Master in Education Program Overview
The Master in Education program is grounded in two main purposes:
- a space for students to understand their professional knowledge and to make meaningful links among this knowledge, and
- the conceptual and theoretical knowledge of educational research.
StFX offers an MEd degree in two streams:
- Educational Administration and Policy or
- Curriculum and Instruction.
In both streams students must complete the specified core courses, and choose electives appropriate to their interests.
The completion of the Master of Education degree requires the equivalent of 36 credits of study beyond the Bachelor of Education degree.
Students must finish their program of study within a six-year time limit, which begins on the first day of the first course or the first day of the month of acceptance to the program.
Starting July 2025 the Master of Education degree will consist of 10-three credit courses for a total of 30 credits
There are three options by which a student may complete the requirements for the MEd:
- a course-based route (36 credits in graduate education courses; July 2025: 30 credits in graduate education courses)
- a thesis route (24 credits in graduate education courses and a 12-credit thesis; July 2025: 18 credits in graduate education courses and a 12-credit thesis)
- a project route (30 credits in graduate education courses and a 6-credit project; July 2025: 24 credits in graduate education courses and a 6-credit project)
The degree fulfills the requirements of the Nova Scotia Department of Education for an increase in level of teacher certification. Graduate courses in education are offered as fall, winter, spring, and summer courses in locations around the province. Courses are synchronous and in "real time" unless otherwise indicated in the posted schedule of courses.
Candidates for the MEd are normally required to take EDUC 505 and EDUC 534 as their first two courses during the summer session immediately after being accepted into the program. EDUC 505 is a prerequisite for EDUC 507 and EDUC 508, required research courses for project and thesis students. Normally EDUC 507 or EDUC 508 is taken after core courses are completed. EDUC 507 is required in the thesis route; EDUC 508 is required in the project route.
EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY STREAM
First Summer:
534 Introduction to the Foundations of Education 3 Credits
505 Introduction to Educational Research 3 Credits
Educational Leadership and Administration Core classes to be taken prior to final research course:
561 Leadership and Administrative Theories 3 Credits
533 Dynamics of Change 3 Credits
573 Professional Development and Supervision 3 Credits
Final Research Course (prior to July 2025):
507 Qualitative Research Methods in Education 3 Credits Thesis students only as of July 2025
or
508 Critical Research Literacy in Education 3 Credits Project students only as of July 2025
Electives: see course-based, project-based or thesis routes below.
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION STREAM
First Summer:
534 Introduction to the Foundations of Education 3 Credits
505 Introduction to Educational Research 3 Credits
Curriculum and Instruction Core classes to be taken prior to final research course:
527 Principles of Learning 3 credits
532 Curriculum Theory 3 credits
536 Program Development 3 credits
Final Research Course (prior to July 2025):
507 Qualitative Research Methods in Education 3 Credits Thesis students only after July 2025
or
508 Critical Research Literacy in Education 3 Credits Project students only after July 2025
Electives: see course-based, project-based or thesis routes below.
COURSE-BASED, PROJECT OR THESIS
Master of Education degrees in Educational Administration and Policy, and Curriculum and Instruction are available through the following routes:
Course Based Route After July 2025
Core Courses 18 credits Core Courses 15 credits
Electives 18 credits Electives 15 credits
Project Based Route After July 2025
Core Courses 18 credits Core Courses 18 credits
Electives 12 credits Electives 6 credits
590: Project 6 credits 590: Project 6 credits
Thesis Route After July 2025
Core Courses 18 credits Core Courses 18 credits
Electives 6 credits 599: Thesis 12 credits
599: Thesis 12 credits
Project and Thesis students may be required to take one additional course: EDUC 593.
Electives are to be selected from the graduate courses offered in education. No substitution or transfer of credit will normally be allowed in core courses.
Graduate courses which may be taken for credit towards a Master of Education degree are listed in section 7.15 of the Academic Calendar. All courses are not offered each year.
Normally, only students who have been accepted into the StFX Master of Education Program are eligible to enroll in MEd courses offered through St. Francis Xavier University. Graduate students in good standing from an MEd Program at another university may also apply to take up to twelve credits of MEd courses at StFX. A letter of permission from the student’s current university must be supplied.
For further information, contact the Master of Education Program Office at 902 867 3906 or 1 877 867 3906 (toll free) or email: @email.
PART-TIME STUDY
The majority of Master of Education students are enrolled on a part-time basis:
- take one course per term
- courses are usually scheduled in the evenings or on weekends
- Students must finish their program of study within a six-year time limit.
FULL-TIME STUDY
Students may wish to study as a full-time student for a year and can complete a course-based MEd over a 13-month period.
Please be advised that the MEd Cohort Concentrations are part-time study only.
Thesis or Project:
Full-time students choosing to work on a thesis or project can complete course requirements for the degree over the fall, winter and spring terms and begin their research in the late spring and summer. Students interested in the thesis or project as part of their full-time study arrangement should contact the Master of Education Program Office for additional information. Students in the thesis and project routes will be assigned an advisor who will work closely with them supervising their research.
- Office space and study awards may be available for full-time graduate students.
- Students will complete EDUC 534 and 505 during the month of July following their acceptance.
- Remaining MEd courses are offered primarily online in the evenings (there may be the occasional weekend).
- Students having a valid Nova Scotia teaching license have the option of applying to substitute teach in the community.
IF AN EARLY ACCEPTANCE LETTER IS REQUIRED FOR THE PURPOSES OF APPLYING FOR FULL-TIME STUDIES AND A ONE-YEAR EDUCATIONAL LEAVE FROM A REGIONAL EDUCATION CENTRE, SCHOOL BOARD, OR SCHOOL DISTRICT, PLEASE SUBMIT THE FULL MED APPLICATION TO STFX ADMISSIONS BY FEBRUARY 1.
Application for admission to the full-time MEd program should be completed by the February 15 admission deadline. The full time program runs from July to July inclusive.
If you are considering full-time study, please contact the Master of Education Program Office prior to submitting an application: @email
Contact
214B MacDonald Hall
2175 Varsity Drive
Antigonish NS B2G 2W5
Canada
