ALE Graduate Certificate Program

About the Adult Learning and Education Graduate Certificate Program

The Graduate Certificate Program is designed to meet the continuing professional development needs of those involved in the broad field of adult learning and education. Are you responsible for providing adult learning opportunities in your workplace, union, professional organization, community, advocacy group, non-profit society or business? Are involved with designing learning programs for adults, exploring what their interests and needs are, creating a program that enables adults to develop their knowledge and learn new skills, and assessing the outcomes and effectiveness of such learning? Are you wanting to study at the graduate level but do not have the time or resources to complete a full master program? Then this program is for you. Please note, for those who decide to continue into the master program then you can transfer your Certificate courses. Students must complete 12 credits including the three MEd core courses listed below and one elective.
For a description of the core courses please visit the main ALE page HERE. Students can complete the Certificate within a year if they take one course per term; if students can take more than one course per term, they can complete in less time.

  • EDST 503 (3) Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Adult Learning and Education
  • EDST 514 (3) Adult Education Program Planning Theory
  • EDST 518 (3) Theory and Research on Adult Learning
  • Approved 3 credit elective

Admissions

Admissions Requirements for Graduate Study

For admission to the graduate ALE programs, it is not a requirement that an applicant’s undergraduate degree be in education. However some experience (1–2 years), be it paid or voluntary, with designing, organizing, administering programs for adult learners is required.

To be eligible for admission to a master’s degree program at UBC, applicants must hold a four-year bachelor’s degree (apart from applicants from Quebec) with a minimum overall average in the B+ range (at UBC 76%) in third- and fourth-year courses prescribed by the Department concerned as prerequisite to the master’s program.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies – Minimum Academic Requirements: Canadian or U.S. Credentials
http://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/application-admission/minimum-academic-requirements-canadian-or-us-credentials

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies – Minimum Academic Requirements: International Credentials
http://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/application-admission/minimum-academic-requirements-international-credentials  

Application Information

(1) The deadline for GCALE applications is found here. This deadline is also when all relevant documents (transcripts, references, etc) must be received.

(2) You can request to transfer the 12 ALE Certificate credits into our regular ALE Master’s Program, for both M.Ed. and M.A. degrees (if admitted).

(3) “For admission to all of our graduate ALE programs, including the ALE Certificate, it is not a requirement that an applicant’s undergraduate degree be in education. However some experience (1–2 years), be it paid or voluntary, with designing, organizing, administering programs for adult learners is required.” https://edst.educ.ubc.ca/programs/adult-learning-and-education/#tab_Admissions-1

(4) For admission to all UBC Graduate programs, including the ALE Certificate, “applicants must hold a four-year bachelor’s degree (apart from applicants from Quebec) with a minimum overall average in the B+ range (at UBC 76%) in third- and fourth-year courses prescribed by the Department concerned as prerequisite to the master’s program.”

(5) ALE Certificate Application Process & required materials are described under “Application Process” tab, at: https://edst.educ.ubc.ca/programs/adult-learning-and-education/#tab_Apply-3

Application materials include:

  1. Online UBC application form
  2. Transcripts from post-secondary institutions
  3. References
  4. Statement of intent. For the ALE Certificate, your statement should highlight the following:
    • Your education and work background
    • Your experiences related to organizing, designing, and/or providing adult learning experiences (paid or volunteer)
    • Why the ALE Certificate program is a good match for your background and interests
    • A description of the skills and knowledge in the field of adult learning and education you wish to develop through the program
  1. Writing Sample. You must provide a writing sample that will serve as evidence of your potential to write at the graduate level in EDST. Normally, the writing sample is 10 to 20 pages in length (e.g., course paper)
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