Education

M.Ed, M.Ed (AWIES), Ph.D

Our education programs are for students who are looking for more than just a master’s degree or doctorate; they are for students who want to be part of a community. No matter where you come from, whether your background is in education, government or the corporate or non-profit sector, we value your experience and we welcome your perspective.

At the heart of our community is a network of faculty and staff who are there to guide, support, challenge and help you grow. By keeping our class sizes small, we guarantee you access to the kind of individual attention and one-on-one mentoring that will help you develop both personally and professionally.

On the academic side, you will work closely with advisors and supervisors to satisfy your intellectual curiosity, challenge your imagination and develop your educational values. Our support staff will make sure the resources you need are available to make the most of your experience.

Because our community values growth and personal development, you will have many opportunities to research meaningful topics and present findings to an audience of your peers. Our annual Graduate Student Symposium – organized by students for students – attracts student presenters from across Canada, with publication opportunities for all presenters.

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"I was lucky to have been paired with a great supervisor, Dr. Lyn Shulha, whose mentorship helped me grow into an emerging scholar. There's such a strong sense of community, both within the education graduate students and the broader Queen's community. I was encouraged to go to conferences -- American Evaluation Association and the Canadian Society for the Studies of Education-- these experiences help solidify my development as a scholar -- it helps that our faculty members are leaders in their respective fields."—

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Degrees Offered / Length of Program

• M. Ed.: 18-24 months, full time (part time also available)
• M.Ed. in Aboriginal & World Indigenous Educational Studies (AWIES): part time only
• Ph.D.: 4 years, full time

Method of Completion

• M.Ed.: Pattern 1: Six half-courses, thesis + defence
• M.Ed.: Pattern 2: Eight half-courses + project
• Ph.D.: Two years course work, comprehensive examination, thesis + defence

Degree Level Expectations & Learning Outcomes

M.Ed - view this information as a pdf(104KB)

PhD - view this information as a pdf (107KB)

Supervisors and Fields of Study

Contacting a potential supervisor in advance is optional for Master’s students and required for Ph.D. students.

Fields of Study:
The following fields are available at the doctoral level and master's students may select courses as appropriate across the three fields.

• 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
• 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. 

Employment Opportunities

Graduates have pursued successful careers as:

• Primary and secondary school teachers
• Instructors for various colleges
• Assistant Professors at various universities
• Vice-Principals and Principals
• Researchers with various organizations
• Senior administrative positions, eg. Equity Officer, Professional Practice Leader, Manager of Continuing Education programs, Director of Health Science Education, Supervisory Officer
• Consultant positions
• Pursue doctoral studies or postdoctoral fellowships

Funding Information

• M.Ed.: Every effort is made to ensure that all eligible students who apply for funding receive an average up to $7,000 per year made up of provincial or national fellowships, research or teaching assistantships, or awards and bursaries.
• Ph.D.: Minimum $18,000. The average funding level over the last four years has been up to $23,000 per year.

We strongly urge all students to apply for external funding from SSHRC, OGS, CGS and other sources. Entering graduate students who win federal government tri-council awards are automatically provided a $5,000 top-up award by Queen’s.

 

Academic Prerequisites

M.Ed.:

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

M.Ed. (AWIES):

• Same as above except professional experience in Aboriginal and/or world indigenous education or related field is required.

Ph.D.:

• Master’s degree in Education or a related discipline with first-class standing from a recognized university
• Professional experience in education or a related field is an asset

Other Requirements

(to be sent directly ot the Education Department)

M.Ed. and M.Ed. (AWIES):

• Proposed Focus of Study
• Résumé/C.V.
• Letters of support from respected members of the applicant's Aboriginal or world indigenous community to which they either belong or are related (AWIES only)

Ph.D.:

• Two-page research proposal
• C.V.

Test Requirements

For international students, if required, a TOEFL total score of at least 580 (paper-based) or TOEFL iBT minimum score of 92.

 

Program Profiles

• Tammy Chen (alumnist) - a passion for fostering "Bright Futures"
• Megan Bond - teachers wield a lot of power, it's a gift to have that kind of influence
• Science Rendezvous - sparks interest in science, math & technology
• Dr Rena Upitis - iScore: a case study that has an impact
• Alyson Huntly - finding your dream career in unexpected places...
• Christine Doe - turning a love of language & travel into a career...
• Robin Schock (alumnist) - from graduate degree to learning specialist...
• Drs John Kirby  & Lesly Wade-Woolley - Cognitive Development of Reading
• Terry Bridges - pursuing 2nd PhD while still having time to do community outreach projects
• Chi Yan Lam - teacher education and social media
• Deepa M - an inherent belief in her research
• Barbara Roberts - for the joy of learning
• Hana Stanbury (alumnist) - made a dream come true when she moved to Canada...