Designed for

K-12 educators, science communicators and journalists, educators affiliated with outreach initiatives, museum educators, science journalists, scientists interested in science communication, community leaders, community leisure services workers.

Program Structure

• Two year, 35-unit program (seven 5-unit courses)
• Online synchronous classes
• Classes meet online one evening per week, and usually run from 4:30 - 9:30 pm; 2 hrs synchronous online, 3 hrs of independent work

Intake Schedule

Applications are typically accepted biennially.

Next Start Terms
Fall 2025

Program Design

Designed with working professionals in mind, this two-year degree program offers the opportunity to obtain a high-quality master's degree. Our cohort-based model allows students to work through the program and coursework together (18-24 students).

This program will explore the evolving concept of scientific literacy, especially in relation to issues like fake news, post-truth, and public engagement with science and technology. Students will examine the social, cultural, and political roles of science education and communication through various perspectives, including the history and philosophy of science; socioscientific issues; science, technology, society and environment (STSE) approaches, decolonial views, and critical informal science education frameworks. 

The courses in this program aim to develop students' critical thinking, ethical values, and proactive stance on urgent issues such as climate change, environmental degradation, and gender inequalities in science and technology. Indigenous perspectives will be integral to the program, encouraging students to challenge dominant views on science, education, communication and research. Topics like the "nature/culture divide”, objectivity in science, place-based learning, public engagement, participation, and equity will be central to the discussions.

Goals of the Program

• Engage critically with community and practitioner-based scholarship, and theory in science education and communication.
• Appraise and examine the complex relationships between science, technology, society and environment in different educational and communication contexts (e.g. schools, museums, social media, NGOs, outreach initiatives, science cafés, etc.)
• Develop critical views and values on the relationships between scientific and technological development and the distribution of wealth and power.
• Critically examine the current state of science education and communication in provincial, national and international contexts.
• Explore theoretical and practical perspectives of decolonizing and indigenizing science education and science communication.
• Reflect upon the meanings and possibilities of public engagement and participation in science, technology and environmental issues.
• Engage in transformative practices related to science education and communication.

Courses

Students complete:

Year 1

Year 2

Program courses and order of delivery subject to change.

Online

Courses in this program are offered online synchronously via Zoom. Ensure you have the following minimum technical requirements:

• PC (Windows XP or Vista) or Mac (OS X 10.4 or greater)
• High-speed internet connection
  
• USB headset with a microphone (or a headset)
  
• Webcam
  
• Acccess to a printer