Frequently Asked Questions
This page addresses some frequently asked questions about the Adult Education and Community Development program. For questions related specifically to application requirements, visit the Registrar's Office.
If you have specific inquiries that are not addressed on this page, e-mail your question to the Graduate Programs Coordinator.
Where is the program located?
What are the differences between the M.A. and M.Ed. programs?
How many courses are normally required in each degree program?
Do I need to take the course AEC1100H (Introduction to Adult Education) in the first semester of my program of study?
What are the differences between being a part-time and a full-time student?
How much time do the programs take to complete?
Can I take courses outside of the program?
Can I see course outlines before selecting courses?
How are classes in the program formatted?
Will I be able to bring my own life experience to the program?
Are there opportunities to complete a practicum?
What is the difference between my advisor and my supervisor?
What happens if my Faculty Advisor retires or leaves the university during the course of my program of study?
Can I change my faculty advisor?
What are the thesis expectations?
What happens if my thesis supervisor is on study leave or leaves the university?
Does the program have any partnerships or collaborations with other departments?
How can I become involved in research activities?
What are research centres and how can I become involved?
Are there opportunities for interaction with other programs or organizations?
What sorts of careers do graduates of your program enter?
Does this program certify me as an Human Resources professional?
Where is Adult Education and Community Development located?
The AECD faculty are located on the 7th floor and the administrative staff are on the 6th floor of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto at 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto. Individuals can enter OISE directly from the subway, without having to go to street level.
What are the differences between the M.A. and M.Ed. degree programs?
The Master of Education (M.Ed.) is a professional, non-thesis degree that introduces students to practical applications and theoretical concepts for use in a wide variety of adult learning and community development environments. The Master of Arts (M.A.) is a thesis-based degree intended for students wishing to engage in a research program or who are pursuing academic careers, some of whom will progress to a doctoral degree.
How many courses are normally required in each degree program?
M.Ed. - Ten half-courses
M.A. - Eight half-courses plus thesis
Ph.D. - Six half-courses plus thesis
No. We suggest that you take this course during the first half of your program, but you can take the course AEC1100H (Introduction to Adult Education) anytime during your program of study.
What are the differences between being a part-time and a full-time student?
Typically, full-time students take three half-courses during each of the Fall and Winter sessions, and two courses during each of the Summer Sessions (May-June and July-August respectively). Full-time students may choose to register for four courses in one of the Fall or Winter session with the approval of their faculty advisor.
Part-time students can take one course per session, amounting to up to four half-courses per year.
Full-time versus part-time registration also has fee implications. Students should inquire about these in the Registrar's Office.
How much time do the programs take to complete?
This question depends on the student's specific situation. Full-time M.Ed. students can finish their required ten courses within a year, but may take longer because fewer courses are available during the Summer sessions. Part-time M.Ed. students take between two and three years to complete their coursework.
Full-time M.A. students can easily complete their required courses within a year, but may require time to complete their thesis. Part-time students take between two and three years to complete their coursework, and however long they require to complete their thesis.
The doctoral program should take between three and four years to complete.
All programs must be completed within six years of admission, with the exception of the flex-time PhD which is eight years.
Can I take courses outside of the program?
Yes. Every student in the AECD program may take up to half of their courses from outside of their program, provided they are graduate level courses and have some relevance to your degree. Students should consult with their advisors about the relevance of courses outside the program, and must have their advisor's signature to enroll in courses outside of OISE. Two courses may be taken at another institution beyond the University of Toronto.
Can I see course outlines before selecting courses?
Course outlines for upcoming courses are often not available until class begins. Archived paper copies of older outlines are for viewing only, contact one of the administrative staff to make arrangements.
How are classes in the program formatted?
Most graduate courses are seminar-based--in other words, there is little lecturing or testing, and active student participation is encouraged in class discussions. Most course assignments consist of reflective and analytical papers. We expect students to be fully engaged in making sense of new knowledge and understandings, and to be applying that new learning to the practical situations they encounter in their lives. We also expect students to prepare for class each week with assigned readings or writings. A major paper is usually required at the end of each course.
Will I be able to bring my own life experience to the program?
Generally, all our courses make the link between students' experiential knowledge and theoretical concepts. We strongly value the fact that many of our students have rich and diverse life experiences, which can be drawn on to understand and evaluate theories and analyses. Given that this is a graduate program, theoretical knowledge of the field is also required.
Are there opportunities to complete a practicum?
Although there is no formal practicum requirement the program, we offer the practicum course AEC1122, Practicum in Adult Education and Community Development.
What is the difference between my advisor and my supervisor?
An advisor is a full-time faculty member who is assigned to students when they are admitted. The advisor can help you with your course selection and answer any questions you may have about the academic issues associated with your program of study. If you are in a thesis program, your supervisor is the faculty member whom you have selected to guide you through the process of writing a thesis. The supervisor may or may not be the same person as your course advisor.
You will need to be reassigned to another faculty member for advising by Graduate Program Coordinator. Be sure to notify her and request the reassignment.
Can I change my faculty advisor?
You may change advisors if you wish by simply arranging with a full-time faculty member willing to take on the responsibility. Contact the Graduate Program Coordinator in order for the change to be completed.
What are the thesis expectations?
A thesis should consist of original work in an area determined by students in collaboration with their supervisors. A booklet outlining thesis guidelines is available on the Registrar's Office website. Students can also consult completed theses in the OISE library.
What happens if my thesis supervisor is on study leave or leaves the university?
Your thesis supervisor is responsible to either continue working with you until program completion, or to notify you that you will need to look for a replacement supervisor. Since this is a negotiated role, you will want to have some choice in deciding on the replacement faculty member, and therefore this person cannot simply be assigned administratively.
Does the program have any partnerships or collaborations with other departments?
Yes, our program has created official partnerships, known as "collaborative programs", with many other departments, which will result in the collaboration being noted on the students' transcript upon graduation. You can find out more about OISE collaborative programs here: Programs/Collaborative_Programs/index.html and University of Toronto collaborative programs here: http://www.gradschool.utoronto.ca/programs/collaborative.htm
How can I become involved in research activities?
There are many volunteer and paid positions in research projects carried out in our program. Our faculty's expertise often results in their receiving funding to concentrate their research towards a specific goal or purpose through seminars, conferences, and other projects that require the aid and input of engaged, interested students. Likewise, students can apply to OISE for graduate assistantships (G.A.s), and can also apply for research funding to agencies like SSHRC and OGS. Students interested in gaining research experience through a particular research project can contact the Principal Investigator or collaborators to ask for voluntary or paid opportunities.
What are research centres and how can I become involved?
There are several centres affiliated with the Adult Education and Community Development program. These centres undertake a variety of activities related to research, teaching, professional development and community engagement. Among them are the Transformative Learning Centre, the Centre for Women's Studies, the Comparative and International Development Education Centre and the Social Economy Centre. Feel free to visit the centres' websites for information on projects, conferences, workshops, seminars and various other activities held throughout the academic year.
Are there opportunities for interaction with other programs or organizations?
Yes. There are many interdepartmental research areas involving Adult Education and other departments.
What sorts of careers do graduates of your program enter?
Our graduates enter careers in a diverse range of industries, communities, and organizations. Many consider our degrees to be an effective augmentation to existing careers, especially those careers that require the organization and leadership of people in some manner. Here are some of the areas that our graduates have entered into:
* Research
* Labour education, industrial and labour relations
* Human resource development
* Organization development consulting
* Workplace equity leadership, consultation
* Management and leadership development
* Workplace health and safety
* Employee ownership, cooperative organizational design
* Community development
* Policy analysis
* Environmental education
* International development
* Health education
* Continuing education
* Pre-service teacher training
* Facilitation (individual, group)
* Arts-informed adult education
* University or community college instructor
Does this program certify me as an Human Resources professional?
Our programs do not provide the certification required to become an HR professional. However, the program offers a number of courses that are relevant to those interested in human resource development work. Interested individuals may wish to consult our Workplace Learning and Social Change collaborative program.