimum of a B- average in a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent; OR
b. Two years professional or industrial experience, and a minimum of a B- average in an Honours Bachelor's degree or its equivalent; OR
c. A B.Ed. degree, and a minimum of a mid-B average in a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent.
Applicants whose native languages do not include English must obtain a score of 580 or more on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). To be competitive, applicants should also achieve a minimum of 4.5 on the Test of Written English (TWE).
Special Admission Requirements
Each year, up to five full-time students may be admitted who have demonstrated exceptional ability to undertake research. These applicants need not have professional teaching experience, nor a B.Ed. degree, but must possess a record of high academic achievement in an Honours degree or its equivalent, and must present courses that constitute preparation for research in education. Prior to admission, applicants in this category must develop a program of study, in Pattern I (thesis route), with a member of graduate faculty. The program of study may require more than the normal ten half-courses, and may include courses from other programs of the Faculty of Education. The program of study must be approved by the Graduate Studies and Research Committee of the Faculty of Education before the application can be approved.
Further details may be obtained by consulting the Calendar of the School of Graduate Studies and Research, Queen's University, or by writing to the Graduate Studies and Research Office, Faculty of Education, Queen's University, Kingston , Ontario K7M 5R7.
Doctoral Program
The program of study leading to the Ph.D. in Education is designed to educate researchers and professionals to address critical educational issues in curriculum, culture and policy, and learning, within and beyond the traditional formal school systems; to educate these researchers and professionals regarding the fields of curriculum studies, cultural and policy studies, and cognitive studies from an integrated and interdisciplinary perspective through participation in on-going research programs; and to provide these researchers and professionals with the scholarly, methodological, and critical knowledge and skills to conduct original research in these fields.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Education program is based upon completion of a Master's degree in Education or related discipline with first class standing at a recognized university. Professional experience in education, or a related field is an asset. Applicants are required to submit a brief research proposal (one to two pages).
Applicants whose native languages do not include English must obtain a score of 580 or more on the Test of English as a Foreign Language. To be competitive, applicants should also achieve a minimum of 4.5 on the Test of Written English (TWE).
Fields of Study
The program has three fields that are strongly interrelated: Curriculum Studies, Cognitive Studies, and Cultural and Policy Studies. Curriculum Studies includes the exploration of all aspects of curriculum, including the intended curriculum, the enacted curriculum, the learned curriculum, and the relationships among these constituents of curriculum. Cognitive Studies examines the psychological foundations of human learning and development. The domain encompasses both the mental processes of the individual learner and the situated contexts of learning. It focuses on processes by which people learn to think, reason, solve problems, and make meanings. Cultural and Policy Studies examines, from a critical perspective, the implications of the social, cultural, philosophical, historical and political contexts for education, in its broadest sense, and for institutional policies and practices.
Application Deadline
Applications for both Master's and Ph.D. programs must be submitted by January 15, 2010. Master's students may apply to begin studies in the 2010 summer, 2010 fall, or the 2011 winter term. Doctoral students may apply to commence their program in the 2010 fall term only. Further information about any of the above programs may be found at
educ.queensu.ca/graduate/index.shtml.