The Master of Education in Curriculum Studies is designed for teachers and administrators who wish to engage in research and advanced study in curriculum. In addition to the general program in curriculum studies, concentrations are available in science, math and technology; and learning and technology.

For further program or admissions information, please consult the graduate calendar.

The Master of Education in Counselling is intended for teachers pursuing a career in school counselling and others pursuing a career in counselling through various agencies. Full-time students begin the program in July and generally study for 14 months if following the non-thesis route. Thesis students should expect to spend additional time in their program.

A Counselling Programme that is:

• Dedicated to the preparation of leaders of the counselling profession through the pursuit of disciplined inquiry, the understanding of and respect for human diversity, and the development, use and evaluation of effective counselling practices;
• Devoted to the prevention, remediation and amelioration of emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and interpersonal difficulties, and the enhancement of human potential and quality of life;
• Focussed on integrating theory, practice and research, with the awareness and skills to work with diverse populations from individual, social, and organizational perspectives;
• Conceived from an integrative theoretical orientation. Students are exposed to a wise variety of counselling approaches including existential, person-centred, cognitive-behavioural, narrative, and family-systems;
• Designed around accreditation standards and prepares professionals for a variety of work settings and for national certification.

The Council for the Accreditation of Counsellor Education Programs (CACEP) accredits the Counselling Program at Acadia University. All courses offered in the Program meet core competency requirements of CACEP. For a complete description of CACEP program standards and competencies go to http://www.ccacc.ca/en/accreditation/standards/

For further information on the counselling programme, please click here.

The Master of Education in Inclusive Education is intended for individuals possessing some background in inclusive schooling and wishing to prepare for leadership roles in the area of inclusive education.

For further program or admissions information, please consult the graduate calendar.

In addition to the concepts of leadership and organization, the concepts of social justice, democratic action, equity, empowerment and change pervade the program.

A program for educational leaders that:

• Focuses on education leadership, designed to appeal not only to those who are interested in administrative positions, but to supervisors, classroom teachers, other professional educators, as well as those interested in leadership in other organizational settings;
• Does not assume an understanding of the structure of schools and school districts, but rather explores the nature of these unique organizations and the ways in which our tacit images of schools influences our behaviour in them;
• Gives substantial emphasis to equity and social justice and the forms of leadership action that can address the difficult circumstances of marginalized and disadvantaged groups;
• Never forgets that children are at the centre of our work in schools, and that all leadership work - all pedagogical action - ultimately focuses itself here;
• The program can involve coursework that explores the latest technological applications for schools.

For further program or admissions information, please consult the graduate calendar.

Calendar information, admissions requirements, application procedures and deadlines are all available on the Acadia website (www.acadiau.ca) at http://gradstudies.acadiau.ca/GradAdmissions.html .  Application forms are available on the website at http://www.acadiau.ca/admissions/gradPrograms.htm . Please refer to website information before forwarding inquiries to the School of Education.

Acadia offers a number of graduate education courses and programs for students through a variety of on-line and distance delivery modes. These modes include on-site cohorts (generally arranged through school boards and located in a variety of sites within the Province) as well as on-line access. As yet, we do not guarantee that any graduate program in education is entirely available on-line; part-time students at a distance and not in a cohort generally need to be available to take some summer and/or evening courses on-site in order to complete the program. Nonetheless, Acadia continuously offers a number of graduate courses on-line. Information about available courses, applications for Independent student status (to take a course without or before admission to a graduate program), and about current cohorts are available from Open Acadia at http://www.openacadiau.ca .

All graduate education students should be aware that their degree will normally include a combination of face-to-face and on-line courses. Full-time students will take a majority of courses face-to-face, but as the School of Education is a leader in learning and technology, they will normally be expected to take at least one course on-line so that they have direct distributed learning experiences. Face-to-face courses are offered through a variety of models including: three hours once a week over 12 weeks; 4 weekends (Friday night and Saturday); 6 Saturdays; or two and three week intensive courses in the summer intersession.

The M.Ed. (Counselling) program is not offered on-line due to the nature of the core courses in Counselling. It is offered on a part-time basis through cohorts located in various sites in the Province, as well as both full-time and part-time on campus.

The letter of intent should include the nature and focus of study you wish to pursue in a graduate program. It should also include a discussion of relevant academic study and professional experience related to your program interests. Those applying to the counselling program should outline their motivations and expectations in reference to the counselling program.

An academic reference is provided by a person who can comment, firsthand, on your post-secondary academic achievement and skills as well as your potential to undertake graduate study. This information is usually submitted by a former course instructor or professor or thesis/research supervisor.

A professional reference is provided by a person who is familiar with the applicant's work life and experiences and can speak to how those experiences relate to the proposed program of academic study.

Applicants whose undergraduate degree was conferred ten or more years ago, or who have a Master's degree may substitute a professional reference for the academic reference. All other applicants must provide an academic reference. File processing is slowed when our staff must contact applicants to request missing information. School of Education faculty will not assess an incomplete application.

The graduate application process is competitive. Applicants must adhere to the two-year teaching or related experience requirement. Study is not considered related work experience.

International students are encouraged to apply for graduate study in the School of Education. There are extra admission requirements for international students, and you are asked to carefully review the documents which are linked in 1) above. As well, Acadia provides support for international students through the Wong International Centre http://www.acadiau.ca/wic/ .

Assessment of applications by School of Education faculty will begin only once the program application deadline has passed. M.Ed. Counselling application files are assessed during the month of February and in early March. Short-listed counselling applicants are normally interviewed in March and April. Applications for all other programs are assessed after March 15. For programs other than Counselling, applications that arrive after March 15 will be considered if space is available. The Office of Research and Graduate Studies will inform each applicant of the outcome of their application, usually by the end of April.

The School of Education may defer approval of M.Ed. program entry to the following year for programs other than the Counselling program. Requests to defer approval of program entry must be made within 30 days of the date of the applicant's current offer of admission. Prior to March 15 of the year in which they wish to enrol applicants are required to supply an admission application form, an updated resume, and transcripts of any coursework taken during the previous year.

Information about Acadia Graduate Assistantships is available through the University's office of Research and Graduate Studies, http://gradstudies.acadiau.ca/ . Application for this financial support is made concurrent with your application for graduate study.

Students may take up to 12 credit hours (4 courses) as independent students (see 2 above) to be counted toward a graduate program upon admission to the program. However, admission as an independent student does not guarantee admission to the program, and in the case of the M.Ed. Counselling program, all core courses are restricted to students already admitted to the program. Nonetheless, if you meet the admission requirements for an M.Ed. program and believe your application is solid, you may consider beginning by taking a course as an independent student. Independent students are admitted to courses on a space availability basis. Two coruses are either required or appropriate electives for all M.Ed. programs and are suitable for IND (independent) students. They are: EDUC 50G3 (Research Literacy) and EDUC 5303 (Principles of Assessment).

The School of Education does not routinely provide advice concerning the choice of electives. Any programme-specific requirements or restrictions are noted in the calendar; in the absence of any such limitations you may assume that an elective which complements your area of study is suitable.

Students are permitted to transfer a maximum of 12 credit hours of graduate courses from other universities. If the course(s) has not already been taken, a form entitled "Application for Transfer Credit: is to be completed. If the course(s) has already been completed, a form entitled "Application for Graduate Education Transfer Course" is to be completed. Forms are available at http://central.acadiau.ca/registrar/Forms . Download and complete this form, attach the relevant course syllabus or syllabi to it (we do not accept brief calendar descriptions), and mail it (or fax it) to the Graduate Coordinator (see contact information below). The Coordinator makes a recommendation to the Registrar's Office, copying it to the student's file. Principles informing transfer credits:

• Transfer credits are only accepted from universities that have full-time graduate faculties in Education.
• Credits can be transferred only if students are registered in a graduate program at Acadia.
• Courses can be transferred only if they have not been used to satisfy the requirements for another degree or diploma elsewhere.
• Courses transferred need to make sense in terms of the student's program at Acadia. Transfer is not automatic, i.e., it requires approval.
• In the case where a student is applying to transfer a credit to replace a mandatory course, the course syllabus is sent by the Coordinator to an appropriate faculty member for assessment. The general principle guiding transfers in this case is that the course elsewhere must be "essentially the same" as the mandatory course it replaces.

In the case where a required course is essentially the same as a course a student has taken in another graduate program, students may request a waiver of that course, to then be replaced by an elective course in the student's program at Acadia. Application for a waiver must be made in writing to the Graduate Coordinator, accompanied by a course syllabus, and an official transcript (unless this transcript is already in the student's file). The Coordinator makes a recommendation on the waiver in consultation with an appropriate faculty member, and copies the recommendation to the Registrar, the student's file and to the student.

Students registered in a graduate program are permitted to do 120 hours of professional development activities in lieu of a regular course. Once done, they complete a form entitled "Application for University Credit Equivalent for Workshop, Seminar or Other Training Program." The form is available at: http://education.acadiau.ca/forms-resources/articles/med-students.html - "Education Explorations Form". Students will forward the form, as part of a complete package containing certificates of completion and supporting letters, tothe School of Education for review and approval. Be sure to state your 9-digit Acaida ID number, your program of study, and your cohort (if applicable ). Students will receive a follow up e-mail instructing them to register in EDUC 5143 - Educational Explorations.

The following principles guide credit in Educational Explorations (EDUC 5143):

• The PD must be voluntary. Students cannot use PD hours that are required of them as part of their job or that are done on mandatory PD days (such as provincial in-service day in October).
• The PD must total 120 hours. This is a combination of in-class and out-of-class time, such as would be required for assignments and outside reading.
• In most cases, the 120 hours of PD must be completed while students are registered in a graduate program at Acadia, i.e., they cannot use workshops or other activities they have done prior to entering one of our graduate programs (see exceptions below).
• The PD must be documented and verified. Documentation can include certificates provided for workshops, etc, or descriptions of programs that have been verified (signed) by a supervisor.
• Students must register in, and pay for, EDUC 5143 once it has been approved by the Coordinator.

Exceptions (i.e., accepted even if done prior to graduate program entry):

• Module One plus any other two modules offered by the Nova Scotia Educational Leadership Consortium (NSELC).
• Module One (NSELC) plus the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board Leadership Development Program (signed certificate required).
• Module One (NSELC) plus the Halifax Regional School Board Leadership Development Program (signed certificate required).
• The Program for Aspiring and New Program Support (PAN PST) offered by the South Shore Regional School Board plus any two modules offered by NSELC.
• A registered Reading Recovery program completed within the last seven years.
• AVRSB Resource Teacher training programs.
• Participation in a school accreditation as a co-chair.

Because of supervision requirements established by external regulation, all practicum experiences must be undertaken concurrent with registration in EDUC 5066, Seminar and Practicum in Counselling. Over the four-month practicum period, students accrue professional experience at their practicum site, receive supervision both from the site supervisor and from the course instructor, and participate in a seminar class. Given that most students in cohorts engage in school-based practica, EDUC 5066 is scheduled in to begin in September or January when school is in session. If a jurisdiction cannot accommodate all placements in a given term, a second section of practicum normally is arranged for the following term (i.e., September through December or January through April). Students are required to be available full time for four months to complete the experiential, supervision, and didactic components of practicum.

School-based Counselling students who will be requesting a leave from their School Board in order to undertake EDUC 5066 - Seminar and Practicum may request a Leave Support Letter from the School of Education. The letter will confirm that arrangements are in place for the student to take EDUC 5066 and that the School of Education supports a leave during a specified time period. Please allow five business days for your letter to be processed. Include your 9-digit student ID when requesting a letter. Requests may be directed to shauna.coldwell-sweeney@acadiau.ca or by telephone 902-585-1759.

• Review your progress against the requirements stated in your calendar of entry and keep your Program Planner form updated. The School of Education does not evaluate individual programs to determine readiness to graduate.
• Apply to graduate http://central.acadiau.ca/registrar/Forms
• If you require a letter confirming completion of degree requirements, you must request it from the Acadia University Registrar's Office. Letters and verifications of enrolment require a written request and 24 hours to process. The Registrar's Office e-mail is: registrar@acadiau.ca

The Office of Research and Graduate Studies requires the following documents from applicants who are re-applying:

• New application noting the student number from the previous application.
• Application processing fee
• Verify that the previous references/transcripts are in the School of Educaton - this applies only to the last two processing years.
• Updated resume
• If applicable, official transcript of academic work undertaken elsewhere since the initial Acadia application.