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The University of British Columbia
- a place of mind
- Faculty of Education
- Department of Educational Studies
The University of British Columbia, in cooperation with partner universities in South Africa (University of the Western Cape), Sweden (Linköping University), and Australia (Monash University) offers an innovative online, coursework-only, Master of Education (MEd) in Adult Learning and Global Change (ALGC).
Students proceed through the two-year, 30-credit program as a cohort drawn from the four participating institutions. Instructors are also drawn from these universities; students will benefit from a truly international staff.
After completing this program students will be able to:
The curriculum covers adult learning found in different cultural contexts and the roles learning plays in understanding and responding to globalizing forces and their impacts.
The program encourages the development of a broad critical perspective on the relationship between adult learning and global change as experienced and understood throughout the world. Students enrolled thorough UBC will work on collaborative projects with students from other countries.
Download information for Prospective Students in the ALGC Program [PDF]
Required courses in the program are sequenced so that all requirements can be completed in 24 months. The nine credits of electives may be taken at any time and are usually selected from on-campus courses (for those who reside in the Vancouver area), from various distance-mode courses available at UBC, and from directed studies courses tailored to your interests.
Several exchange agreements also permit UBC students to take graduate courses at various Canadian universities.
The first course in the program begins in mid-August. All the requirements of the program can be completed online; there is no requirement that students attend any meetings or courses on the UBC campus
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Year One Required Courses |
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EDST/ADHE 540, Locating Oneself in Global Learning I |
(3 credits taught by UBC) |
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EDST/ADHE 541, Adult Learning: Contexts and Perspectives |
(3 credits taught by Linköping) |
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EDST 575, Work and Learning |
(3 credits taught by UBC) |
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EDST/ADHE 542, Fostering Learning in Practice |
(3 credits taught by Monash) |
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Year Two Required Courses |
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EDST/ADHE 544, Global/Local Learning |
(3 credits taught by UWC) |
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EDST/ADHE 543, Understanding Research |
(3 credits-teaching rotated among the four universities) |
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EDST/ADHE 540, Locating Oneself in Global Learning II |
(3 credits taught by UBC) |
Students are admitted through one of the four cooperating universities and fulfill program requirements as set by the admitting institution. UBC invites applications from those residing in the Americas and Asia. Applicants must have a four-year bachelor’s degree with a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC) in third- and fourth-year level courses. In addition to two official copies of transcripts of all post-secondary work completed, applicants must also submit three letters of reference, a statement of intent, and a writing sample.
The statement of intent is a description in one to two pages of your specific reasons for pursuing this degree and how it relates to your experience and goals. Writing samples may be academic papers or professional publications that represent your ability to express yourself in written English.
Applications may be completed online at www.grad.ubc.ca/apply/online but supporting materials must be sent directly to the Graduate Program Assistant, Department of Educational Studies, at the address below.
For information about deadlines, please go to the deadlines section of the EDST website. Note that there are limited spaces in this program so not all eligible applicants may be admitted.
The entire program is in English, so applicants whose degrees are from a non-English-speaking country are required to submit evidence of English proficiency. A minimum TOEFL score of 600 (paper based) or 250 (computer based), or the equivalent for other tests of English proficiency, is required for admission. Further details are available on the TOEFL website.
Regular internet access is essential in this program. Applicants should have ready access to a Pentium-class or equivalent computer with a minimum 64MB of RAM, a colour monitor, mouse and printer.
Software required includes:
Web access should be via a 56K or faster dial-up modem or broadband/network connection. Applicants should have experience using Windows or another operating system to produce text documents; to cut, paste and save text material; and to access and download materials from the web. The courses in this program are delivered using the “It’s Learning” web platform. The first course in the program will orient students to “It’s Learning” and provide experience using its features.
For current tuition fees please go to the UBC Calendar, Section III: Fees, Financial Assistance and Scholarships, Master of Education, ALGC. (Note: the university reserves the right to adjust tuition and fees at any time). Annual tuition is paid in three installments (September, January and May). (Note: additional student fees are required by the University and can be found in the online University Calendar, Student Fees).
If students must interrupt their program for family, medical, or other reasons, a reduced on-leave fee will apply. Telecommunication access and time charges are the student’s responsibility as are costs for textbooks or other required instructional materials not accessible on the web.
This program is for those seeking a web-based master’s degree that provides multiple perspectives on the role adult learning plays as individuals and communities engage with globalization.
The program is also for those interested in international development work; cross-cultural education and training; the role of education in addressing various global health and environmental issues, promoting social justice in the face of economic globalization.
Applicants should be internally-motivated learners who are sensitive to cultural differences in worldview, communication styles, learning preferences and instructional approaches. (Note: this is a non-thesis master's program).
Although it is possible to complete a directed study project as an elective, applicants who intend to pursue doctoral study should consider applying for a thesis-based master’s program that places greater emphasis on research. (Note: online programs such as this require a high degree of self-direction, motivation and organization).
Students are expected to sign on to courses several times a week. Students should be prepared to devote as much time as needed to assigned readings, discussion groups, interaction with learning partners, and assignments. Those students who need weekly class meetings to structure their learning should consider our on-campus master’s programs. Please see how to apply.
Prospective applicants to the ALGC program often want to talk to students who are currently in the program, or are recent graduates. Unfortunately, privacy legislation, and UBC Bylaws do not permit us to post contact information for students. We have however, had some students provide us with a brief podcast describing why they enrolled in the program, and their perspective of the ALGC experience. Please click on the podcast links below to listen.
Podcast |
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Please turn on your speakers!
Note: You can click “more” and then “full screen” to see it best. Remember to click again after the YouTube video… there’s definitely more to see!
Courtesy of Erin Cardona, ALGC 2009.
My virtual journey in global learning began on August 21, 2006… PowerPoint presentation
For more information about this program, the department and admission procedures can be found at www.edst.educ.ubc.ca or by contacting:
Department of Educational Studies
Faculty of Education
The University of British Columbia
2125 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4
Tel: 604.822.6647
Fax: 604.822.4244
Email: grad.edst@ubc.ca
Download information for Prospective Students in the ALGC Program [PDF]
or
Dr. Garnet Grosjean, Program Coordinator
Tel: 604.822.4553
Email: garnet.grosjean@ubc.ca
