The mission of the Adult Learning and Education graduate program at UBC is to contribute to the creation, elaboration, exchange and application of knowledge concerning the education and learning of adults in diverse contexts. This includes the development of scholars and reflective practitioners who will shape society and its institutions in ways that promote lifelong education and learning for all in critical ways.
For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website
The Adult Learning and Education (ALE) program is the oldest graduate adult education program in Canada with historical roots in traditions of social welfare, community development and extension education. ALE is concerned with the development of scholars and practitioners who will shape society in ways that promote lifelong learning for all. Our ALE program challenges students to understand the diverse contexts in which adult learning occurs and their role in these from a wide variety of theoretical, conceptual and philosophical perspectives.
The M.Ed. program is considered a professional degree for people who wish to work as practitioners in any adult education setting, most often as instructors, program planners, consultants or administrators. It is a 30-credit program with required and elective courses.
All on-campus master's students take a core of 9 credits of the following adult learning and education courses:
These core courses are supplemented with electives that allow students to deepen their study of adult learning and education or to explore topics and issues addressed elsewhere in the department and the university that have implications for adult learning and education.
Students must also take a 3-credit research methods course approved by their pro-tem advisor (for available options, refer to the Program’s website).
To complete their 30-credit program, students can a) complete 15 credits of electives and the 3-credit graduating paper (EDST 590); or b) complete 18 credits of electives.
The EDST Graduate Advisor and the Program Coordinators in the areas of ALE, ALGC, EDAL, HIED and SCPE will introduce the department, and the admission and program requirements of the Master of Education and Graduate Certificate programs. They will also answer questions from the attendees
Please ensure you follow the instructions in the online application system. After submitting your application, it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all supporting materials are submitted properly and by the application deadline. The Admissions Committee will only review complete applications. You can check the status of your application and supporting materials through the online application system.
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:
Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.
Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.
Minimum requirements for the three most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:
Overall score requirement : 4.5
Reading
4.5
Writing
4.5
Speaking
4.0
Listening
5.0
Overall score requirement : 92
Reading
22
Writing
22
Speaking
22
Listening
22
Overall score requirement : 6.5
Reading
6.0
Writing
6.0