Courses

When you complete a mentor teaching assignment, along with a non-credit module series, you are eligible to continue on the Professional Learning Pathway in the graduate-level course associated with that series. The recommended program plan is to enter the Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies - Mentoring and Leadership. The certificate consists of four, graduate-level courses as listed below.

Note: Any synchronous sessions are in Mountain Time (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). Dates and times are determined by the course instructor.

EDU 595 Foundations of Mentoring ★3

This course provides a foundation for teacher mentors and leaders to understand the foundational aspects of mentoring pre-service teachers. There will be opportunities to reflect on scholarship, policy and practice, and to discuss the pivotal role of the mentor teacher in their preparation of pre-service teachers in Alberta. Note: This is the first course to be taken in the GCES Mentoring and Leadership, and is required to complete the certificate.

Prerequisite: Foundations of Mentoring Non-Credit Modules Series


EDU 520 Foundations of School Leadership ★3

Explore the foundational dimensions of school leadership including instructional leadership, fostering effective relationships, supporting the application of foundational knowledge about Indigenous Peoples, visionary leadership, leading learning communities, modelling continuous professional learning, developing leadership capacity, understanding the social context influencing schooling, and managing school operations and resources.

EDU 521 School Leadership: Theory into Practice ★3

Hone leadership practices grounded in research to demonstrate mastery of Alberta's Leadership Quality Standard (LQS). Includes a job-embedded learning component in which participants visit, observe, and collaborate with a school leader or leadership team in a school setting of their choice, in which the Alberta Program of Studies is offered. 

Prerequisite: EDU 520 Foundations of School Leadership

And one of the following:

EDU 595 Essentials of Effective Mentoring ★3

Using scholarly and professional research, this course focuses on the essentials of effective mentoring as they directly relate to the 6 competencies of the Teaching Quality Standard. The course builds on the foundational dimensions/aspects of mentoring pre-service teachers, and supports the students’ professional journey discovering their mentoring strengths and areas for growth. This course also supports students' development of theoretical and professional knowledge pertinent to K-12 pre-service teacher mentoring and leadership.

Prerequisites:

EDU 595 Advancing the Practice of Mentoring ★3

In development for 2025

Prerequisites:

  • EDU 595 Foundations of Mentoring (and the companion module series)
  • Advancing the Practice of Mentoring Non-Credit Module Series (in development)

Are Graduate Studies for You?

The GCES route is highly recommended. We know that once you take the first course, you'll want to continue and complete the certificate. While it is possible to take one course through Open Studies*, entering the certificate means you'll avoid paying an extra application fee of $135 (and the extra paperwork that goes with it). When you enter the certificate, you can take the first course and, if you decide not to continue, you can withdraw from the program without penalty.

*Only one course taken through Open Studies can receive transfer credit for the GCES. It is best to start with EDU 595 Foundations of Mentoring but EDU 520 Foundations of Leadership is also eligible. When you apply to Open Studies, remember, you are submitting an Undergraduate application (even though these courses are at the graduate level).

Apply for the Certificate


Wondering about the best path for your academic goals? Let us walk you through your options. Contact us at edmentor@ualberta.ca.