• Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRCC)

This is a part-time blended (on-line and on-campus) program in the field of Aboriginal and World Indigenous Educational Studies, which is intended for students with experience in Aboriginal communities. It is designed to develop in its graduates, leadership abilities and theoretical, practical and experiential knowledge. It is directed at increasing research and development capabilities in education, in the community, and its leaders. The program parallels the general M.Ed. but courses are geared specifically to Aboriginal and World Indigenous contexts.  Each student is assigned to a program advisor whose responsibilities include developing with the student a program of study that coheres with the student's professional goals and with the program's aims.

The program consists of a minimum credit value of ten half courses. Students select one of two program patterns (see Structure of Graduate Degree Programs). A student's registration must be approved by the assigned Program Advisor, the Coordinator of Graduate Studies, and the School of Graduate Studies.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Master of Education AWIES program, applicants must provide evidence of:

i. Professional experience in Aboriginal and/or world indigenous education or related field, a B.Ed. degree or its equivalent, and a minimum of a B- average in a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent;

OR

ii. Two years professional experience in Aboriginal and/or world indigenous education or a related field, and a minimum of a B- average in a Bachelor's Honours degree or its equivalent;

OR

iii. A B.Ed. degree and a background in Aboriginal and/or world indigenous issues, and a minimum of a mid-B average in a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent.

iv. 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.

In addition to the above, an applicant must submit two letters of support from respected members of the applicant's Aboriginal or world indigenous community to which they either belong or are related. Since preference will be given to qualified applicants of Aboriginal ancestry (Status, non-Status, Métis, Inuit) applicants may be requested to provide proof of Aboriginal ancestry where applicable.  Documentation which provides proof of Aboriginal ancestry may include: a status card, church records, a Métis card, a verification letter from an official Political Territorial Organization (PTO) or First Nations.

Qualifying Student Admission

Qualifying admission may be applicable for candidates who:

i. do not hold the minimum academic standing and/or degree outlined in options i.) and ii) above; and

ii. show potential for graduate studies in AWIES evinced by other information submitted as part of their application.

Individuals in this category must successfully complete two Faculty of Education M.Ed. half courses, preferably AWIES half courses, for admission into the AWIES program.  Courses must be completed to the satisfaction of the Department, as indicated in writing by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies, in order to be admitted to the M.Ed. in AWIES program. Course credits may be applied to fulfill AWIES program requirements.

Normally, Qualifying Student Status applicants must complete their first half course with a B average or better. Those who do not obtain a B average or better on their first half course may be granted permission to take one additional half course in the program and must obtain an average of at least a B on the two half courses in order to be considered for admission as a student to the degree program. 

Applicants with Qualifying Student Status who fail to obtain a B average or better on the first half course or an average of B or better on the two half courses will not be admitted to the AWIES program.

Program Patterns

Pattern I: A minimum of six half courses (two must be research courses), and a master's thesis (credit value four half-courses).

Pattern II: A minimum of eight half courses (one must be a research course), and a master's project (credit value two half-courses).

With the approval of the program advisor, the Coordinator of Graduate Studies and, where applicable, the thesis or project supervisor, a student may:

a) be required to take additional courses from either the graduate offerings of the Faculty of Education, or undergraduate/graduate offerings of the University in support of the thesis (EDUC-899) or project (EDUC-898).

b) be permitted to take up to two half courses from graduate (or advanced undergraduate) courses offered by other departments of the University, another university, or the general M.Ed. program with the approval of the advisor, and the Coordinator of Graduate studies

Courses by Component

A. Aboriginal and World Indigenous Educational Studies: EDUC-870*, EDUC-871*, EDUC-874*, EDUC-877*, EDUC-878*.

B. Thesis and Project Preparation: EDUC-872*, EDUC-875*, EDUC-876*.

C. Thesis and Project: EDUC-898, EDUC-899.

Additional Regulations

1. Advanced credit may be granted for up to two graduate half courses taken at another university provided that the courses cohere with the student's program of study, and provided that the request for advance credit is made at the time of application. In no case will credit be granted for courses, which have been credited to another degree or diploma.
2. Part-time students are normally required to attend classes at the Queen's campus for at least one academic term (usually Summer). [Part-time students may register in no more than one half course in each of the Fall and Winter Terms. No student may register in more than two half courses in the Summer Term.
3. The total number of half courses taken by a student from outside the offerings of the Queen's M.Ed. AWIES program may not normally exceed two.
4. 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 24 – 28 months (dependent upon choice of a Master's thesis or Master's project.
5. Further regulations are published in Graduate Studies in Education: A Handbook.

Dissertation

The dissertation research must be original and contribute to knowledge in the field. The defense of the dissertation will be an oral examination conducted according to the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies (see Thesis).