Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Museum Education Program

The Master of Museum Education (MMEd) is a unique graduate program designed for museum professionals, community educators, and all those passionate about harnessing the power of museums and informal learning environments for effective education and communication. This program explores how education unfolds in museums, art galleries, science centres, historic sites, parks, and many other community spaces.

Program Overview

The MMEd program equips students to become leaders in the transformation of museum education, shaping the future of museum education and fostering meaningful connections between museums and the communities they serve. Through this program, students will engage with innovative teaching strategies, rethink the role of museums in society, and develop new ways to inspire diverse audiences across all life-stages.

Program Details

• The program is offered by the Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy.
• Application Deadline: March 15, 2026
• Start Date: September 2026
• Length: 2.5 years, Part-Time
• Format: 90% Online, 10% Face-to-Face
• Domestic Tuition: $17,851.61
• International Tuition: $18,744.18

Program Objectives

Upon completing the MMEd degree, students will be able to:

• Critically analyze dominant and alternative theories and discourses of learning and teaching in informal settings
• Identify the influences of multiple perspectives in facilitating learning experiences in/within museums and communities
• Better understand how to affect change among the diversity of audiences museums and cultural institutions serve
• Develop learning opportunities to integrate learning within classrooms and learning in informal settings
• Develop tools to implement and sustain educational programs outside the traditional classroom
• Develop skills and knowledge to understand and address the increasing complexities of issues facing informal learning settings
• Evaluate the potential for working with a variety of learning communities
• Analyze different approaches to teaching and program development, settings, and perspectives

Proposed Schedule

The UBC MMEd program is a 30-credit program, with courses offered in each year across three terms, starting in September. The final 3-credits of the program may be a capstone project, developed from original research conducted by students.

Course Schedule

Year | Course Title | Course Code
---|---|---
1 | Learning in Informal Environments | EDCP 558
1 | Teaching in Museums | EDCP 565
1 | Curriculum Issues and Theories in Museums | EDCP 567
1 | Museum Methods | ANTH 518*
1 | Elective | —
2 | Education Programming in Museums | EDCP 545
2 | Research Methodology in Education (Focus on Museums) | EDUC 500
2 | Educational Design in Exhibitions | EDCP 585
2 | Elective | —
3 | Elective | —

Elective Options

Approved electives may be taken at other universities, subject to the terms of the Western Deans’ Agreement. Examples of elective options include:

• Museology
  • ANTH 431, Museum Practice and Curatorship (3 credits)
  • ANTH 541, Advanced Seminar in Critical Museum Anthropology (3/6 credits)
• Art Education
  • EDCP 504, Review of Research in Art Education (3 credits)
  • EDCP 522, Psychological Foundations of Art Education (3 credits)
• Research Methods
  • EDCP 510, Video Ethnography in Educational Research: Culture, Technology and Interpretation (3 credits)
  • EDCP 513, Case-study Research and Cross-Case Analysis (3 credits)
• Environmental Education
  • EDCP 538, Theory and Research in Environmental Education (3 credits)
• History and Social Studies Education
  • EDCP 541, Problems in Historical Understanding (3 credits)
• Science Education
  • EDCP 555, Critical Analysis of Curriculum in Science Education (3 credits)
  • EDCP 557, Conceptual and Practical Issues in Teaching and Learning of the Sciences (3 credits)

Application Requirements

All students must meet the requirements for this program, which include:

• A completed four-year undergraduate degree and, for K-12 teachers, one year of teacher education; OR A 4- or 5-year Bachelor’s degree in Education OR other appropriate area with a minimum average of 76% (B+) on all senior-level credits, or equivalent
• A 600-word statement of intent about career goals and why you wish to take this particular program
• CV / Resume
• Statements of support from three referees who can speak to your academic and professional background
• Evidence of English Language Proficiency, if applicable

Admission Criteria

The basic admission requirement to the Master’s program is an approved bachelor’s degree. In addition, successful applicants typically have high grades; a coherent, well-written statement of intent; and strong references. Teaching experience is preferred.

Tuition Fees

Tuition Fees

Type | Per Installment | Total Tuition
---|---|---
Domestic | $2,550.23 | $17,851.61
International | $2,677.74 | $18,744.18
Tuition fees are reviewed annually by the UBC Board of Governors and may be adjusted without prior notice.

Funding Eligibility

As this program is part-time, it is not eligible for student loans or other types of funding.

Alumni Insights

The MMEd program has been transformative for many alumni, providing them with a broader lens on their teaching practice, a more nuanced perspective, and a more sophisticated view of the world. Alumni have reported that the program has equipped them with the skills and confidence to grow in the museum world, and has opened new avenues of professional growth both within and outside of their teaching practice. The program’s asynchronous design has been particularly beneficial for working professionals, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the courses and content while continuing to teach full-time. Alumni have also appreciated the incredible group of like-minded educators they got to learn alongside, and the lasting relationships and support network that have continued to enrich their lives and work even after completing their degree.