Master of Education in Multidisciplinary Leadership University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) - Prince George Campus, Canada

The Multidisciplinary Leadership specialization is designed to prepare graduates to take on roles of responsibility and leadership in a number of educational and community environments.  In particular, our graduates will develop skills in collaboration and communication, as well as specific leadership practices that enable the creation of positive and innovative organizational environments.  At the same time, a rigorous academic focus provides the knowledge that is necessary to ground effective practice in the diverse and rich scholarship of leadership.  Working from a philosophy of reflective engagement, students will be encouraged to engage in field studies that allow them to investigate the important social, economic, political, and cultural implications for contemporary forms of leadership.

The Multidisciplinary Leadership specialization requires completion of a minimum of 31 credit hours, and includes required core courses, focus area courses, elective courses, and an option of one of three routes: a comprehensive examination (3 credit hours), a project (6 credit hours), or a thesis (9 credit hours). Students will choose from one of the focus areas within the Multidisciplinary Leadership specialization. Multidisciplinary Leadership students are required to complete five core courses, required focus area courses, and a sufficient number of elective courses to meet the minimum 31 credit hour graduation requirement, including a comprehensive examination. The number of electives will vary according to the route chosen.

The Multidisciplinary Leadership specialization is divided into three focus areas: Educational Leadership, Assessment and Evaluation, and Curriculum. The focus areas share a common core of leadership and methodological courses, but beyond that are designed to allow students to prepare for leadership roles in a variety of specialized educational contexts.

Thesis
The thesis route emphasizes academic study, research, and the successful completion of a thesis. This program route is designed to develop each student’s ability to evaluate theory and practice, and conduct research that contributes to the discipline. The thesis route requires the successful completion of a minimum of 31 credit hours of graduate coursework in the Multidisciplinary Leadership specialization, or a minimum of 31 credit hours in the Special Education specialization. This requirement must include a minimum of 22 credit hours of graduate coursework in the Multidisciplinary Leadership specialization, or a minimum of 22 credit hours in the Special Education specialization and 9 credit hours of supervised research culminating in the completion of a thesis and the successful defense of it in an oral examination.

Project
The project route emphasizes the study of theory and practice, and the successful completion of an innovative research and/or development project that addresses a particular aspect of practice. This program route is designed to develop a student’s ability to evaluate and improve professional practice in the discipline. The project route requires the successful completion of a minimum of 31 credit hours in the Multidisciplinary Leadership specialization, or a minimum of 31 credit hours in the Special Education specialization. This requirement must include a minimum of 25 credit hours of graduate coursework in the Multidisciplinary Leadership specialization, or a minimum of 25 credit hours in the Special Education specialization, and 6 credit hours of supervised work, culminating in the successful completion of a project.

Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination route requires the successful completion of a comprehensive examination that evaluates a candidate’s knowledge of theory, research, and practice in their field of study. This program route is designed to enhance and reinforce a student’s knowledge of both theory and practice, as well as their interrelationship. The comprehensive examination route requires the successful completion of a minimum of 31 credit hours graduate course credit in the Multidisciplinary Leadership specialization, or a minimum of 31 credit hours in the Special Education specialization. This requirement must include a minimum of 28 credit hours of graduate coursework in the Multidisciplinary Leadership specialization, or a minimum of 28 credit hours in the Special Education specialization, and 3 credit hours awarded upon the successful completion of a written comprehensive examination.
Application can be made to the School of Education to enter a thesis or project route after having completed at least 12 credit hours of coursework.