Graduate Diploma in Education

The Graduate Diploma in Advanced Professional Studies in Education (GDE) is designed for teachers, in collaboration with BC school districts, and whose primary focus is school-based practice. It provides the opportunity for teachers and teachers on call (TOC's) to engage in focused, sustained, reflective inquiry into their practice within a 2-year cohort model. The Graduate Diploma in Education offered by Field Programs in the Faculty of Education can also be used for TQS Category Advancement.

At a Glance

Benefits:	Opportunity for TQS Upgrade Classes held in hosting School District Use units (credits) from GDE to apply for 1 year M.Ed. EP
Format/Length:	2 years (6 terms) Evening or weekend classes (mid-Sept through early-June) and 2 weeks in July or August Units: 30
Admission Requirements:	Undergraduate degree CGPA of 2.5, BC Teaching Certificate
Tuition 16/17:	295.87/units (approx. 5 units/term)

Our Programs Offer

Extended professional development focusing on inquiry and professional questions of interest
Themed exploration of current theories and principles within content-specific and interdisciplinary learning
Combination of coursework and field studies throughout the program
A collaborative learning community (cohort) of 20-30 teacher learners
Ongoing support of a mentor and mentor group of 6-9 teacher learners
Optional opportunity to ladder diploma credits into a Master of Education in Educational Practice (Note: acceptance into the M.Ed. EP is not guaranteed)

TQS Upgrade Opportunity

Completion of the 2-yr (6-term) 30-credit diploma allows teachers to:

upgrade from TQS category 4 to TQS category 5 or
from TQS 5 to TQS 5+ or
from TQS 6 to TQS 6+ (in districts with that category)

Applicants should possess both an undergraduate degree and a valid British Columbia teaching certificate. Those without an undergraduate degree should review the requirements for professional upgrading before considering this program. (Credits from other programs or institutions are not transferrable into this program.)

Tuition Fee Credits for School Associates

Teachers who are supervising SFU student teachers may use their Tuition Fee Credits (TFCs) to offset the cost of a Graduate Diploma program. The TFC value is calculated at the prevailing per-credit rate for undergraduate course fees, currently $173.51 per credit. For more information, please see the Tuition Fee Credits webpage.

For inquiries, please contact:

Dr. Paula Rosehart Program Coordinator, GDE

For admissions/course registration, contact Siân Owen (s_owen@sfu.ca; 778-782-4892).