Master of Education in Educational Studies

Northwest Alberta Cohort


MES Northwest Alberta Banner
Applications for this cohort are closed. Questions? Contact us at mesinfo@ualberta.ca.

The Master of Education in Educational Studies (MES) is designed to provide professional teachers and educational leaders advanced study in preparation for a broad range of formal (e.g., experienced leaders) and informal (e.g., aspiring and emerging leaders) administrative, supervisory, and leadership positions in Alberta school systems. This program not only embodies the Alberta Leadership Quality Standard, but also supports the district priorities of rural and northern school divisions.

The values of equity, integrity, collaboration and accountability will be highlighted in this three-year program which will emphasize the professional development of educational leaders in an academically oriented, rigorous, and research-based program, grounded in and informing practice.

Courses are online with synchronous and asynchronous components to accommodate working educators. For the online three-week summer residence students will be encouraged to come together in various local meeting centres to meet face-to-face (the instructor will be remote and coordinating instruction at all local sites). Local meeting sites will be coordinated through the participating school divisions.


Study part-time; work full-time.
Online and blended delivery.
Graduate in two years.
Course-based program.
Highly qualified, enthusiastic instructors.
Cohort of peers with varied experiences and interests.

MES FAQs

Who enrolls in the MES?
MES students have a wide range of professional experiences in education: a typical cohort has educational practitioners from K-12 and higher education classrooms, administration, and leadership; some with the required two years of experience and some with considerably more years. This diversity supports rich learning conversations, where students routinely share experiences, ask tough questions, and collaboratively build new insights about educational improvement.

MES students also have a wide range of professional educational interests: to ensure a personally relevant learning experience, students integrate their own areas of interest in educational leadership and/or school improvement into their coursework. If you choose to join us, you will enjoy a rigorous synthesis of study, discourse, educational research applications, and reflections on implications for professional practice as you build knowledge in your area of educational interest.
What if I'm not interested in formal leadership?

Educational improvement is the result of influence at every level of practice: for instance, the teacher who inventively increases student engagement is no less a leader in educational improvement than is the principal who ignites a renewed school-wide commitment to informed practice. So, whether you are already in leadership, have aspirations of formal leadership, or want to lead educational change from within the classroom, the MES is designed with educational professionals like you in mind. The MES provides you with opportunities to integrate your areas of educational interest into your coursework as you:

  • explore emergent, evidence-based research findings in educational improvement
  • consider the challenges and opportunities implicit in research findings
  • discuss the implications for practice and future research
  • plan and execute research to inform educational improvement
Can I really work full-time and succeed in the MES?

Yes. The program is structured to allow you to work full-time and study part-time.

The only full-time study takes place during the first three weeks of July, during a summer residency. Our graduates tell us that the open discussions, deep thinking, and new insights are invigorating and worth the investment of time during the summer. There's something quite wonderful about spending three weeks with a group of people similarly interested in and committed to being educational practitioners-actively involved in the art, science, inquiry, and reflection that is professional practice.

During your online studies, you can expect about 10 hours per week of coursework, so you do need to set aside weekly study time. Our graduates tell us that the support of family, friends, and colleagues is helpful. Let your circle of people know what getting an M.Ed. means to you and let them know, specifically, how they can support you. Talk with your educational leader(s) to determine whether accommodations can be made to support your studies. Lastly, keep your instructors in the loop; if you encounter scheduling difficulties let them know sooner rather than later so that you can collaboratively determine a solution. To optimize your learning experience, we endeavour to accommodate regional K-12 schedules.

Do these courses count toward the TQS?
Yes. If you are an Alberta K-12 educator, each MES course can be applied as 0.125 years of education toward your TQS (the full certificate is 1.25 years).

Our Partnerships

Fort Vermilion School Division

Fort Vermilion School District Logo

Our partnership with the Fort Vermilion School Division (FVSD) provides staff with opportunities including the MES program with a focus on literacy and numeracy as well as the Graduate Certificate in School Leadership which meets the academic requirements for LQS certification with Alberta Education. Both programs were developed to meet FVSD's identified needs.

International Baccalaureate Organization

IB Logo
Our partnership with the International Baccalaureate Organization provides MES students affiliated with an IB school to fulfill the academic requirements for an IB Advanced Certificate in Teaching and Learning Research OR an IB Advanced Certificate in Leadership Research. An Advanced Certificate credential acknowledges your profound understandings of evidence-based practices in the IB context and offers you a competitive advantage to prospective employers. Please note that additional requirements set by the IB must be satisfied; please check the IBO website for current requirements. For more information on IB Advanced Certificates, click here.

Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Educational Authority (KTCEA)

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Our partnership with the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Educational Authority (KTCEA) provided staff with the opportunity to complete the MES program in the areas of Indigenous teacher education, leadership, and school improvement. To optimize the learning experience, students in this cohort were taught primarily by Indigenous faculty, focusing on Indigenous pedagogies and research methodologies.

Maple Leaf Schools

Maple Leaf Schools Logo

Our partnership with the Maple Leaf Educational Systems World School Program provides their staff with the opportunity to complete the MES program with a focus on leadership and international education. This partnership includes collaboration between the Maple Leaf staff and University of Alberta instructors and ensures that teachers are able to complete the program without leaving China as they continue to work.