Prospective Students FAQ
questions
- What
is special about the MET Program?
- How
do I take the courses/what do I need?
- Do
I need to have taken prior courses or a degree in
education?
- How
much is tuition?
- Is
there a thesis or project required?
- Can
I do a project in lieu of a thesis or course?
- How
long can I take to complete the Master of Educational
Technology?
- Will
the MET degree make me eligible to move up to TQS category 5
or 6 in British Columbia?
- Can
I change my mind in the middle and pursue the Master's
degree instead of the Certificate
program?
- I
don't have any recent academic references. Can I use
work references instead?
- Do I need to have all my application documents in by the application deadline?
- How
do I know which books I will need for each course,
and how do I get them?
- Does
the MET degree allow a graduate to get a
Teaching Certificate in BC?
- I've taken some previous graduate-level course work. Can I transfer any of it into my MET degree?
- If
I choose to drop a course after registering,
can I get a refund?
- Is
UBC an Accredited University?
Answers
1. What is special about the MET Program?
-
The MET Program was developed in collaboration between two world-renowned
academic institutions examining issues in education with regard to
technology and online learning.
-
The MET Program provides students with a rare opportunity to participate
with an internationally, culturally and professionally diverse student
population.
-
Students have the freedom to choose their own courses, schedules and
timelines for completion.
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2. How do I take the courses/what do I need?
All courses are offered completely online.
You will use the Internet to access information and to participate in online
discussions with other students internationally.
You will need: a computer and reliable access to the internet (high-speed Internet is highly recommended).
Participants should be comfortable using a keyboard, have a modem connection
that is a minimum of 33.6 kbps, an active Email account, and at least Netscape
6.2 or Internet Explorer 6. The course is delivered through course software
called WebCT.
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3. Do I need to have taken prior courses or a degree in
education?
No. Prior coursework in education is not required. Refer to
Admission
requirements.
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4. How much is tuition?
Tuition is calculated on a per-course basis, click here to see the current rate. All prices are in Canadian dollars and are subject to change by the University.
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5. Is there a thesis or project required?
A thesis will not be required. Instead, a "culminating reflection" of what you
have learned in the MET program will be expected in one of the final courses.
This reflection will be implemented to satisfy British Columbia's TQS
requirements (see question #8), and thus will not be required of students who
do not need it.
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6. Can I do a project in lieu of a thesis or course?
Students may apply to complete a supervised individual project in lieu of one
of the MET courses. Students must secure UBC's approval before starting work
on the project.
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7. How long can I take to complete the Master of Educational
Technology?
Each term, two core courses and a selection of elective courses are scheduled,
so you can choose to take courses at your own pace. The Master's degree can be
completed in as little as 2 years, and within a maximum of 5 years. If you are
applying for either the TBDL or TBLS certificate and plan on laddering into
the MET, keep in mind that you must finish the MET within 5 years of beginning
your certificate.
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8. Will the MET degree make me eligible to move up to TQS
category 5 or 6 in British Columbia?
TQS has stated that a Master's program needs a "capstone experience" or
research component to meet TQS standards for moving up to Category 6. All MET
students in the program prior to September 2003 are exempt from this
requirement, and their program will meet the TQS requirements. For students
who begin the program in September 2003 or later, this research component will
be fulfilled by selecting ETEC 590 as a program elective.
The above only affects BC teachers who wish to advance to category 6 on the
TQS scale. If you wish to advance to Category 5, it is our understanding that
ETEC 590 is not required. You should check with TQS to confirm what you
need before deciding whether to enroll in ETEC 590.
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9. Can I change my mind in the middle and pursue the
Master's degree instead of the Certificate program?
Yes. You can "ladder" (transfer) five completed courses into the Master's program.
There is no charge for transfer of credits; however you will need to reapply
and pay the $90(CDN) application fee for the Master's program. Please keep in
mind that, if you ladder into the Master's degree before completing your
certificate, you cannot go back to the certificate program and you will not be
eligible to receive it. Also, you must complete the Master's degree within 5
years of beginning your certificate.
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10. I don't have any recent academic references. Can I use
work references instead?
While at least one academic reference is preferred, it is not required. Work
references that can speak to your initiative, intellectual capacity and
industry are welcome.
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11. Do I need to have all my application documents in by the application deadline?
Yes. All relevant documents (transcripts, references, etc.) must reach us by the application deadline. If your application is not complete by this deadline, it cannot be considered for the term that you applied for. Please contact us if you are having any problems with your documents.
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12. How do I know which books I will need for each course,
and how do I get them?
MET course materials are available for view and purchase online, and delivered
to you wherever you are in the world. To view and purchase required reading
materials or for more information, visit the
MET
Bookstore.
Course Outlines also provide information on required and recommended reading,
much of which is available electronically. Click on "Courses" under "MET
Degree" or "MET Certificates" -- the Course Outlines are linked to the course
titles.
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13. Does the MET degree allow a graduate to get a Teaching
Certificate in BC?
No, the MET degree does not. However, if you are interested in attaining a
Teaching Certificate in BC, UBC does offer the following program:
The Bachelor of Education Program at UBC prepares teachers for their
responsibilities in British Columbia schools. Successful completion of the
program leads to the B.Ed degree and also to recommendation for initial
teacher certification by the BC College of Teachers. Graduates of this program
are initially qualified to apply for certification to teach in the province of
British Columbia. For more information regarding the B.Ed. program, please
visit the Teacher
Education Program website.
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14. I've taken some previous graduate-level course work. Can I transfer any of it into my MET degree?
The Faculty of Graduate Studies allows students to transfer up to 12 previously
taken credits (four 1-term courses or their equivalent) into a graduate program
at UBC. These courses must meet the following criteria:
- They are approved by the MET program graduate advisor (Cliff Falk).
- They cannot have been used for any conferred degree (master's program, diploma, etc).
- All transfer credit requests must meet the Faculty of Graduate Studies policies for transfer credit approval, as detailed here:
http://www.grad.ubc.ca/current-students/managing-your-program/masters-students-0
- Transfer credit requests that do not meet these requirements will be automatically rejected.
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15. If I choose to drop a course after registering, can I
get a refund?
The $250 registration deposit is non-refundable.
The remaining tuition will be refunded as follows:
- Drop during first two weeks: 100%
- Drop during third week: 50%
- Drop during fourth week: 25%
- After fourth week: No Refund
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16. Is UBC an Accredited University?
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a member of the
Association
of Universities and Colleges of Canada. Incorporated in 1908 by
an act of the provincial legislature, it operates under the authority of the
University Act of the Province of British Columbia. Membership in AUCC and
operation under the authority of the University Act is equivalent to
accreditation in the US system.
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