The Master in Education program is grounded in two main purposes: a space for students to understand their professional knowledge and to make meaningful links among this knowledge, and the conceptual and theoretical knowledge of educational research.
StFX offers an MEd degree with specialization either in Educational Administration and Leadership or in Curriculum and Instruction. In both streams, students must complete the specified core courses and choose electives appropriate to their interests.
There are three options by which a student may complete the requirements for the MEd: a thesis route, a project route and a course-based route. Students who choose the thesis route must complete 24 credits in graduate education courses and a 12-credit thesis. Those in the course-based route are required to complete 36 credits in graduate education courses.
The degree fulfills the requirements of the Nova Scotia Department of Education for an increase in level of teacher certification. Graduate courses in education are offered as fall, winter, spring, and summer school courses in locations around the province and as online classes.
Candidates for the MEd are normally required to take EDUC 505 and EDUC 534 as their first two courses in Antigonish during the summer session immediately after being accepted into the program. EDUC 505 is a prerequisite for EDUC 506, EDUC 507, and EDUC 508. Normally, either EDUC 506, EDUC 507, or EDUC 508 is taken after core courses are completed. EDUC 506 or 507 is required in the thesis and project route; EDUC 508 is required in the course-based route.