Professional Learning

Teachers and school leaders - are you looking to expand your teaching or leadership knowledge? Is a Master's degree in your future plans but you're uncertain as to the best path forward? Professional Learning in the Faculty of Education has a wide variety of offerings designed to help enhance your professional practice. Enroll in a graduate certificate that can ladder into a Master's degree, take the plunge into a full Master's program, or try a graduate-level course through Open Studies.

Check out the full slate of programs below and contact us if you have any questions.

Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (GCES)

Returning in 2026:

Graduate Certificate in School Leadership (GCSL)

Supporting Mentor Teachers Project

Master of Education in Educational Studies (MEd)

Health Sciences Education Programs and Courses

Continuing Professional Learning

Pathways to a Master's Degree

There are two pathways to complete the Master of Education in Educational Studies (MES) program or the Master of Education in Health Science Education (MHSE) program. Students can come directly into the MES or the MHSE with a bachelor's degree. Alternatively, students can complete a graduate certificate, as listed above, and then ladder that certificate into the M.Ed. program.

A Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (GCES) or Graduate Certificate in School Leadership (GCSL) provides students with up to 12 credits in advanced standing in the Master of Education in Educational Studies (MES) program*. The certificate pathway to the MES will be available starting in Summer 2024 (pending sufficient enrolment); the certificate pathway to the Master of Education in Health Sciences Education is in development.

*The GCES and GCSL can ladder in to the M.Ed. in Elementary Education Curriculum and Pedagogy and the M.Ed. in Secondary Education. Contact essgrad3@ualberta.ca for more information.

Additionally, the GCSL can ladder into the M.Ed. in Studies in Educational Leadership. Contact essgrad2@ualberta.ca for more information.

Note: Completion of a GCES or GCSL does not guarantee acceptance into any Master's program.

Printable Information Sheet (.pdf)

Study anywhere, any time!

Professional Learning offers a variety of electives each term, combining theory and practice. Most are offered fully online, some with synchronous components, so you can take your courses with you wherever you go.

We offer the two courses required for Alberta leadership certification (EDU 520 and 521) and superintendent certification (EDU 523), along with a variety of other courses - Early Childhood Education, Indigenous Education and more.

List of Electives

Supporting Mentor Teachers Project

Mentor Teachers... join us on a journey for the enhancement of your professional learning. Through non-credit modules and graduate courses, you will learn how to better share your experience and expertise with the next generation of teachers and educational leaders. Choose your path and take it all the way to your Master of Education!

Learn More

Professional Learning Staff

Dr. Scott Key, Director - skey@ualberta.ca
Strategic leadership & program planning; financial and budget administration; program oversight; human resources management; team leadership; communications & public relations; relationship building

Rae Beaumont, Graduate Administrator
(On Leave)

Jodie Li, Administrative Support
Supporting Mentor Teachers Project (SMTP - edmentor@ualberta.ca)
Program inquiries; prospective and current student support; help with online application process; SMTP communications and coordination
M.Ed. in Health Sciences Education (MHSE - medhse@ualberta.ca)
M.Ed. in Educational Studies (MES - mesinfo@ualberta.ca)
Program inquiries for Indigenous Education, online, blended and specialty cohorts, ladder programs; prospective and current student support; help with online application process

Hala Moraich, Graduate Administrator
Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (GCES - gcesinfo@ualberta.ca)
Graduate Certificate in School Leadership (GCSL - gcslinfo@ualberta.ca)
Program inquiries for all graduate certificate programs, prospective and current student support; help with online application process

Lynnell Prediger, Program Coordinator - pluadmin@ualberta.ca
General inquiries and instructor support for all programs; technical assistance for students with eClass platform; course scheduling; website; program promotions; finance and HR support

We're here to help!

Send us an email

Attend an information session!
Registration links on program home pages.

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