Master of Education: Interdisciplinary Pathway

Each topic consists of a total of 12 units (four courses). Graduate students are required to complete the courses within each topic in a prescribed sequence. Information about program delivery options, including face-to-face, blended and online options, can be found within each topic page.

Students are expected to complete program requirements for each topic within one year.  The stackable MEd Interdisciplinary degree pathway has been designed to be completed in three years. 

Minimum admission requirements:

• A University of Calgary four-year baccalaureate degree or an equivalent degree from a recognized institution. Degrees and grades from foreign institutions are evaluated for their equivalency to those of the University of Calgary.

• A minimum GPA of 3.00 (on the University of Calgary four-point system). This is based on the last two years of the undergraduate degree consisting of a minimum of 60 units (10 full courses).

• Proficiency in the English language is essential for the pursuit and successful completion of graduate programs in the Werklund School of Education.  Prior to admission to Graduate Programs in Education, an applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement for academic purposes in one of the following ways:

  An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ibt) score of 97.
  International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0.
  Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL) score of 70 (no less than 70 in each section).
  Academic Communication Certificate (ACC) score of A- in each course.

  A Graduate Program Director may exempt an applicant whose first language is not English from the ELP requirement if they meet the following criteria:

  The student has completed
  a Bachelor’s Degree (minimum of 3 years in length), or
  a Graduate Degree
  in an institution where the sole language of instruction and examination is English.

  Eligible institutions must be listed as providing English language instruction in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). Please remember, even if you have a degree from an institution included on this list, exemption from ELP requirements remain at the discretion of Graduate Program Directors. 
  Search for eligible institutions     

Application requirements:

• A written statement of intent (suggested length: 300 words) indicating the applicant's reasons for pursuing a graduate program in Graduate Programs in Education. The statement should address the following:

  • Please identify your reasons for applying to this graduate program.
  • Please outline the particular topics or questions that you plan to pursue in your specialization.
  • In what way is this program related to your desired career path or employment objectives? 

• Two references are required for students applying to the Graduate Certificate (Step 1). References will be asked to complete an online reference form*. No hard copy documents will be accepted.
  • Graduate Diploma (Step 2) applicants are not required to submit references.
  • Master of Education - Educational Research Topic (Step 3) applicants are not required to submit references.

*Should you decide to apply, please keep in mind that, although the deadline is March 1^st, references and supporting documents are also due on March 1^st so you should complete the online application earlier in order to give your referees sufficient time to submit their reference and to allow enough time for official transcripts to be sent from any post-secondary institutions you have attended (other than the University of Calgary). Referees will receive notification on how to submit your reference after you submit your application and are due March 1^st regardless of when they receive the notification.

• Applicants to the Master of Education - Educational Research Topic (Step 3): the minimum admission requirements for the final step of the MEd Interdisciplinary degree program also include completion of steps 1 and 2, the Graduate Certificate AND the Graduate Diploma in Education.

Relevant Prior Learning Considerations:

In exceptional circumstances, individuals who do not meet formal academic requirements but who have significant life achievements may be considered for admission to the program. The candidates must provide the relevant graduate program with evidence demonstrating a potential to undertake successfully the proposed program of studies.

Such candidates are advised to make early contact with Graduate Programs in Education, and supply additional supporting documents as part of their application package, such as:

a) Evidence of personal continuing education/training.
b) Results in these continuing education efforts.
c) Experience in a field related to the aspired degree.
d) Evidence of successful management of people, resources, finances, situations.
e) Increasing or varying responsible positions in organizations related to the aspired degree.
f) Work-related products, e.g. reports, programs of learning or training, handbooks, videos, manuals, workshops, seminars.
g) Evidence of personal growth in knowledge, understanding, management skills, and intellectual resources.
h) Evidence of innovation.
i) Evidence of leadership, coordination.

Admission to all graduate programs is highly competitive due to limited enrollment capacities. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

All graduate programs are governed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. In the case of any conflict, regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar take precedence over material on this website. Please consult the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar for University of Calgary graduate admission requirements.

Offers of admission are valid only for the term to which applications are made. Graduate Programs in Education will not grant deferrals of admission. Students unable to take up an offer will be required to submit a new application.

The online application for the Graduate Certificate (Step 1), Graduate Diploma (Step 2), and the Master of Education Interdisciplinary - Research Topic (Step 3) is currently open.

Application open: November 1, 2020
Application AND supporting document deadline: March 1, 2021
Program start: Summer (July) 2021

Applicants must use the online application found at the Faculty of Graduate Studies Apply Now page.
 

Graduate Certificate (Step 1) Applicants

Please select the Program: Education - Graduate Certificate option within the online application. 

Specialization: all topics fall under the Interdisciplinary Studies Specialization. 

We advise students to prepare their statement of intent in advance of starting the online application as you will then be able to copy and paste your statement directly into the provided space. Please see the "Admission Requirements" above for more information regarding the statement of intent.

Supporting Documents: ensure that you carefully review the supporting document tab below. Supporting documents, including completed reference forms, must be submitted by March 1 for an application to be considered.
 

Graduate Diploma (Step 2) Applicants

Please select the Program: Education - Graduate Diploma option within the online application. Applicants to the Graduate Diploma must be completing (in progress) or have completed the Graduate Certificate (Step 1).

Specialization: all topics fall under the Interdisciplinary Studies Specialization. 

We advise students to prepare their statement of intent in advance of starting the online application as you will then be able to copy and paste your statement directly into the provided space. Please see the "Admission Requirements" above for more information regarding the statement of intent.

Supporting Documents: new official transcripts are NOT required for applicants to the Graduate Diploma unless course work has been completed at another institution since the Graduate Certificate was completed.

MEd Interdisciplinary (Step 3) Research Topic Applicants

Please select the following options within the online application:

Program: Education - Master of Education
Specialization: Interdisciplinary Studies

Supporting Documents: new official transcripts are NOT required for applicants to the MEd Interdisciplinary unless course work has been completed at another institution since the Graduate Diploma was completed.

All supporting documents are due on March 1-No Exceptions. This is the same date as the application deadline. 

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that transcripts arrive before the application deadline, and that referees are aware of this deadline.

Transcripts
Required for Graduate Certificate (Step 1) applicants.

Returning applicants (to Steps 2 and 3) NOT required to submit transcripts unless course work has been completed at another institution since the completing the previous program/course with Graduate Programs in Education.

Official transcripts must be sent directly from all post-secondary institutions you have attended (even if you did not graduate) to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Official transcripts need to be sent by the transcript office(s) (i.e., the office or unit responsible for transcripts) of the institution(s) that you attended.

If original documents are not in English, you must supply an English translation from the issuing University or a notarized word-for-word English translation of a duplicate copy of your original transcript(s).

Transcripts can be sent by email to gradtranscripts@ucalgary.ca or by mail to the following address: 

Faculty of Graduate Studies
Earth Sciences, 1010
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada 
T2N 1N4

Please note that email transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution's transcript office (i.e., not from the applicant, a faculty member, or any other individual). Hard copy transcripts must be in an envelope sealed by the issuing institution.

Applications, transcripts and all supporting documents must be submitted 11:59 pm MT on the application deadline date for each program.

Transcripts for courses taken at the University of Calgary are not required.

References
Required for Graduate Certificate (Step 1) applicants.

Two (2) references are required for students applying to the Graduate Certificate (Step 1). References will be asked to complete an online reference form. No hard copy letters of reference or documents will be accepted.

Please see the Faculty of Graduate Studies' advice on finding references for your application.

References may be academic or professional.

References are due by the application deadline, so you should complete the online application earlier in order to give your referees sufficient time to submit their reference. Referees will receive notification on how to submit their reference after you submit your application and are due on the application deadline regardless of when they receive the notification.

Graduate Diploma (Step 2) applicants are not required to submit references.

Master of Education - Educational Research Topic (Step 3) applicants are not required to submit references.

Statement of Intent
Required of all applicants.

Applicants must submit a written statement of intent as part of the online application form. Your statement of intent should indicate your reasons for pursuing a graduate program with Graduate Programs in Education. We suggest a length of 300 words for your statement.

Your statement of intent should address the following: 

• Please identify your reasons for applying to this graduate program.
• Please outline the particular topics or questions that you plan to pursue in your specialization.
• In what way is this program related to your desired career path or employment objectives?

Hard copy statements of intent or additional information (such as a CV/résumé) are not accepted as part of the application package.

Admitted students will receive registration information from their Graduate Program Advisor after they have received their offer of admission.

Fees are outlined in the University of Calgary calendar.

Program Checklist

At the beginning of program:

• Activate your University of Calgary IT computing account that comes with a UofC email. We strongly encourage you to use this email while in program. Before you start utilizing your UofC email, update your email address in the Student Centre, as well as email it to your Graduate Program Administrator (see your Admission Letter for contact information). Please include your full name, UCID number, program, and specialization in your message.
• Attend one of the scheduled Virtual Welcome Sessions.
• Attend one of the scheduled Student Orientations to Course Delivery Modes/Tools.
• Initialize your registration through your Student Centre.
• Register for your courses.

Program Forms

There are various forms related to a student’s progress through his/her graduate degree. Please refer to the forms for detailed instructions on their proper completion. Students who have any questions or concerns should contact their Graduate Program Administrator. Required forms are available in the GPE office and some can be accessed by downloading them from Faculty of Graduate Studies.