The following program goals are specific to Contemporary Literacy Education: K-9:

• Provide practical links between theory and teaching in order to develop deep understandings about effective teaching of reading and writing in K - middle years education.
• Explore contemporary challenges in literacy teaching, including cultural and linguistic diversity in the classroom, meeting the needs of struggling readers and writers, and the role of digital and multimodal literacies in learning and teaching.
• Consider research and theories connected to literacy practices in homes and communities, including digital and multimodal communication, and ways that these can inform teaching.
• Provide a professional community of practice where teachers across different locations can connect with others to explore current issues and literature in the field.
• Provide an opportunity to learn about graduate level coursework with the future possibility to ‘ladder in’ coursework for a Masters degree.

Courses in this cohort are self-directed, with optional online (Zoom) class sessions. These will be recorded for any who cannot attend. Synchronous sessions are in Mountain Time (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). Dates and times will be provided by the course instructor.

These are graduate-level, credit courses, requiring between five and ten hours of coursework per week in the fall and winter terms (13 weeks). Courses offered in the spring and summer terms are condensed (six and three weeks respectively), so the amount of time spent on coursework is increased. This includes time spent on readings, assignments, presentations (group and individual), and writing papers.

Note: you must take a course in the term for which you apply. Course offerings are dependent upon sufficient enrollment.

This course offers an introduction to new and emerging literacy practices and conceptions as they relate to elementary teaching and learning. The course will focus on how digital and multimodal texts and practices can be used alongside existing reading and writing instruction and pedagogy. Students will consider shifts in communication forms and practices, including the influence of the pandemic era and will have an opportunity to develop resources they can use in their own teaching context.

This course provides an orientation to current theoretical perspectives and approaches to literacy education. Participants will critically analyze the work of key theorists, researchers, and practitioners in addressing how children and youth develop language and literacy, with a focus on making connections to their own classroom practice.

This course focuses on ways to identify the strengths and needs of learners with reading or writing difficulties, and the selection and adaptation of teaching activities and resources to meet their needs. Contemporary issues and controversies in remedial reading and writing education will be considered, including the different ways in which reading and writing difficulties are explained and addressed in contemporary research and popular remedial programs and various teaching practices.

This course focuses on research and theories addressing linguistic, cultural and social aspects for multilingual and newcomer students in the contemporary English Language Arts classroom. It addresses approaches to instruction and assessment., and makes connections to multimodal and digital literacy practices for culturally and linguistically diverse students.

In order to be considered for the GCES program, you must meet the following requirements:

• A four-year baccalaureate degree from a recognized university with a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 credits of course work (6.5 on the 9 point scale).
  Note: For lower GPAs, admission may be granted based on work experience - see Guidelines for Considering Life Achievement.
• Two years of teaching experience
• English Language Proficiency

Domestic Tuition

2026-27 tuition for domestic students (Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents) is $1,549.00 per course (subject to change). Tuition is assessed each semester, by course.

Note: Tuition for these courses may be listed at a higher rate in the Academic Calendar. However, the Faculty of Education will provide a bursary to keep the amount paid by domestic students consistent across all Professional Learning courses. If applicable, the bursary will be applied after the add/drop deadline. The amount of the bursary varies by program; it is not applicable to U of A staff, doctoral students or international students. All fees and bursary amounts are subject to change.

• Non-instructional fees are assessed by the university
  Note: students can opt out of the Students' Union Health and Dental plans.
• Course readings - these costs are not prohibitive as most texts are available in digital format, and available to borrow from the University of Alberta library system; some may be used for more than one course.

Fees must be paid by the specific deadline for your starting semester. Please review this page for complete information and dates.

Because this is a part-time, course-based program, students do not qualify for University of Alberta scholarships.

• You may be eligible for funding through your local school division and/or the Alberta Teachers Association.
• ARTA 101 Continuing Education Scholarship for active teachers who are current ARTA 101 Members (membership is free until you retire).
• Métis students may be eligible for funding through the Belcourt Brosseau Métis Awards.
• You may be eligible for funding through Alberta Student Aid (apply 60 days before the start of classes for best results).

Once you have finalized your application (see instructions below), you will be able to upload these required documents to the Graduate Studies Application Centre (GSAC). Having them ready in advance will expedite your application process.

1. A 1-2 page résumé outlining teaching and other relevant work experience

2. A letter of intent (1-2 pages). In your letter, please indicate how your current work would benefit from participation in the program and/or how you may be able to enter or alter your career because of receiving the certificate. 

3. Scanned, up-to-date transcripts from all of the post-secondary institutions you have attended (including incomplete studies, exchange and transfer credit courses). Note: your application will not be processed until up-to-date transcripts from all post-secondary institutions are provided.

• Up-to-date is defined as transcripts dated or issued in the fall/winter session of the year of application (if currently registered) or within a year of the term for which you are applying (if not currently registered). For example, if you are a new student applying for the Fall term, the print date on your transcript must be no later than September 1 of the previous year.
• The transcript must be scanned legibly and in its entirety (front and back pages), including the transcript legend typically printed on the back of the transcript. Ensure that no information is cut off during scanning.
• The following are acceptable for uploading to the GSAC:
  • PDF copies of transcripts that have been mailed to you from the issuing institution, scanned front and back
  • PDF copies from Bear Tracks for U of A students
  • PDF copies from other institutions' student portals (must have the institution's URL clearly visible)
  • PDF copies from MyCreds (email to yourself, then upload).

Please review the Application Requirements for Academic Documents page to ensure that your transcripts meet ALL of the listed requirements.

When you receive your letter of admission from the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), you will be asked to send official transcripts directly to them. Instructions will be provided in the letter.

This is a part-time, online program. International applicants are welcome, but admission will not qualify the applicant under the Canadian Study Permit and/or Post Graduation Work Permit programs. For more information, visit International Education + Enrolment's page on Immigration. If you are looking for full-time graduate studies, visit the Faculty of Education's Graduate Programs page.

For this program, international applicants must meet the minimum eligibility requirements as defined by the program. Check out our page on International Academic Requirements for information on application documents, academic requirements, and English Language Proficiency.

International Tuition
Tuition for international students is higher than for domestic students. See the information provided here: Programs with Non-Standard Fees for International Students (look for Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies). 

Applications open on November 1 and close on March 31.

When you click the Apply Now button below, you will be redirected to the Graduate Studies Application Centre (GSAC). 

1. If you are logging in for the first time, click 'Create Account'. You will receive a code to activate your account and log in.
   
   
2. If you are a returning user, click 'Login' to be directed to your previous applications.
   
   
3. Once you have logged in, click 'Start New Application' then 'Open Application'.
   
   
4. Complete the 'Personal Information' and 'Academic History' pages.
   
   
5. On the 'Program Selection' page, click 'Select a Program'. Enter the following to choose the Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies:
   
   • Faculty = Education
   • Academic Unit = Education (Professional Learning)
   • Program = Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies
   • Area of Study = Contemporary Literacy Education: K-9
   • Course Load = Part Time
   • Intake = the year your program will start
   • Term = Summer
     • You must take a course in the term for which you apply, so be sure to choose carefully.
       
       
6. Complete the rest of the application. If you have any financial support (scholarships, bursaries, etc.) be sure to include any deadlines for those applications.

You will upload your documents once your application has been submitted - there will be a checklist on your application in the GSAC.

Submit your application as early as possible to mitigate any concerns with your documentation or to account for any system issues.

Apply Now!

A Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (GCES) from the University of Alberta provides students with up to 12 credits in advanced standing in the Master of Education in Educational Studies General Ladder Program*.

• Alternatively, any GCES may ladder into the M.Ed. in Elementary Education, Curriculum and Pedagogy, or Secondary Education - contact essgrad3@ualberta.ca. 

*Completion of a GCES does not guarantee acceptance into any master's program. Course availability is dependent upon sufficient enrollment.

Do these courses count toward the TQS salary scale?
Yes. Each graduate-level course counts as 0.125 years on the TQS salary scale. More information is available here (see section 15.02).

Will I receive Alberta Teacher Certification through this program?
No. These certificates are not a path to teacher certification. The University of Alberta offers the Internationally Educated Teachers Bridging Program for educators who have earned their teaching qualifications in a country other than Canada and are interested in acquiring certification to teach in Alberta.

How will a break in my studies affect my program?
In most cases, you have 4 years to complete the certificate. However, course availability is dependent upon sufficient enrollment. If you intend to interrupt your program for any reason, contact gcesinfo@ualberta.ca to discuss your options.

What grading system does the program use?
These programs use the University of Alberta's 4-point scale grading system (graduate).

What if I don't quite meet all of the requirements?
Contact gcesinfo@ualberta.ca to discuss your options.

What if I have already completed some graduate level courses?
You may receive transfer credit for one of the prescribed GCES courses. Contact gcesinfo@ualberta.ca to confirm.