Building the future of online graduate studies at the U of A

Today’s graduate students are balancing ambitious career goals with the pursuit of advanced education. Their learning extends beyond the traditional classroom, taking place in home offices, on morning commutes or in quiet corners of coffee shops, with coursework woven into busy workdays. Working professionals want an education that fits their lives and connects learning to practice, allowing them to explore new theories in the morning and apply fresh insights on the job by afternoon.

To meet evolving learner needs, the University of Alberta is expanding its footprint to reach 13,000 total graduate students, including 3,000 additional course-based master’s (CBM) enrolments by 2033. 

“Academic excellence and professional flexibility are not mutually exclusive,” says Tracy Raivio, vice-provost and dean of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. “We are reimagining the graduate learning experience to ensure the U of A remains a lifelong partner in our students' intellectual and professional journeys.”

Online graduate programs: From 2013 to today

Across several colleges and faculties, U of A online graduate programs now deliver more than 200 online graduate courses each year, offering flexible, modular programming aligned directly with industry demand. 

This foundation first took root in 2013, in fact, with the launch of the master of library and information studies (MLIS) in the Faculty of Education, the first fully online MLIS degree in Canada. What began with 49 students continues to thrive today, providing a flexible remote learning option for working professionals seeking advanced credentials. 

Fast forward to today, the College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS) has built an online graduate certificate in sustainability with laddering pathways into a full master’s degree. J. Chiang, a laboratory scientist with the City of Edmonton, says this was game-changing. “I highly recommend it to any professional looking to broaden their impact,” says Chiang. “This certificate was such a rewarding stepping stone that I plan to continue through the laddering pathway to complete my master's.” 

Similarly, with artificial intelligence rapidly transforming health care, the online graduate certificate in AI and health equips health professionals to navigate and influence the evolving health and AI landscape. Dr. Tim Konoval, associate teaching professor and director of Interdisciplinary Health and Interprofessional Education with the College of Health Sciences,  says, “the goal is moving learners beyond basic AI literacy and ensuring they evaluate and integrate AI responsibly and ethically in real-world health systems.” And, the online graduate certificate in population health provides a flexible pathway for working professionals from diverse backgrounds to develop foundational and cross-functional competencies in population health. 

That same focus on industry responsiveness spans other disciplines as well. The Faculty of Engineering expanded its master of engineering (MEng) degree with an online specialization in construction engineering and management, attracting learners across Canada and abroad. The most recent program to launch is the new online graduate certificate in policy leadership. Applications are now open and the first cohort of students will start in fall 2027. Championed by the Peter Lougheed School of Politics and Democracy, it is designed to give policy professionals in Canada the tools to navigate today’s policy landscape with confidence.  

An invitation to shape what’s next: Call for Proposals 

To build on this momentum, the university has officially opened the 2026 Call for Proposals for Online Graduate Programs, inviting faculties and colleges to submit proposals for expanding existing master's programs online, or building upon new online certificates to ladder into a course-based master’s.  

When considering new programming, academic units may be hindered by the complex resource investment; however, proponents do not have to navigate the journey alone. A central team of experts from Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), the vice-provost (Programs) and Online Learning & Continuing Education (OCE) will provide end-to-end support, from instructional design to governance and support coordination across communications, marketing and recruitment.

Partnering with colleges and faculties to co-create new online graduate programs builds on the U of A’s academic strengths and responds to emerging learner and workforce needs. 

“By bringing together academic expertise and specialized capabilities in online learning, we are creating innovative, flexible pathways that extend the reach of our programs, particularly connecting with professionals with U of A credentials,” says Jessica Butts Scott, associate vice-president, Online Learning & Continuing Education. “We have built and resourced a comprehensive support ecosystem so academic units can focus on academic leadership and instructional delivery, while our expert teams manage quality, project management and the online learning experience.” 

As the U of A continues to set a new standard for flexible graduate education across Canada, academic leaders across all disciplines are invited to help shape what comes next. Whether your faculty has an established master’s ready to expand to online delivery or an innovative concept for a net-new online course-based masters, partners are ready to help bring your vision to life. 

Review the 2026 Call for Proposals or register for the upcoming webinar to take the first step.

Related articles: 

• CNAS launches graduate certificate in sustainability
• Building for the future: Designing programs with flexibility and access in mind
• Harnessing generative artificial intelligence to create authentic learning activities