Designed For

This Graduate Diploma in Advanced Professional Studies in Education (GDE) is designed for educators interested in deepening their understanding of diversity, inclusion and belonging in educational settings. The focus is on creating safe, caring, trauma sensitive schools, through building and nourishing communities of belonging.

This Graduate Diploma in Education cohort provides educators within the lower of mainland of British Columbia a Blended Learning experience and for educators outside of lower of mainland of British Columbia a Hybrid Learning experience.

Program Format

• Two-year, 30 unit program
  • Cohort model, typically 20-30 students with smaller mentor groups
• Online learning, Tuesdays 4:30pm-8:30pm
• Includes a one-week in-person Summer Institute in Surrey, B.C. during the weeks of August 19-23, 2024 and August 18-22, 2025.
  • Option for online (hybrid) participation during summer institutes (applicants outside the lower mainland will be given preference)
• No classes in July, during the winter break or ministry-designated spring break

Themes of Study

• Engaging in teacher inquiry and reflective practice 
• Connecting educational purposes, beliefs, values, and practices 
• Examining theories, principles, and frameworks of inclusive education, including diversity, trauma sensitive, and culturally responsive pedagogies 
• Engaging with Indigenous and holistic approaches to teaching and learning 
• Designing responsive classroom practices 
• Creating inclusive, safe and caring environments, which includes understanding socio-cultural perspectives on identity and learning
• Linking assessment and instruction to address universally diverse learning 
• Designing quality educational plans for all students with universally diverse individualized learning characteristics 
• Collaborating, supporting, and strengthening relationships with colleagues, parents, and other educational partners 
• Building and sustaining collaborative learning communities

PROGRAM CAPACITIES

Program capacities provide a reflective focus for documenting and self-assessing learning.  At frequent intervals throughout the program, participants and their mentors refer to the capacities to assess progress, to set new goals and to create direction for further learning in field studies.  At the end of the program, each participant’s comprehensive portfolio includes a synthesis of learning and self-assessment of growth in these capacities, supported by evidence of learning.  This program provides opportunities to develop these capacities:

• Develop a disposition of inquiry and critical reflection to understand and develop your practice. 
• Create respectful, compassionate, supportive, diverse and inclusive learning environments. 
• Investigate educational theories and philosophies to inform your practice. 
• Consult, collaborate and communicate with others to support student learning. 
• Address social, moral, and ethical issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion in education
• Advocate for students and teachers, develop student self-advocacy and involve parents in educational support for students. 
• Understand relationships between context, students, and learning

Faculty Members

• Robert Williamson

Faculty Associates

• Ann Pimentel

District Partners

• Michelle Schmidt, PhD, Director of Instruction, Student Support, SD #36 Surrey