Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Education in Curriculum Studies

The Master of Education in Curriculum Studies is a program that addresses the relationship between practice and theory in curriculum research, design, implementation, evaluation, and leadership. It also provides expertise in educational technology and communication. This program is ideal for individuals participating in teaching in various forms, including the K-12 system, post-secondary system, and informal education, who wish to study one or more aspects of curriculum.

Program Details

• The program has three options:
  • Thesis-based: In addition to coursework, students work with a supervisor to conduct an original research study.
  • Project-based: Instead of a thesis, students complete a project or minor thesis.
  • Course-based: Students take a selection of courses, including a capstone class on scholarship in teaching.
• The expected length of the program is 2 years.
• The program focuses on aspects of praxis leading to expertise and leadership in curriculum studies.

Research Supervisors

The following are research supervisors for the Master of Education in Curriculum Studies program, along with their areas of specialization:

• Geraldine Balzer: Teacher education, Secondary school English language arts, Decolonization, Transformative education, Service learning.
• Egan Chernoff: Teaching and Learning of Mathematics.
• Kim Edmondson: Social studies and teacher education, difficult histories, public pedagogies, critical geographies, de/colonial practices, post-structural and post-human methods, walking methodologies, Foucauldian discourse.
• Melanie Hamilton: Early Career Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), Mid-Career Faculty, SoTL Leadership, SoTL programming, Academic Integrity.
• Cathlene Hillier: Family engagement in K-8 learning; children's use of digital learning tools; roles of families and schools; robotics and coding in teacher prep; educational inequality; school policy change; and child-centered research methods with children.
• Marguerite Koole: Learning theory, technology-enhanced learning, instructional design, mobile learning, sociomaterialism, postdigital, and educational technology & social justice.
• Andrejs Kulnieks: Ecological Literacy, Eco-justice Education, Environmental Education, Arts-Informed Research, and Poetic Inquiry.
• Paula MacDowell: AR, VR, XR, AI education, digital literacy, game-based learning, online learning, virtual reality, instructional design, digital well-being, sustainability.
• Heather MacLeod: Creative writing; Indigenous literatures, arts, media, and popular culture; Literary criticism; Indigenous rights, treaties, and land claims; Indigenous methodologies; Concept and practice of reconciliation.
• Lori McKee: Literacies, pedagogies, early elementary education; teacher professional learning.
• Tim Molnar: Ethics and Responsibility, Theory & Practice in Science Education, Intersections of 'place, nature, and education', Pre-service Teacher Education.
• Hyunjung Shin: Identity; Bilingual/multilingualism in education; Language ideologies and discourse analysis; Critical literacies/pedagogies; Globalization, migration, and language education policy; Decolonizing pedagogies and knowledges; Sociolinguistics and Ethnography; Applied linguistics and TESOL; English as an additional language.
• Jay Wilson: Technology skill development, media literacy, program evaluation, social agency in teaching /learning, experiential learning, design studio learning.

Tuition and Funding

Funding

• Students should identify their financial status and state if attendance is contingent on receiving financial aid in their applications.
• The department employs graduate students as marking assistants.
• A limited number of scholarships, research fellowships, and teaching assistantships are available.
• Applications for Departmental Scholarships, Research Fellowships, and Teaching Assistantships may only be submitted after a student has been admitted.

Tuition

Thesis or Project-Based Master's Program

• Graduate students in a thesis or project-based program pay tuition three times a year for as long as they are enrolled in their program.
• The tuition fees are as follows:
  • Canadian students: $1,881.00 CAD per term.
  • International students: $4,232.00 CAD per term.
• The total tuition per academic year is:
  • Canadian students: $5,643.00 CAD.
  • International students: $12,696.00 CAD.

Course-Based Master's, Certificate, or Postgraduate Diploma Program

• Students in course-based programs pay tuition for each class they take.
• The cost per graduate credit unit is:
  • Canadian students: $295.80 CAD.
  • International students: $665.50 CAD.
• The cost per 3 credit unit graduate class is:
  • Canadian students: $887.40 CAD.
  • International students: $1,996.50 CAD.

Student Fees

• In addition to tuition, students also pay fees for programs like health and dental insurance, a bus pass, and other campus services.
• The student fees for the Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 terms are $578.45 CAD, $804.73 CAD, $36.75 CAD, and $36.75 CAD, respectively.

Admission Requirements

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

• Language Proficiency Requirements: Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English.
• A cumulative weighted average of at least a 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study.
• A minimum of one year of practical experience in education or a related field post-degree if the applicant holds a B.Ed. degree, or a minimum of three years of practical experience in education or a related field post-degree if the applicant does not hold a B.Ed. degree.
• Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) or equivalent from a recognized college or university.

Application Process

Submit an Online Application

• Before beginning the online application, review all program information and admission requirements.
• During the application, provide:
  • Personal information.
  • Contact information of three referees (two academic contacts and one academic or professional contact).
  • Complete academic history from all previous post-secondary institutions.
• The application takes about 30 minutes to complete and can be saved and returned to later.
• A non-refundable application fee is required: $125 for domestic students and $145 for international students.

Submit Required Documents

• Once the online application is submitted, upload required documents and provide contact information for references.
• Transcripts:
  • Upload unofficial PDF copies of academic transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended.
  • Official copies of transcripts will be required only for applicants offered admission.
• Proof of English language proficiency (if required):
  • Complete a relevant test with the appropriate score before the application deadline.
  • Upload a PDF copy of the language test score.
• Additional documents:
  • A statement/letter of intent describing what has pushed the applicant to consider taking a Master of Education in Curriculum Studies.
  • A curriculum vitae or resume with a focus on educational background and teaching experience.