Western Education's MA | Field of Critical Policy, Equity, and Leadership Studies

The MA in Education Studies in the Field of Critical Policy, Equity and Leadership Studies (CPELS) will give you the knowledge to understand the key issues and debates within education.

Critical Policy, Equity, and Leadership Studies (CPELS) faculty have expertise in at least one of the following specialization areas:

Indigenous Education
Critical Policy in Education
Race, Gender and Queer studies
Educational Leadership
Globalization and International Education

We offer three program streams.

Thesis-Based
Master’s Research Project
Course-Based*

*Applicants wanting to continue to the PhD level do not meet the admission requirements through the course-based stream.

Identify power and privilege

Develop an understanding of the principles of equity and social justice education

Recognize ethical implications of research

Understanding current educational reform and educational practices

What I like about my program is the passion and commitment that the educators show to the profession. It motivated me as a future eudcator to show the same commitment to my practice in the future. Their passion and commitment engaged me as a student and will hopefully engage my students similarily in the future.

My degree program has helped me by providing me with several tools and knowledge that I can take into the profession. There are many tools out there for educators to use to assist them in helping their students succeed. This helps ease our jobs and hopefully focus more on each students' needs.

- Tarik Omar, Graduated 2019

Beyond the program details

Admissions

Required:

A four-year degree (20 full courses or equivalent) from an accredited university.
Minimum "B" standing (70%) or equivalent in the final two years of study.

Recommended:

Honours degree.
A qualification leading to certification as a teacher (e.g. B.Ed.).
Minimum one year of teaching experience, or experience within the field of education.

Notes & Exceptions:

Bachelor of Education and Additional Qualification course grades are not used in calculating admission averages.
Applicants with 3-year degrees will be considered on a case-by-case basis if places are available in programs. Successful experience as an educator in a professional setting may be considered in the selection process.
Probationary Status: If an applicant does not meet all of the minimum admission requirements (e.g. average below 70% and/or has only a 3-year degree plus B.Ed.) the applicant may be offered admission as a Probationary Student with Conditions.
Conditions: Full-time applicants will be required to register in 2 half courses during the Fall Term and maintain a 75% average in each course to clear conditions. Part-time applicants will be required to register in one half course in the Fall Term and one half course in the Winter Term and maintain a 75% average in each of these courses to clear conditions.

Tuition

Tuition amounts are set each year by Senate and then published on the Office of the Registrar's Fees Schedules web page. Fees are assessed once each term (Fall, Winter, Summer).

Current students can access fee information by logging into the Student Centre (use your Western email log in and password). Students are notified each term once fee amounts have been posted in the Student Centre; it is each student's responsibility to log into the Student Centre and pay fees by the due date indicated. Failure to do so may result in a late payment fee or deregistration.

For questions about fees, including how to pay fees and the methods of payment that are accepted, students should go to the Student Financial Services pages of the Office of the Registrar's web site or contact Student Financial Services (Office of the Registrar) at 519-661-2100.

The Graduate Student Affordability Calculator was designed for you to get a better estimate of what it will cost to attend one of Western's graduate programs for one year. The calculator is not a promise of funding or a place to access scholarship support or financial aid; rather, it is intended to provide you with an accurate estimate of how much money you will need to pay for your tuition, fees, housing, food, and many other necessities for a 12-month (three-term) academic year.

Funding

Both internal and external funding opportunities are available for students in our Research Intensive programs. The following funding scholarships are available at the Faculty of Education (please be aware, applicants are automatically considered for some scholarships. The process for each is described in the link below.):

Academic Research Cluster Scholarships
Students living with disabilities
Indigenous students
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
Canadian Graduate Scholarship – Masters (CGS-M)

See further details about funding opportunities available through the Faculty of Education.

Technology

Instructors of onsite courses use the Sakai OWL platform, although it is not required. Access to a course in Sakai OWL is typically opened the first business day of each term. Please note that although your own access may be granted prior to the first business day, course content may not be posted until closer to the scheduled term start. Your Western University login and password is required to access the course (your Western email without the @uwo.ca and its accompanying password). Access to the learning management system is found here: Sakai OWL.

For online courses, students are required to have access to the following:

High speed Internet access
Access to a computer that enables connection to outside websites (flexible firewall restrictions)
Multimedia playback capabilities (video/audio)
WebCam
Computer capable of running a recent version of Internet Explorer, Safari, or Firefox; and/or Cisco MOVI client for PC or Mac
Audio headset and microphone for computer

Program information

Description

Our onsite MA program in the field of Critical Policy, Equity, and Leadership Studies introduces students to the foundational knowledge, theoretical and methodological approaches, multiple perspectives, key issues and current debates within a specialization. The program provides an understanding of the intersections between the specialization areas (Aboriginal Education; Critical Policy in Education; Race, Gender and Queer studies; Educational Leadership; Globalization and International Education), as well as the interconnections between local, national and global contexts of each specialization area.

MA STUDENTS MAY CHOOSE ONE OF TWO PROGRAM PATHWAYS

8 courses + MRP (Master’s Research Project)
6 courses + Master’s Thesis
10 courses, no supervisor required

(Exceptional students may be invited by CPELS faculty to fast track into our PhD program at the end of their first year.)

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to visit our Faculty Research page for more information on the exciting research being conducted at the Faculty of Education.

Important note: When submitting an application to the Master of Arts in Education Studies program, applicants (MRP or Thesis) must indicate their preferred Thesis Supervisor in their Statement of Intent. Applicants are advised to review the Faculty Research page and contact faculty in their area of interest to confirm that this potential exists.

Milestones

Below is a summary of the Thesis process. Students must consult the Master's Thesis Guide (PDF), Program Policies web page, and the School of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies' Thesis Regulation Guide for complete thesis guidelines and regulations.

Proposal:

Once a student completes their required and elective courses they will register in ED 9683 Individual Proposal Preparation (IPP). By the end of the semester in which a student completes the last required course decide on a topic for their thesis, and submit the Individual Proposal Preparation (IPP) - Supervisor Approval Form (found on the Forms & Guides page).

The IPP provides a structure for the writing of a thesis proposal. An initial review of relevant research provides the background for the proposed study. The methodological framework and the method to be employed are studied and developed. Ethical considerations are investigated and, where appropriate, an ethical review document prepared. The IPP is not a course but a milestone and compulsory element for those writing a Thesis.

The IPP should be completed in one term. The IPP is completed when the proposal and ethical review (where required) have been submitted for approval.

The Thesis Supervisor after consulting with the faculty members concerned, will formally appoint a Thesis Advisory Committee. The Committee will consist of a Thesis Supervisor and at least one additional faculty member who will act as a Thesis Advisory Committee Member. The Thesis Supervisor must be a member of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies with Ph.D. supervisory status, as approved by the Credentials Committee of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

When the Thesis Supervisory Committee is satisfied with a student's written proposal, the student may submit the proposal for approval. The student submits one copy of their proposal and the MA Thesis Proposal Approval form to the Graduate Programs Office for approval by the Associate Dean, Graduate Programs.

If the proposed research involves human subjects, the student has to receive ethics approval from Western University Research Ethics Board before the research begins. Please see the Research Ethics page for more information.

The student may proceed with their research and thesis preparation when all approvals have been obtained.

Thesis:

Only after all approvals have been obtained the student must register in ED 9590 Master's Thesis and may proceed with the research and the preparation of the thesis under the guidance and review of the Thesis Supervisory Committee. Please note that ED 9590 is not a course but a milestone.

When the thesis has been completed and approved by the Thesis Supervisory Committee. The student will submit the Application for Thesis Examination - Form B and Master's Thesis Supervisor Approval Form (found on the Forms & Guides page) to the Graduate Programs Office. The necessary arrangements will be made by the Graduate Programs Office for the examination of the thesis in accordance with the appropriate University regulations.

Timing/delivery

The MA program in the field of Critical Policy, Equity, and Leadership Studies is offered on a full-time or part-time basis.

Times to Completion:

Full-time - Typically 24 months (2 years)

Part-time- Typically 9 terms (3 years)

Below is the typical program of study for full-time students:

Term	Full-time
Year 1 Fall	ED 9200 Social Context of Education 2 elective courses
Year 1 Winter	ED 9201 Introduction to Educational Research 2 from list of CPELS recommended courses
Year 1 Summer	ED 9693 Individual Proposal Preparation (IPP)
Year 2 Fall	ED 9590 Thesis
Year 2 Winter	ED 9590 Thesis
Year 2 Summer	ED 9590 Thesis

Part-Time students can take 1-2 courses per term.

Below is the typical program of study for full time students in the MA - MRP

Term	Full-time
Year 1 Fall	3 courses
Year 1 Winter	3 courses
Year 1 Summer	2 courses
Year 2 Fall	MRP
Year 2 Winter	MRP

Below is the typical program of study for full-time students in the MA - Course-based

Term	Full-time
Year 1 Fall	EDUC 9200 + 1 or 2 elective courses
Year 1 Winter	ED 9201 + 2 courses
Year 1 Summer	2 elective courses
Year 2 Fall	2 or elective courses

Courses

Critical Policy, Equity, and Leadership Studies: Students may focus in one or more of the following:

Critical Policy Studies in Education;
Equity and Social Justice Education;
Globalization and International Education;
Leadership Studies in Education.

Thesis-based students will be required to complete 6 courses + Thesis. MRP based students will be required to complete 8 courses + MRP. Course-based students will be required to complete 10 courses.

2 required half courses
- 9200 Social Context of Education
- 9201 Introduction to Educational Research
4 or 5 recommended courses include
- 9202 Critical Policy Studies in Education
- 9629 Equity & Social Justice in Education
- 9507 Graduate Seminar in Leadership
- 9203 Globalization and Education
- 9204 Indigeneity and (De)colonizing Research
Thesis or MRP

Note: In lieu of the recommended courses, up to two electives inside or outside the ARC can be made with the approval of the student's supervisor. Students may have the option to enrol in an Independent Reading and Research Course

Potential Supervisor

Critical Policy, Equity, and Leadership Studies (CPELS) faculty have expertise in at least one of the following specialization areas:

Indigenous Education
Critical Policy in Education
Equity, Gender and Queer studies
Educational Leadership
Globalization and International Education

Faculty in this cluster are interested in:

Contemporary educational practices, processes and policies, as well as issues of power and privilege
Foundational knowledge, key issues and current debates within their specialization area
Ethical assumptions and implications of educational research
Intersections between the specializations areas in our field
Interconnections between local, national and global contexts

Members

Pam Bishop

Candace Brunette-Debassige