Master of Education - (Thesis-Based)

at Lakehead University - Thunder Bay Campus Canada

The Faculty of Education at Lakehead University offers a Master of Education program designed to meet your professional and academic goals and interests. Our Master of Education (MEd) program provides you with a unique learning opportunity, which addresses the current landscape of both education and research. Our program consists of two distinct fields of study, Educational Studies and Education for Change.

Our Educational Studies field offers you the opportunity to earn your Master's of Education while studying educational research, theory, and practice in a variety of educational contexts, as well as the chance to specialize in Gerontology or Women's Studies.

All class sizes are small, giving you the opportunity to interact with classmates, instructors, and other faculty members. Our Faculty members have expertise in a wide variety of areas; for more information about our faculty and their research areas, please see the Faculty and Staff page.

We are also the home of two Canada Research Chairs (in Environmental Education, Arts Integrated Research), the Centre for Place and Sustainability Studies, the Multi-Data Convergence Laboratory, and the Canadian Journal of Environmental Education.

The sustainability of our environment and natural resources is a pressing 21st century issue. Our Honours Bachelor of Science in Resource and Environmental Economics program combines the academic structure of an economics degree with the scientific depth of an environmental science degree to help you understand how economic activity impacts the world around us. In light of growing concerns of climate change, Environmental Economists are in high demand in an effort to improve management strategies.

As a Resource and Environmental Economics student, you will examine resource allocation and decision-making processes with respect to policies related to water quality, air pollution, waste disposal, and climate change. The natural resources component of the program will focus on the economics of resource extraction, resource depletion, and sustainability.

Our program combines fundamentals from the following disciplines:

• Economics
• Environmental Studies
• Mathematics
• Political Science
• Biology
• Philosophy
• History

Much like the economy, the environment and the discussion surrounding is constantly evolving. New theories and topics are always emerging in the field, making Resource and Environmental Economics a very exciting and ground-breaking discipline.

The English Department offers MA students a program that best suits their interests and goals. We provide a valuable learning experience to those students interested in the MA as a terminal degree, while also providing those students interested in further study with the skills and knowledge they need to pursue doctoral studies. Graduates with a BA, HBA or Concurrent Education degree majoring in English have a number of good reasons to continue their study of literature with us.

Innovative and Traditional Program Options
Our MA program offers students the opportunity to pursue their scholarly interests in the way that best suits them, as we offer a number of different program options: the traditional thesis option for those students who want the experience of writing an in-depth study on their topic of choice; a coursework option that provides students with coverage of many fields and the experience of working with a larger number of professors; and a research-project option that combines the two.

We also offer two innovative programs that are unique to Lakehead. The creative-project option allows students to write a creative work, while still engaging in critical analysis of the genre and form in which they are writing. Past creative-projects have included works in fantasy, children’s literature, poetry, and creative non-fiction. Our program also offers a collaborative graduate program with a specialization in Gender and Women’s Studies, giving students the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of both departments, to focus more closely on issues of gender, and to graduate with a combined degree, qualifying them for further education in both fields.

MA English: Social Justice Studies Specialization
The MA in English with Specialization in Social Justice Studies gives students the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary work focused on social justice and literary/cultural studies. 

History
The academic and professional pursuit of History is the process of bringing the past to life. The study of History encompasses all aspects of human experience, from wars to celebrity culture, and is constantly evolving as our knowledge and perspectives advance.

As a History student you will have the flexibility to pursue your own interests within the discipline and the ability to regularly collaborate with your professors due to our small class sizes. Our courses provide you with various approaches to the study of History and the necessary skills to analyze any issue within its historical context. You will examine historical topics from North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa and South Asia including:

• Aboriginal History
• Digital History
• Environmental History
• Gender History
• International Development
• Political History
• Medical History
• Military History
• Social History

Women's Studies
The field of Women’s Studies has transformed dramatically since its introduction to Lakehead University in 1990. Alongside women’s experiences and gendered systems, you will examine elements of:

• Sexuality
• Queer Theory
• Law
• Masculinity
• Transnational Activism
• Ecofeminism
• Social Justice
• Pop Culture
• Embodiment

Through these topics and more, it is our goal to demonstrate how people are constrained by various ideological notions and how these notions can be challenged to facilitate equality.

The study of Sociology emphasizes the social relationships between people, communities and cultures. By exploring fundamental sociological theories, contemporary thinkers, and a variety of research methods, you will have the opportunity to examine topics including:

• Health and Aging
• Marriage and the Family
• Crime and Deviance
• Media and Popular Culture
• Science and Technology
• Gender and Sexuality
• Education
• Northern Communities
• Discrimination
• Social Change 

Research and hands-on application is at the core of our programs. You will graduate with the necessary skills to facilitate quantitative and qualitative research and to think creatively and inquisitively in order to better understand social patterns, behaviours and issues. 

Our faculty is actively engaged in diverse areas of research such as Gerontology, Education, Health, Demography, Media, Work and Occupations, Social Psychology, and Northern Studies, providing you with well-rounded course options taught by some of the foremost leaders in the field.

It is our goal to enhance your knowledge of the society in which you live and to increase your ability to think independently and critically.  You will graduate with a strong understanding of social interaction, preparing you for success in virtually any profession.

Mathematics seeks hidden patterns that help us to understand life and the complex problems that surround us. This discipline of numbers, quantity, and space can be applied to many fields and industries, from Life Science to Finance. As a student in our Department of Mathematics, you will develop advanced analytical and critical thinking skills in addition to: 

• Research techniques 
• Scholarly writing proficiency 
• Comprehensive understanding of mathematical structures 
• Mathematical proof formulation and solution skills 

Mathematics is a very diverse and intellectually stimulating field of study. In addition to our traditional Mathematics programs, we offer Mathematical Physics and the flexibility to combine your Mathematics degree with a degree in Education, Economics, or Physics. You will benefit from our small class sizes, world-class faculty, unique research opportunities, and the ability to pursue mathematical topics you find most appealing.

Computer science combines the intellectual challenge of a young discipline with the excitement of an innovative and rapidly expanding technology. Computer science has been an active area at Lakehead University for over 25 years. The department resides in the University's Advanced Technology and Academic Centre (ATAC), a striking building that houses many of the University’s computing activities. Faculty, staff, and students are equipped with state-of-the-art computing facilities including smart lecture rooms, labs, and a variety of computing technologies (e.g. Virtual Reality, Parallel Computing).

The Master's program in computer science provides an opportunity to explore the breadth and depth of advanced knowledge in the discipline. Students benefit from a selection of advanced courses and a chance to pursue research that aligns with their interests and aspirations.

Two program options are available to students; each option maintains a balance between coursework and research:

• Master's by Thesis, which requires fewer courses and involves a more substantial research project
• Master's by Project (2 years), which involves courses aligned with the IT industry needs and also includes a limited research project
• Master's by Course, which involves more courses and includes a limited research component

Co-op Information

• A graduate student will normally be admitted to the co-operative program option after completion of two terms, for a starting date in May. Students are expected to obtain an aggregate of 80% or more and must have taken at least 4 half credit courses (excluding non-credit courses, project and thesis).
• Co-op employment for 8 months (two terms) must be successfully completed to satisfy the co-op requirement for the degree. 
• Students interested in a co-op placement should inform the Department's Co-op Advisor at least four months in advance of the proposed date of the placement (e.g., by late December for placements beginning in May). The Department's decision as to the suitability of each candidate will be based primarily on academic performance. 

The MScF Thesis-Based program is a research-oriented degree designed to give graduates a firm foundation in the process of scientific inquiry. Most research projects and internships are undertaken in one or more of the biophysical forest sciences, but social science research may also be undertaken. Research projects and internships are designed jointly by the student, a Research Supervisor at the location of the internship and the faculty member who serves as the student's Faculty Supervisor.

 Students normally complete all requirements within six terms (2 years) of continuous registration.

The MScF Course-Based (non-thesis) option requirements are 2.5 FCE required courses (including domestic or international field school), 1.5 FCE  elective courses, and an internship that is equivalent to 1.0 FCE for a total of 5 FCEs over three semesters (12-months).

Students will also participate in Field School, joining the existing initiatives offered to HBEM and HBScF students – either in a Canadian setting or International, and take a capstone course (0.5 FCE) in Professional Communication in the second semester.

The emphasis of the Course-Based offering of the MScF will be professionalism, communication and planning at a strategic level beyond basic natural resources management.  

Students in the course-based option complete a research internship designed jointly by the student, a Research Supervisor at the location of the internship and the faculty member who serves as the student's Faculty Supervisor.  The research internship will be closely coordinated by the Faculty and may involve local, regional, national as well as international collaborators. Students normally must complete all requirements within three terms (1 year) of continuous registration.

Lakehead’s Nursing program creates a supportive learning environment to help you apply a broad range of concepts from the sciences and liberal arts when caring for people of all ages and backgrounds.

You will learn to become an active member of an interprofessional health care team that can meet the needs of society while maximizing healthcare outcomes through communication, health promotion, and health protection strategies.

Our faculty is on the cutting edge of Nursing knowledge and regularly incorporate their research into the classroom with topics related to women's health, the aging process, nursing ethics, nursing care of oncology patients and those with cardiovascular disease, and much more.

Should you plan to work as a Registered Nurse in northern, rural or remote settings,  know that our emphasis on Aboriginal health and wellness will provide you with insight and preparation for these important areas of nursing practice.

Physics is the study of how matter and energy interact in our everyday lives. Our experienced teachers and researchers will provide you with hands-on training that emphasizes problem solving, and the most advanced technology and mathematical methods.

As a Physics student, you will be exposed to cutting-edge information on the following topics:

• Mechanics and Gravitation
• Lasers and Optics
• Electricity and Magnetism
• Quantum Mechanics
• Solid State Physics
• Medical Physics