FAQs | Early Childhood Education Program

FAQs for Current Students

How do I decide which courses to register in?

MEd (On-campus)

Normally, students in the ECED on-campus MEd program take ECED 508 in their first term of study, and ECED 585 in their second term of study. It is recommended that students take EDUC 500 in their first year, as well. These three courses offer core academic and research skills that will benefit you in later courses. If, for some reason, you are unable to take ECED 508 in your first term, please consult with the program advisor, Dr. Iris Berger, for recommended alternative starting courses.

Select your electives according to your interests, goals, and the expertise you want to develop through the program. All electives must be pre-approved by the program advisor, Dr. Iris Berger, or choosen from a pre-approved list of electives (see https://earlychildhood.educ.ubc.ca/programs/graduate/).

MEd (Online)

Students in the MEd Online Cohorts follow a prescribed part-time schedule of courses each term. The program assistant will register cohort students into the specified course each term, other than electives.

In addition to the 7 courses and the Capstone Project, students will take 2 approved electives, one in each summer term. Students will register themselves for their electives, and require pre-approval from the program advisor, Dr. Mari Pighini.

MA (On-campus)

Students in the ECED MA program normally take ECED 508 in their first term of study, and ECED 585 in their second term of study. It is recommended that students take EDUC 500 in their first year, as well. These three courses offer core academic and research skills that will benefit you in later courses. If, for some reason, you are unable to take ECED 508 in your first term, please consult with your supervisor for recommended alternative starting courses.

MA students will also start with ECED 599, the MA thesis, from the beginning of their program.

Select your electives according to your interests, goals, and the expertise you want to develop through the program. All electives must be pre-approved by your supervisor or choosen from a pre-approved list of electives (see https://earlychildhood.educ.ubc.ca/programs/graduate/).

Reminder: Graduate students may take up to 6 credits of pre-approved senior undergraduate coursework as an elective.

How many courses should I register in at one time?

Graduate students must maintain their registration throughout their program, and therefore must be registered in at least one course each term (Summer terms 1 and 2 count as one term for this).

Students in the MA or MEd on-campus programs typically take 1-3 courses per term. It is recommended to consult with your supervisor or the program advisor, Dr. Iris Berger, when planning your course load.

How much time should I commit to each course?

The amount of time individual students spend preparing for class and completing course assignments varies widely in any educational setting. The time students spend completing activities for an online course will depend on a number of factors, including individual reading speed, writing competency, familiarity with web-based learning environments, familiarity with the subject matter at hand, and investment in the learning process. The time commitment is usually comparable to a graduate-level, 3-credit, face-to-face course. A common rule of thumb for online graduate courses is ‘up to 3 hours per week per credit’, or up to 9 hours per week for a 3 credit course.

Can I take courses outside the ECED program?

As graduate student tuition fees are charged on an annual basis, and not per course, students may choose to take credit courses from outside of the ECED program at no additional tuition cost (distance education administrative fees or other fees may apply). Please note that if you are an online student and take an on-campus UBC course, you will be required to pay applicable student fees.

Students wishing to take additional courses outside of the program should consult first with their supervisor or the program advisor. Keep in mind that only pre-approved elective courses may be counted towards program completion.

Reminder: Graduate students may take up to 6 credits of pre-approved senior undergraduate coursework as an elective.

Can I take undergraduate courses as part of my MEd/MA degree?

Graduate students may include up to 6 credits of senior level (300- or 400-level) undergraduate coursework as electives in their program, either as credits transferred in during admission or credits taken after admission, provided that these credits have not been applied to another degree or used as part of the basis of admission. All electives must be pre-approved by your supervisor or program advisor.

Students wishing to enrol in or transfer credits from an upper level undergraduate course must obtain the approval of your supervisor or program advisor for each course. The request for approval should include a rationale for how the course fits within your program and interests. Please note that if you are an online cohort student and take an on-campus UBC course, you will be required to pay applicable student fees.

Can I take courses at other universities?

UBC graduate students wishing to take courses as a visiting student at other universities must have the courses approved for credit at UBC by the graduate program and the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (G&PS) prior to registering at the host university. UBC students can visit other universities using the Western Dean’s Agreement, Graduate Exchange Agreement and other exchange agreements at Go Global (see https://www.grad.ubc.ca/current-students/managing-your-program/going-another-university-visiting-student).

Please consult with your program advisor well in advance if you are interested in taking a course as a visiting student at another university. Fully completed and authorized forms must be received by G&PS a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the start of the term of enrolment at UBC. If a form is not received and approved in time, the student may not receive permission to take the course. In addition, fee waivers are not available retroactively.

See the Transfer Credit policy in the UBC Calendar for the requirements for transferring credits from another university into your UBC degree program.

What do I do if I have a problem in a course?

As in any course, any problem should first be taken up with the course instructor. If this does not result in a satisfactory resolution of the issue, contact the program advisor (Dr. Mari Pighini for MEd online cohorts; Dr. Iris Berger for on-campus MEd and MA). If this does not result in a satisfactory resolution, you may contact the Director of the Early Childhood Education program (review the current ECED Faculty page to find contact information for the current ECE Director).

What do I do if I can’t take a course each term or need time away from my studies?

Graduate students must maintain their registration throughout their program, and therefore must be registered in at least one course each term (Summer terms 1 and 2 count as one term for this), except during pre-approved leaves of absence.

Students who find it necessary to interrupt their graduate studies may request a leave of absence. A leave of absence must be requested before the date on which the leave will start. Retroactive leaves will only be approved in highly exceptional cases (see https://www.grad.ubc.ca/current-students/managing-your-program/leave-absence). Master’s students may take up to a total of 12 months of leave time in their program, which does not count towards the five-year maximum time for program completion.

Important: International graduate students should consult International Student Advising in the Life Building before pursuing a Leave of Absence to discuss the impact on their ability to stay in Canada, study permit and future post-graduation plans.

I have some challenges that mean I need some accommodations or assistance to access online course materials. Will I be able to complete ECED courses?

The UBC Faculty of Education is dedicated to providing every student with full and equal access to University programs and services. We have worked to extend the accessible features of many of our online courses.

If you have challenges that affect your ability to understand or read course material, engage in discussions, or complete coursework, it is important that you discuss this with your instructor at the start of term, so that they are aware and can make any reasonable adjustments.

See Accessibility to learn about adjustments you can make to your computer and devices, and software you can use, to support your access ECED course materials.

You may also choose to speak with someone at the UBC Centre for Accessibility, who can assist you with requesting special accommodations and services.

Email: access.diversity@ubc.ca
Tel: +1 604 822 5844

FAQs for Prospective Students

Does UBC offer an online PhD in Early Childhood Education that I can complete after finishing my MA degree?

A number of ECED graduates have been admitted to on-campus PhD programs in related educational fields at UBC and elsewhere, after graduation. At this time, the UBC Faculty of Education does not have plans to establish a PhD program in Early Childhood Education.

How do I take the courses / what technology do I need?

All courses are fully online. You will access course materials and participate in online discussions and project collaborations with your instructor and other students via the Internet. Currently, most courses are delivered via UBC’s Learning Management System, Canvas. Some courses are offered using other experimental online platforms.

You will need a current computer [any operating system, Mac or Windows] with standard word processing software (Microsoft Office or equivalent) and reliable access to the Internet.

If I enroll in enough courses to be ‘full-time’, do I qualify for financial aid?

The MA in Early Childhood Education is considered to be ‘full-time” regardless of the number of courses taken each term, and is eligible for financial aid.

The MEd on-campus program is considered to be ‘full-time’ regardless of the number of courses taken each term, and may be eligible for financial aid. Note, as a professional-based program, funding options through UBC are limited.

See https://www.grad.ubc.ca/scholarships-awards-funding/award-opportunities and https://ore.educ.ubc.ca/grad/funding/ for information about funding opportunities.

The online MEd program is a part-time program, and therefore not eligible for financial aid.

Where can I get advice on financing my course of study?

A UBC Enrollment Services Professional (ESP) specialized in graduate student financial issues can offer you information and advice. Contact es.gradsupport@ubc.ca.

How long will it take me to complete the program?

The average time to complete the MA program is 2.6 years for a full-time student, and 3-4 years for part-time students.

The online MEd program takes exactly 2.6 years to complete, following a prescribed part-time course schedule.

The on-campus MEd program takes an average of 2.3 years for a full-time student, with part-time students averaging 3-4 years.

Students must complete their program within five years (not counting pre-approved leaves of absence).

Do I need to have taken prior courses or a degree in education?

Yes. A four-year degree in either Education, Early Childhood Education, or a related field is required. Applicants whose degree is in an unrelated field may be accepted if they have completed a college or university certificate program in early childhood education, or at least 18 credits in early childhood education coursework. Refer to Admission Requirements.

Will the MEd degree make me eligible to move up to TQS category 5 or 6 in British Columbia?

Section 5.1 of the current BC Teacher Qualification Service Policy (PDF) describes the criteria for master’s degrees that make graduates eligible to move up to category 5 or 6 in British Columbia. Successful completion of the ECED MEd degree program has historically met these criteria.

Note, a Graduating Capstone is no longer required within an acceptable graduate degree.

I don’t have any recent academic references. Can I use work references instead?

While at least one academic reference is preferred, it is not absolutely required. Work references that can speak to your initiative, intellectual capacity and industry are welcome.

Does the MEd degree allow a graduate to get a Teaching Certificate in BC?

No, the MEd degree does not allow you to get a Teaching Certificate in BC. However, if you are interested in attaining a Teaching Certificate in BC, UBC offers a Bachelor of Education Program that prepares teachers for their responsibilities in British Columbia schools. For more information regarding the B.Ed. program, please visit the UBC Teacher Education Office website.

I’ve taken some previous graduate-level course work. Can I transfer any of it into my MEd/MA degree?

The UBC Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies allows students to transfer up to 12 previously completed credits (four 1-term courses or their equivalent) into a graduate program at UBC. These courses must meet the following criteria:

They must approved by the ECED Academic Advisor.
They cannot have been used for any conferred degree (Master’s program, diploma, etc).
All transfer credit requests must meet the UBC Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies policies for transfer credit approval.

Transfer credit requests that do not meet these requirements will be automatically rejected.

Is UBC an Accredited University?

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a member of Universities Canada. Incorporated in 1908 by an act of the provincial legislature, it operates under the authority of the University Act of the Province of British Columbia. Membership in Universities Canada and operation under the authority of the University Act is equivalent to accreditation in the US system.

Does the MEd/MA program qualify me for a study permit for immigration to Canada?

Students in the MA or on-campus MEd programs are eligible for study permits.

The online MEd program is a part-time distance education program and is not eligible for study permits.