Adult Learning and Global Change (online program)
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The University of British Columbia, in cooperation with partner
universities in Australia, South Africa and Sweden, offers
an innovative online, coursework-only, professional Master
of Education (M.Ed.) in Adult Learning and Global Change (ALGC).
This is a collaborative program involving, in addition to
UBC, Linköping University (Sweden), University of the
Western Cape (South Africa) and University of Technology,
Sydney (Australia). Students proceed through the two-year,
30-credit program as a cohort drawn from the four participating
institutions. Instructors in required courses are also drawn
from these universities, so students will benefit from a truly
international instructional staff. Students in each cohort
will get to know one another well and will work together in
various groupings throughout the two-year program.
Objectives
After completing this program students will be able to:
- Critically analyze dominant and alternative theories and
discourses of "globalization."
- Identify the various ways context shapes adult learning
and relevant public policy.
- Intelligently discuss why and ways learners resist or
embrace "education."
- Analyze relationships nested in successful attempts to
foster change through learning.
- Plan effective learning interventions that help adults
increase their influence over the direction and pace of
local and global change.
Audience
This program is for those seeking a web-based professional
master's that provides multiple, critical perspectives on
the central role adult learning plays as individuals and communities
engage with the positive and negative effects of globalization.
The program should be attractive to those interested in international
development work, cross-cultural education and training, the
role of education in addressing various global health and
environmental issues, promoting social justice in the face
of economic globalization, as well as to those interested
in learning more about adult education around the world. Applicants
should be internally-motivated learners who are sensitive
to cultural differences in worldview, communication styles,
learning preferences and instructional approaches. The program
is designed so that those with full-time professional responsibilities
can participate. Note that this is a non-thesis master's program.
Although it is possible to complete a directed study project-as
an elective-that will provide evidence of the ability to do
research, applicants who intend to pursue doctoral study should
consider applying for a thesis-based master's program that
places greater emphasis on learning how to conduct research.
Please note that online programs such as this require a high
degree of learner self-direction, motivation and organization.
Students are expected to sign on to courses several times
a week and to devote as much time as needed to complete assigned
readings, engage actively in discussion groups, interact with
learning partners, and prepare assignments. Those who rely
on weekly class meetings to provide structure for their learning
and learn best when engaged in real-time, face-to-face interaction
should consider our on-campus master's programs.
Curriculum
The curriculum covers the forms of adult learning found in
different cultural contexts and the roles learning plays in
understanding and responding to globalizing forces and their
impacts on workplaces, communities, economies and the environment.
The program encourages the development of a critical perspective
on the relationship between adult learning and global change
as these are experienced and understood in different parts
of the world. Students enrolled thorough UBC will engage in
discussions and work on collaborative projects with students
from other countries. Required courses in the program are
sequenced so that, with careful planning of elective courses,
all requirements can be completed in 24 months. The nine credits
of electives may be taken at any time and are usually selected
from on-campus courses (for those who reside in the Vancouver
area), from various distance-mode courses available at UBC,
and from directed studies courses tailored to your interests.
Several exchange agreements also permit UBC students to take
graduate courses at various Canadian universities. The first
course in the program begins in mid-August. All the requirements
of the program can be completed online; there is no requirement
that students attend any meetings or courses on the UBC campus.
Year One Required Courses
Admission
Students are admitted through one of the four cooperating
universities and fulfill program requirements as set by the
admitting institution. UBC invites applications from those
residing in the Americas and Asia. Applicants must have a
four-year bachelor's degree with a minimum overall average
in the B+ range (76% at UBC) in third- and fourth-year level
courses. In addition to two official copies of transcripts
of all post-secondary work completed, applicants must also
submit three letters of reference, a statement of intent,
and a writing sample. The statement of intent is a description
in one to two pages of your specific reasons for pursuing
this degree and how it relates to your experience and goals.
Writing samples may be academic papers or professional publications
that represent your ability to express yourself in written
English. Applications may be completed on-line at: http://www.grad.ubc.ca/apply/online/
but supporting materials must be sent directly to the Graduate
Secretary, Department of Educational Studies, at the address
below. The deadline for receiving all application materials
for the cohort beginning in mid-August, 2006 (including transcripts,
letters of reference, statements of intent and writing samples)
is January 7, 2006. Note that there are limited spaces in
this program so not all eligible applicants may be admitted.
The entire program is in English, so applicants whose degrees
are from a non-English speaking country are required to submit
evidence of English proficiency. A minimum TOEFL score of
600 (paper based) or 250 (computer based), or the equivalent
for other tests of English proficiency, is required for admission.
Information on TOEFL can be found at http://www.toefl.org.
Equipment and web access
Reliable and regular e-mail and internet access are essential
in this program. Applicants should have ready access to a
Pentium-class or equivalent computer with a minimum 64MB of
RAM, a colour monitor, mouse and printer. Software required
includes a word processor; an e-mail program like Outlook
Express, Outlook, or Eudora; Adobe Acrobat Reader (free to
download from www.adobe.com);
a recent version of either Netscape (www.netscape.com)
or Internet Explorer (www.microsoft.com);
and a good virus checker. Web access should be via a 56K or
faster dial-up modem or broadband/network connection. Applicants
should have experience using Windows or another operating
system to produce text documents; to cut, paste and save text
material; and to access and download materials from the web.
The courses in this program are delivered using the Blackboard
web platform. For information on Blackboard, visit www.blackboard.com.
The first course in the program will orient students to Blackboard
and provide experience using its features.
Costs-Current tuition for this program is $6,375 CAD per
year for two years, but please note that the university reserves
the right to adjust tuition and fees at any time. Annual tuition
is paid in three instalments (September, January and May).
Additional fees may be required by the University and can
be found in the online University Calendar available at: http://students.ubc.ca/calendar/.
If students must interrupt their program for family, medical,
or other reasons, a reduced on-leave fee will apply. Telecommunication
access and time charges are the student's responsibility as
are costs for textbooks or other required instructional materials
not accessible on the web.
For more information
information about this program, the department and admission
procedures can be found at www.edst.educ.ubc.ca
or by contacting the Graduate Secretary, Department of Educational
Studies, Faculty of Education, The University of British Columbia,
2125 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Tel: (604) 822-6647,
Fax: (604) 822-4244, E-mail: grad.edst@ubc.ca.
Click here
for Information for New Students in the ALGC Program (in PDF
format).
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