Degrees Offered

Admissions to the M.A. and Ph.D. programs in MLED and TESL are limited and highly competitive. The Department offers three graduate degrees in each of our fields of specialization.
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M.A. Degree

This degree requires a minimum of 30 credits including 24 credits at the 500-level or above. These 30 credits are to be divided as follows:

• Master's thesis - 9 credits
• Research core - 6 credits
• Specialty area (chosen in consultation with advisor) - 12-15 credits

This degree may be completed by part-time study, but candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for full-time study.
Time limit: Up to 5 years.

M.Ed. Degree

The M.Ed. degree consists of 30 credits, 3 of which may be a graduating paper (e.g. to fulfill the "Capstone Experience" for Teacher Qualification Service (for BC teachers)).
Students must take 10 courses fulfilling the following guidelines:

• 24 credits must be at the 500-level
• EDUC 500
• 12 credits must be in the specialization area in LLED; 9 credits may be any 500-level course in LLED or any other department
• 6 credits may be at the 300/400 level

Students may choose to take all 30 credits at the 500-level. Course selection should be done in consultation with students' graduate supervisor.
Time limit: 1-1/2 years to 5 years

Changes to the M.Ed. degree program in LLED

• a 30-credit M.Ed. Degree (equivalent to 10 one-term courses)
• may be completed in 3 years or less of part-time study
• no comprehensive examination
• graduating paper is optional, not required

Flexibility in course selection

• no fixed course requirements other than 3 credits required by the Faculty of Education (EDUC 500; recommend CUST 562)
• includes 18-24 credits of LLED electives
• may include 6 credits of 300- and 400- level courses
• may include 6 credits of electives outside LLED

Interest Areas in LLED

• oral language • children’s literature • literacy (reading & writing) literacy intervention • drama • ESL • ESL/EFL literacy • modern languages education • teacher-librarianship • resource-based teaching • integrating computers in language arts • elementary, middle years and secondary language arts

Time limit: 1-1/2 years to 5 years

Ph.D. Degree

The Ph.D. in Language & Literacy Education may be completed in any of our program specializations. It normally consists of a one-year residency in the Department, together with a dissertation.
Students are normally expected to advance to candidacy by the end of their third year (having completed their comprehensive exams and dissertation proposal, and relevant coursework).
Time limit: Up to 6 years.

Please read the full information in our PhD handbook.

Diplomas

In addition to graduate degrees, the Department offers three Diplomas designed for professionals with a first degree and at least a year's teaching experience: Language and Literacy Education, Teaching English as a Second Language, and Teacher Librarianship. All Diploma programs are administered by the Teacher Education Office. Please contact that office directly at for admission and registration information: teacher.ed@ubc.ca, or phone (604) 822-5242.

Certificates

Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)
Teacher-librarianship (LIBE)