Master of Education in Critical Curriculum Studies

Program start date: September 2025

Admission Requirements

Students applying to the M.Ed. (CCS) are assessed through an admissions process that considers the whole student. The holistic admissions process augments the consideration of traditional measures of academic achievement (e.g., transcripts, academic references) with rigorous consideration of an applicant’s unique experiences and other factors associated with success in graduate studies.

Admissions Criteria[1]. The following four admissions criteria offer a framework in the development of holistic and equitable[2] admissions processes in the M.Ed. (CCS): academic success; scholarly potential; commitment and leadership; and lived experiences.

The admissions committee will look for evidence of the four criteria in each application package, which must include the following:

• Official transcript(s) indicating successful completion of an undergraduate degree with a minimum 70% average in the last 30 credits
• two years of professional experience in educational contexts
• curriculum vitae/résumé
• letter of application (750-1000 words), which also serves as a writing sample, discussing:
  • o your main curiosities in relation to critical curriculum
  • o how your experiences (personal, work, volunteer, academic) have prepared you for this program
  • o motivation for applying
  • o future career goals
• two letters of reference: one academic; and one professional[3]

Guiding Principles. The Admissions Committee is comprised of Department of Education faculty and professional staff who are adept in best practices for holistic admissions. While files may be initially assessed with a rubric, each applicant’s submission is discussed fulsomely by the committee as an expression of the program’s commitment to holistic practices.

The Admissions Committee is guided by principles to enhance Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Decolonization in the selection process and understands reliance on quantitative measures may disadvantage equity deserving students.

The admissions committee may request clarifying information or an interview if an applicant has a letter of application that strongly aligns with the purpose of the M.Ed. in CCS but whose academic performance is not traditionally competitive.

Delivery Type: Online and asynchronous

Program Overview

The M.Ed. in Critical Curriculum Studies: Self, Other, and Society at Cape Breton University is a fully online, 30-credit graduate program that examines curriculum through the lenses of equity, decolonization, and social transformation. While curriculum is experienced subjectively, it is shaped by social, cultural, and political factors. Designed for educators, educational professionals, or those interested in education as a field of study to challenging dominant narratives in education, the program encourages critical reflection and research-driven inquiry. Students explore innovative approaches to curriculum design, policy, and pedagogy, with the flexibility to pursue course-based, project, or thesis pathways. Graduates are equipped to lead meaningful change in schools, communities, and broader educational contexts.

Program Requirements: See document. 

Electives

Group A Electives:

EDUC-6XXX         Transformative Assessment (3cr)

EDUC-6XXX          EDI in Learning Environments (3cr)

EDUC-6107           Nature and Outdoor Learning (3cr)

EDUC-6XXX          Resources for Diverse Contexts (3cr)

Group B Electives:

EDUC-6XXX          Directed Reading Course (giving students an opportunity to personalize their learning experience and interests) (3cr)

EDUC-6109            Transformative Education (3cr)

EDUC-6113              Socio-Ecological Justice in Ed (3cr)

EDUC-6XXX          Critical Well-Being (3cr)

EDUC-6XXX           Collaboration for Well-Being (3cr)

Group C Electives:

EDUC-6116             Phenomenological Research (3cr)

EDUC-6115             Research Methods for Education (3cr)

EDUC-6XXX           Action Research Methods (3cr)

Capstone/Thesis Requirements

Project-based: 6cr (24 required credits of coursework)

Thesis-based: 12cr (18 required credits of coursework)

Progression Regulations

To maintain satisfactory standing in the M.Ed. (CCS), graduate students must achieve a passing grade of 70 in each course. Students who fail any course will receive notification from the Registrar’s Office, (copied to the School Dean), that they have been placed on probation. A student who subsequently fails a second course, (including the same course twice), will be notified by the Registrar that they have been dismissed from the program; in progress courses will be dropped, (with WP entered on the transcript), and refund rules applied.

Condition of Graduation

Completion of all required courses and electives, with a final project or thesis depending on pathway (30 credits total).

All students will be expected to maintain a minimum average of 70% in each course to meet graduation requirements.

The thesis will be graded as pass/fail; a “Pass” is required for program completion.

A Pass will be assigned provided the student meets, at minimum, a 70% standard, upon completion of the written thesis and successful oral defense.

Students who demonstrate exemplary work may be awarded a “Pass with Distinction” at the discretion of the thesis committee.