Trent University Announces New Masters in Educational Studies Program

New M.Ed. program to begin in July 2015 will expand Trent’s capacity for building leadership in education

Thursday, July 10, 2014, Peterborough, ON

Trent University will open a new Masters in Educational Studies program in July 2015 at its School of Education and Professional Learning, providing an exceptional opportunity for teachers and professionals to build their educational leadership in an interdisciplinary, personalized, and research-focused environment.

The Masters in Educational Studies program will be deeply aligned with Trent’s mission, offering a truly interdisciplinary approach to educational studies. The M.Ed. program will benefit from the University’s established record of strong partnerships and collaborations with school boards and local communities, and from the focus on social and ecological justice that frames Trent’s programs.

“Since the inception of the School of Education and Professional Learning at Trent University in 2002, our faculty have anticipated the need to develop a graduate program in Educational Studies,” said Dr. Jacqueline Muldoon, dean of the School of Education and Professional Learning. “The interdisciplinary focus of the new M.Ed. program combined with a critical theory approach, a commitment to Indigenous education, and most importantly a focus on social and ecological justice make this program unique among others of its kind.”

Open to all individuals with a Bachelor degree, the M.Ed. program will feature a combination of course work, teaching and research seminars, and individual reading and research. Students will typically complete the program on a part-time basis over a minimum of two years.

“Trent’s School of Education and Professional Learning has a successful history of encouraging the development of its students through strong student-faculty connections, in line with the University’s values,” said Dr. Gary Boire, provost and vice-president academic, Trent University. “For a student group that will be largely composed of existing teachers and professionals, Trent’s commitment to fostering dialogue and mentoring in personal settings will make the M.Ed. program truly stand out.”

The Masters in Educational Studies will build on the University’s emphasis on research and enhance relationships with community partners such as school boards and educational organizations, providing research opportunities for graduate students. Students will develop the ability to contribute professionally in their future positions, to acquire skills that will enable them to contribute to knowledge creation and mobilization, and to think across disciplinary bounds.

The courses and research committees are designed to foster collaboration across a number of disciplines, theoretical perspectives and frameworks. Students will draw on the expertise of core faculty from education, business administration, Canadian studies, English literature, Indigenous studies, history and psychology. Trent’s M.Ed. program will also emphasize innovative use of education-related technologies to support high-quality student learning and to model best practices for the wider educational community.

As with the B.Ed. program, the Masters in Educational Studies program will attract students nationally and internationally. It will also meet a strong and documented need in the region. The M.Ed. program will attract professionals in the field of education, as well as students who wish to pursue academic careers in fields with related educational foci, such as medical or nursing education, environmental education, psychology and social work. It will also meet the needs of the local teaching profession who desire a higher professional degree, something increasingly seen as essential for professional development and advancement.

For more information about the Masters in Educational Studies program and to view the course pathway options, please visit trentu.ca/education/masters.

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