The primary focus of the Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies - Prison Education is on teaching and learning in the specific context of carceral environments, including prisons, remand centres, correctional institutions, young offender centres and more. Through the program, students will explore the intricacies inherent in teaching in carceral environments, trace historical and current trends in prison education/programs, and develop strategies to maintain reflective practice. The program engages educators in interdisciplinary study of carceral environments, adult education and pedagogy, as well as course and program design.

Note: this program does not qualify students for Alberta Teacher Certification.

The following program goals are specific to Prison Education:

  • Critically evaluate research and theories of rehabilitation, learning, and change, and their connection to classroom teaching, and program and course design
  • Investigate and reflect on the challenges and opportunities of teaching in prison, including successful and emerging teaching strategies in carceral environments
  • Collaborate with other professionals to create a network of prison educators to enable mutual support
  • Build capacity to better support students in carceral environments to achieve their learning goals
  • Describe, reflect, and comment on current scholarly and practice discussions in prison education grounded in research-based and collective experiences.

Courses in this cohort are self-directed, with optional online (Zoom) class sessions. Any 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.

Fall Term I, September to December
EDST 595 Philosophies of Education in Criminal Justice ★3
Approaches to education often do not meld seamlessly with approaches to criminal justice. In this course, students will trace the historical and contemporary approaches to learning, change, and rehabilitation in prison. They will explore a variety of philosophical approaches to both education and criminal justice, and critically analyze how different approaches might impact their teaching practice.
Winter Term I, January to April
EDST 595 Teaching Adults and Youth in Carceral Environments ★3
Drawing on current education theories and practices, this course delves into particular teaching strategies that can be employed in correctional environments. Students will explore issues such as incorporating technology, adapting to multi-level classrooms, responding to trauma, creating educational environments, following institutional procedures and requirements, and working with justice professionals. A number of teaching modalities will be discussed, including face to face, self-directed study, student-led study groups, and the emergence of e-learning.
Fall Term II, September to December
EDST 595 Course and Program Design and Evaluation in Carceral Environments ★3
This course explores the theoretical and practical considerations in program planning and course design in correctional contexts. Topics will include needs assessments, asset mapping, proposal writing, budgeting, instructional design, and program evaluation and reporting.
Winter Term II, January to April
EDST 595 Understanding Carceral Environments and Re-entry ★3
Education and learning do not occur in a silo, fully separated from the other aspects of peoples’ lives. One reality of prison is that “the outside” continues while someone is incarcerated. This course will incorporate research from a variety of fields – criminology, sociology, psychology, and more – to enable students to understand the larger correctional environment and life situations in which their teaching occurs.

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

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.

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

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

Financial Support

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

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). For details, please contact gcesinfo@ualberta.ca.

Questions? Contact gcesinfo@ualberta.ca.

Applications open on November 1 and close on May 31.

When you click the yellow 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 = Prison Education
    • Course Load = Part Time
    • Intake = the year your program will start
    • Term = Fall
      • 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 can 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.

Questions? Contact gcesinfo@ualberta.ca.