EDCP programs

The Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy is one of four departments in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia. Curriculum and Pedagogy encompasses all the curriculum areas, with the exception of language and literacy education. Inquiry in Curriculum and Pedagogy is disciplinary and interdisciplinary, and includes numerous theoretical perspectives and orientations. Faculty and graduate students investigate teacher education, the social construction of knowledge, the curriculum as culturally and politically situated, analysis of contemporary curriculum and instructional practices, and educational reform in K-12 and other learning environments.

Doctoral students enroll in the Curriculum Studies program, which includes course-work, comprehensive examinations, and a dissertation, with the assistance of a supervisor in their area of specialization. Master’s students may apply to any of the programs listed here: art, business, home economics, mathematics, music, physical education, social studies, science, and technology. As well, students may develop interdisciplinary programs in curriculum theory & design; teacher education; complexity science & education; digital media & learning technologies; scholarship of curriculum & pedagogy in higher education; studies in historical consciousness; museum & visitor education; and health, nutrition & sustainability education. Students with particular interests in teacher education and the scholarship of teaching in higher education (SoTL) research typically apply to the curriculum studies specialization in the Department. The Department offers the following graduate degrees:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Education (MEd)

Programs and Specializations

The chart below summarizes the program choices available to you as a graduate student. Be sure to note which program you are applying for on your application form. Each program has required and elective courses and other program requirements that are described on the pages linked to the specialization. Although you will have a “home” in one of these specializations, we encourage you to select elective courses from outside your specialization. The PhD program requires comprehensive exams and a dissertation. The MA programs require 30 credits, or a 9-credit research thesis and 21 course credits. The MEd programs require 30 credits, or typically 9 courses plus a graduating paper, which is needed for TQS certification in British Columbia. A minimum of 24 credits must be in graduate-level courses for all master’s programs. All on-campus master’s programs in the Department can be pursued either full time or part time. Theses and graduating papers often focus on questions or issues that cut across disciplines and professional fields. This year there are approximately 225 students studying in the department’s various graduate programs. Graduate programs and specializations include:

The PhD and MA degrees are intended for students wanting to pursue educational research either professionally or out of personal interest. The Master of Education (MEd) program is designed primarily for practicing teachers who want to learn more about curriculum and teaching, and who intend to return to teaching or to a position of leadership upon completion of the degree. The MA is recommended for students who, in addition to their interest in curriculum and teaching, want to develop their expertise as educational researchers. If you think you might some day be interested in doctoral study, you should probably enroll in the Master of Arts program, although the MEd does not preclude advance study.
 For more information on requirements, see the master’s and PhD program guides:

• PhD Program Guidelines
• Master’s Program Guideline

Off-Campus External Cohorts & Institutes

The Department is committed to offering excellent graduate programs, both on-campus and off-campus. In addition to our on-campus Ph.D. and masters programs, we offer institutes and off-campus or external M.Ed. programs in Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, and other regions of the province. For information on our off-campus cohorts, please see the Office of External Programs and Learning Technologies (EPLT) and the Department's off-campus cohorts and institutes.

Accreditation and Academic Oversight

The University of British Columbia is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. Incorporated in 1908 by an act of the provincial legislature, UBC operates under the authority of the University Act of the Province of British Columbia. Membership in AUCC and operation under the authority of the University Act is equivalent to accreditation in the US system.

Faculty members exercise professional judgment in determining the curriculum design, course content, and sequence of courses based on disciplinary standards, expected learning outcomes, or other factors as appropriate. Specific procedures for implementing and evaluating the curriculum are determined by faculty members within the Department and designated colleagues at the Faculty level (e.g., associate deans and/or advisory committees). Substantive changes for programs are approved through the University’s Graduate Council and Senate.

Graduate programs within the Department are recognized by the British Columbia Teacher Qualification Service. Students interested in the TQS’s advanced certification of the M.Ed. degree are advised that their program must include a graduating paper.