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Education Individual Program
The master of arts (MA) degree signifies the acquisition of advanced knowledge in the student's field of specialization and competence in conducting significant and original research in education. In exceptional cases, when no other regular master's program can accommodate special interests, an applicant may propose an individual program.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the University admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulations 1.3 in the SFU Calendar. In exceptional circumstances, applicants who do not meet these requirements may be considered if superior scholarly or professional achievement is demonstrated.
Admission is granted to a specific degree and to a particular program or specialization. Application information is available from the Faculty of Education.
Applicants will submit a proposal detailing the following
- the inquiry to be pursued for the master's thesis
- courses proposed and their sequence (called the plan of study and research)
- a rationale for how the proposed courses contribute to the master's thesis
- the program may contain a combination of up to 10 units of course work in Directed Readings and/or EDUC 811 or 812 Fieldwork
- an explanation of how the applicant's interests are not met by a regularly offered master's program
In addition to other criteria considered for admission, the director of graduate programs or designate will adjudicate the plan of study and research regarding availability of resources to support it and whether it can be completed in reasonable time.
Program Requirements
This program consists of 25 units of course work and a thesis for a minimum of 43 units.
The individual program's curriculum plan must be developed with, and approved by, a faculty sponsor who automatically becomes the supervisor of the master's thesis. A second person suitably qualified in relation to the thesis joins the supervisory committee normally before the completion of the fourth course.
Normally, before the fifth course, a master's thesis research plan is presented to the tenured or tenure track member of the faculty whom the student proposes to be supervisor. The supervisor and at least one other faculty member chosen in consultation with the supervisor constitutes the supervisory committee. The master's thesis is examined as prescribed in Graduate General Regulations 1.9 and 1.10.
Program Length
Students are expected to complete the program requirements within nine terms.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.