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MEd Interdisciplinary Program Route

The Interdisciplinary Master of Education (MEd) is a course-based route which provides students with a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their academic discipline, field of study or area of professional practice in two areas.
Students can proceed toward their MEd degree by following these three steps:
STEP 1 - Graduate CertificateSTEP 2 - Graduate DiplomaSTEP 3 - Master of Education
Upon the successful completion of the four (4) required courses (12 units) the student earns a Graduate Certificate. Students choose a different topic and apply to the Graduate Diploma. Upon the successful completion of the four (4) required courses (12 units) in this program, the student earns a second credential, a Graduate Diploma. Students apply to the MEd degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Upon the successful completion of the four (4) required courses (12 units) in research, the student earns the MEd degree. At this stage, the final four courses ensure that students graduate with research depth.Upon completion of the MEd Interdisciplinary Route, students will have completed a total of 12 courses (36 units) and received a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and an MEd in Interdisciplinary Studies. 
Topics are available in this Link
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You're from Grande Prairie? What a coincidence!
Four grad students from northern Alberta city, each with a passion for outdoor education, meet while taking Werklund distance degree
By Clayton MacGillivray
January 19, 2016
Sometimes it takes a 700-kilometre journey to connect with colleagues and collaborators from one’s own turf. This was the case for four students from the Grande Prairie area who enrolled in the Werklund School of Education’s Master of Education program. 
The Adult Learning specialization in the Werklund School of Education’s Master of Education program allowed four students from the Grande Prairie area to work together and bring their shared passion for outdoor education to the table. Photo courtesy of Gavin Peat
Sometimes it takes a 700-kilometre journey to connect with colleagues and collaborators from one’s own turf. This was the case for four students from the Grande Prairie area who enrolled in the Werklund School of Education’s Master of Education program. 
With Grande Prairie's population closing in on 70,000, it is hardly surprising that Rikki Christie, Keenan Geer, Ryan Shelly and Chelsea Stone did not know each other until they met on the University of Calgary campus. But when you consider that three members of this troop are high-school teachers and the fourth works as a parks and recreation coordinator, their worlds become a bit smaller.
Besides geography, a passion for outdoor education and adult learning unites this group.
“This program was the catalyst in bringing together educators and community stakeholders who are all involved in promoting healthy living practices in Grande Prairie," says Shelly. "It has been great to connect with fellow Grande Prairie residents and work on topics that will have a clear and positive impact on the overall health of our community.”
Adult learning specialization allowed for full-time work while earning a degree
Program co-ordinator Gavin Peat was impressed with how the group come together as a team.
“Teachers and outdoor enthusiasts sometimes struggle to implement the ideas we discuss in the program because they usually work in isolation so it was exciting to see how, through a variety of activities during last summer’s course and subsequent online coursework, they demonstrated a strong ability and desire to support each other," he says.
The blended nature of the Adult Learning specialization — classes offered both on campus and online — was an important component of the program for Christie and her classmates as it enabled them to continue to earn a living while working toward their degrees.  
“We're all very delighted that the University of Calgary offers a program that allows us to continue working full-time, while taking graduate studies in a field that is very relevant to our work and personal interests," she says.
Different stakeholders in outdoor community learn from each other
For his part, Geer valued the personal interactions he had during the program.
“The cohort has provided us the ability to work with so many different stakeholders in the outdoor community," he says.
"We have people from government, parks, kindergarten, senior high, etc. We all have different optics to look at the course from and we have learned a lot from each other because of this.”
Program fosters long-term friendships and inspires future collaborations 
This didn't mean the program was without challenges. For Stone, travelling to Calgary was the biggest hurdle. “It is a really far drive and as teachers, we are not encouraged to take time off work during the school year so flights are really our only option.”
But Geer says the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks and adds, “We are receiving a top-notch education and guidance from two extremely gifted instructors that make any distance travelled worthwhile.”
“I now have three good friends and I hope that if we have the opportunity to get together we will. We are planning on implementing programs into our schools and parks. I think we will stay in touch.”
And now this collaboration will not involve a 700-kilometre trek.
The Master of Education Interdisciplinary degree is a flexible, laddered program that allows students to progress through their courses with the same cohort and choose from several areas of concentration based on their learning interests. Areas of concentration are updated on a yearly basis.

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