Program Overview

Interdisciplinary Studies in Contemporary Education Certificate and Diploma

The Interdisciplinary Studies in Contemporary Education Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (12 credits) and Diploma (30 credits) provide professional development opportunities for educators, responding to the needs of schools and districts for education specialists. These are post-degree professional programs designed to complement post-secondary education.

Program

• Certificate
• Diploma

Length

• 1 year for the Certificate
• 2 years for the Diploma

Faculty/School

Okanagan School of Education

Program Options

The program offers a flexible design, allowing students to tailor their studies to meet their unique needs and interests. Students can build their own individualized program while still meeting the educational needs and requirements for specialization (e.g., learning assistance or resource teachers).

Schedule & Courses

Courses are offered in multiple formats, including:

• Saturday sessions
• Evenings
• Online
• Blended (online and in-person)
• Three-week or six-week summer courses

Courses within the Certificate and Diploma can also be taken as stand-alone courses.

Upcoming Courses

Upcoming courses can be viewed on the Certificate & Diploma Student Resource page.

Examples of Courses

These are examples of courses offered by the School of Education. Please note that not all courses are offered each year.

• Inclusive Education: Courses are designed to prepare individuals to work with children and adolescents with diverse needs.
  • Sample Courses:
    • EPSE 421 – Assessment of Learning Difficulties
    • EPSE 431 – Programming for Children with Specific Learning Disabilities
    • EPSE 433 – Assessment and Positive Behavioural Support in School and Community Settings
• Language and Literacy Education: Courses are designed for educators and educational leaders who wish to deepen and extend their knowledge in areas of Literacy and Language Arts.
  • Sample Courses:
    • LLED 461 – Assessment of Literacy and Learning
    • LLED 465 – Literacy for Diverse Learners in Middle and Secondary Grades
    • LLED 468 – Language, Literacy and Numeracy
• Early Childhood Education: Courses provide professionals with the philosophy, understanding, and skills to create optimal learning environments, assess children appropriately, and design learning experiences to support children’s development.
  • Sample Courses:
    • ECED 445 – Foundations of Early Childhood Education
    • ECED 421 – Supporting Young Children through Home, School, and Community Relationships
    • ECED 440 – Play and Early Childhood Education
• Educational Studies: Courses take a multi-disciplinary approach and are designed for individuals who wish to explore and expand their knowledge in leadership, equity, and social justice in education.
  • Sample Courses:
    • EDST 497 – Contemporary Educational Issues
    • EDST 498 – Contemporary Educational Practice
    • EDST 499 – Studies in Educational Leadership
• Teaching English and Additional Languages: Courses are designed to develop skills in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) or teaching other additional and heritage languages to learners in a wide range of contexts.
  • Sample Courses:
    • LLED 494 – Introduction to Additional Language Teaching and Learning
    • LLED 495 – Curriculum and Materials Design in Additional Language Teaching and Learning
    • LLED 496 – Theory and Practice in Additional Language Teaching and Learning

Careers and Outcomes

Program graduates will have the skills to pursue a career in a variety of fields, including:

• Child life specialist
• Community educator
• Corporate trainer
• Curriculum developer
• Education coordinator
• Educational technology specialist
• English as an Additional Language teacher (EAL)
• Guidance counselor
• Historic site administrator
• Inclusion teacher
• Learning assistance teacher
• Program coordinator
• Resource teacher
• Student affairs
• Youth development worker

Teacher Qualification Service (TQS) Category Upgrade

This certificate and diploma program does not lead to teacher certification. However, if you are a teacher, they can lead to a category upgrade with the Teacher Qualification Service (TQS).

Admission

In addition to meeting UBC’s general admission requirements, admission to the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate/Diploma program requires:

• Bachelor’s degree, teacher’s certification, or permission of the Dean of Education
• Applicants who speak English as a second language and have not previously been enrolled at UBC or another Canadian university must demonstrate English language proficiency to meet UBC’s English Proficiency Requirements

Tuition & Fees

Students will be assessed tuition and student fees at the prevailing undergraduate rate.

• Program | Domestic | International
  • Certificate (12 credits) | $2,707.80 | $13,259.88
  • Diploma (30 credits) | $6,769.50 | $33,149.70

Plus any applicable student fees, textbook, and other associated costs.

Experiential Learning

Expand your horizons while immersing yourself in hands-on activities, building learning communities, or reflecting on your professional practice.

Global and Close-Knit

At UBC Okanagan, you gain all the benefits of attending a globally ranked, top 5% university while studying in a close-knit learning community. 50% of graduates, from all across the globe, choose to stay in the region.