About

Built on the foundational principles of adult education, this unique MEd presents a fresh perspective on cultivating skills, attitudes, and dispositions that regenerates our relationships with the land, forests, and communities. 

This part-time, hybrid program is designed for a diverse range of individuals, including:

• Undergraduates in Education, Forestry, or Land & Food Systems seeking to advance their learning and careers.
• Working professionals from various sectors aiming to integrate their experience with educational leadership research.
• Individuals seeking to transition into education or training roles related to regeneration and resilience.

Program highlights

• Summer Institute: Explore complexity, sustainability, and complicity in climate change, education, and justice, guided by adult education principles. Build connections at a mini-retreat at Loon Lake and learn about UBC Farm’s connection to the Musqueam First Nation.
• Research Design & Methods: The program will employ the social innovation process for collaborative group work — think of this fourth course as a “rehearsal” for the group projects. Develop skills in defining project scope, framing research questions, and prototyping solutions.
• Recommended Electives (Course 5, Summer 2025): Choose from Indigenous Methodologies, Education for Sustainability, or Systems Thinking. Explore “Approaches to Stewarding Forested Foodland” with Dr. Tonya Smith and Lil’wat First Nation.
• Practicum Courses (6 & 7): Apply social innovation in group projects at UBC Farm. With a focus on implementing student-driven policies, the end goal of the two-course sequence is a public presentation.
• Knowledge Mobilization (Course 8): Focus on knowledge exchange through storytelling, art, podcasts, and visualization.
• Recommended Elective (Course 9): Revisit themes of Indigeneity, Systems Thinking, and Education for Sustainability. Explore courses on Forests and Climate Justice, Indigenous Epistemology & Curriculum, and Watershed Science.
• Capstone (Course 10): Refine and present group projects at a public event with family, community stakeholders, and the public.

Schedule

2024-2026

The UBC MEd with a focus on Education for Sustainability, Regeneration & Resilience consists of 30 credits of course work, typically completed in two years.

Courses and schedule are subject to change.

*Elective Options

January 2025

• Environmental Philosophy & Education | EDST 588 | Hybrid
• Forested Food in Lil’wat First Nation | FRST | In Person
• Professional Communication Strategies | LWS 550 | TBD

January 2026

• Climate Change Communication & Engagement | FRST 521C | In Person
• Indigenous Epistemology & Curriculum | EDST 591 | In Person
• Watershed Science | FRST 593 | In Person

Application Requirements

All students must meet the admission and application requirements of both the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the program, which include:

• A minimum of two-years of engagement within schools, communities, business, government, non-governmental organizations, or other education-oriented environments.
• A completed four-year undergraduate degree and at least a 76% average on all senior-level credits.
• Three letters of recommendation from educators, colleagues, or clients that speak to your abilities to complete a graduate degree and interest in sustainability and education.
• Resumé and a 600-word statement of intent of your education for sustainability experience, professional goals, and the anticipated benefit of involvement in the program.

Fees

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are reviewed annually by the UBC Board of Governors and may be adjusted without prior notice. For the most accurate and up-to-date information on tuition and fees, visit the official UBC Calendar. In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct.

Graduate tuition is assessed as an annual program fee, which is divided into three equal installments due at the beginning of academic terms starting in September, January and May. Students in this program will pay a minimum of 7 installments.

Student Fees

Student fees include fees established and authorized by the UBC Board of Governors and fees established and authorized by students societies. These fees are in addition to tuition fees. Please see the UBC Calendar for details on student fees.

Funding Eligibility

As this program is part-time, it is not eligible for student loans or other types of funding.

How to Apply

Application Status: Closed
Application Deadline: TBD
Document Deadline: April 14, 2024

1. ONLINE APPLICATION

• Navigate to grad.ubc.ca/apply/online/.
• When you are ready to apply, click “Apply Online”.
• Read the instructions, and either log in with your CWL or create a CWL if you have never attended UBC.
• Once logged in, use the Program Keyword search box and type the 4-character cohort designation EFS3 or Master of Education in Educational Studies – Professional Cohort.
• Click the program name.  Ensure you select the version that ends with “Professional Cohort”.
• Click the “Apply” button.
• Fill out the application as indicated.

2. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Please have these ready to upload when you apply:

• Official transcripts
  • Canadian transcripts
  • International transcripts/Degree Certificates
• References
• Statement of intent
• Résumé
• English proficiency report (if applicable)

References:

Referees may be academic or professional. Academic references are those who know you in an academic capacity (e.g. former professors). Professional references should be those who have supervised you in a work setting (e.g. Principal, Vice-Principal, or other non-educational supervisor).

Please encourage your referees to submit electronic reference forms. In cases where referees are unable to submit an electronic reference, sealed and endorsed reference letters or reference forms may be sent by mail.

Once you submit and pay for your online application, your referees will automatically receive an email with a link and instructions for completing the electronic reference form, or the link to the paper reference form.

A reference letter can take the place of the reference form as long as it addresses the questions posed in the reference form.

 Important: Please ask your references to include the 4-character cohort designation EFS3 when they submit their reference. All references must arrive in sealed envelopes with the reference’s signature on the seal.

For those choosing to submit paper references, please send to:

EFS3 Graduate Cohort
Professional Development & Community Engagement
UBC Faculty of Education
1304-2125 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC, Canada
V6T 1Z4

3. APPLICATION TIMELINE

After your application is submitted, all documents are uploaded, and references have been received, your application file is considered complete.

Once the application deadline for the program has passed, all completed application files are submitted to the Department for review.  Applications recommended by the Department for admission are then confirmed against Graduate & Post-Doctoral Studies requirements, and accepted applicants are notified. Any special case admissions require an additional review by Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies.

The entire process generally takes 8 to 12 weeks.

NOTE:
This program is subject to minimum enrollment in order to run. We will advise applicants on the status of this program after the application deadline has passed.

4. ASSISTANCE

If you require any assistance with the application process, please contact:

Kelvin Mok
Senior Program Assistant
604-827-5662
pdce.educ@ubc.ca

Apply Now

Info Sessions

Meet the Program Advisor and Senior Program Assistant, and learn more about applying to become a UBC graduate student.

There are currently no info sessions scheduled for this program.
There are currently no info sessions scheduled for this program.

Did you miss one of our info sessions?

Watch a recorded info session from November 2, 2023

Alumni Insights

Watch this video of our alumni sharing their experiences with the program.

Learn more about the work our students are doing to make our city more sustainable.

Contacts

For program content questions:

Robert VanWynsberghe
Professor
Department of Educational Studies
Website: robvanwynsberghe.ca
Email: robert.vanwynsberghe@ubc.ca

For application questions or assistance:

Kelvin Mok
Senior Program Assistant
604-827-5662
pdce.educ@ubc.ca