Current Students FAQ
Questions
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Now that I’ve been admitted to the MET Program, which courses should I register in?
- How many courses should I register in?
- How much time should I commit to each course?
- How long will it take me to complete the program?
- What are the requirements to be considered a full-time student?
- How do I register in the courses I want?
- How do I decide which electives to take?
- Can I take courses at other universities?
- Can I do an independent study course?
- What do I do if I want the research component required by Teacher Qualification Services in British Columbia as part of my program?
- If I choose to drop a course after registering, can I get a refund?
- What do I do if I have a problem in a course?
- What do I do if I can’t take a course each term or need time away from my studies?
- What does the Master of Educational Technology qualify me to do?
- If I complete the MET Program, where can I do a PhD?
Answers
1. Now that I’ve been admitted to the MET Program, which courses should I register in?
We recommend you start your MET program with a core course, and complete the four required core courses as early in your program as possible.
The course schedule is posted for several years ahead so that you can plan your program. We suggest that you review the electives and map out your schedule ahead of time. View the course calendar. (Please note that this is subject to change, but is a good place to start.)
NOTE: You can not register in ETEC 590 until you have completed 8 courses, including the 4 core courses.
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2. How many courses should I register in?
Most students who are working full-time in a professional position enroll in one or two courses each term and possibly more in the May term if they have more time available during May to August. You may register in a maximum of four courses in any term.
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3. How much time should I commit to each course?
The amount of time individual students spend preparing for class and completing course assignments varies widely in any educational setting. The time students spend completing activities for a MET online course will depend on a number of factors including individual reading speed, writing competency, familiarity with web-based learning environments, familiarity with the subject matter at hand, and investment in the learning process. The time commitment is usually comparable to a graduate-level, 3-credit, face-to-face course.
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4. How long will it take me to complete the program?
Some students who study full-time will complete the program in one year. Most students take two to three years to complete. You must complete within five years.
For certificate students who ladder into the Master's program, the total time between beginning the certificate and completing the Master's degree must not exceed five years.
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5. What are the requirements to be considered a full-time student?
To be considered a full-time student you would need to be enrolled in 9 or more credits in each term:
- Winter Term 1 - September to December
- Winter Term 2 - January to April
- Summer - May to August
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6. How do I register in the courses I want?
Instructions for course registration can be found here.
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7. How do I decide which electives to take?
Select your electives according to your interests, goals, and the expertise you want to develop through the program. Consult the course schedule. Unlike the core courses, electives are not always offered in the same term each year. Up to 6 credits of elective courses may be taken outside the MET program after admission to the program. Up to 6 credits of senior level undergraduate work may be included in a program either as credits transferred in during admission or credits taken after admission, provided that these credits have not been applied to another degree. TBDL/TBLS students can take one 3-credit elective course, but it may not be an undergraduate course.
You may choose to enroll in face-to-face courses offered at UBC, or other on-line courses offered through other departments. Many of them can be found on the External Programs & Learning Technologies or through the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) web site. MET students wishing to enroll in a non-MET course as an elective must obtain the approval of the MET academic advisor for each course. The request for approval should include a rationale for how the course fits within the student’s program and interests.
Out of the 10 courses students must take to complete the MET program, at least 8 of them *must* be related to the application of learning technologies in education. Please keep that in mind when deciding on non-MET courses.
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8. Can I take courses at other universities?
Yes, you may enroll in up to the UBC-equivalent of 6 credits of courses at a university other than UBC, as long as you have not already transferred any outside credits into your program. However, it should be a university having standards comparable to the University of British Columbia. Except in unusual cases, courses taken at another university should be on topics not available at UBC.
The Western Deans Agreement, and other similar agreements, do not apply to MET students because in the MET program you pay a per course fee rather than a program fee. You must instead enter that university as a visiting student. Once you have had a course approved by the MET Academic Advisor, if accepted by the other university, you will enroll in and complete the course. When you have your final mark, submit your transcript to the MET Program Assistant and ask to have the credits transferred into your MET Program.
TBDL and TBLS students may not take courses at other universities.
Please contact Dave Roy for more information if you wish to take courses from another university.
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9. Can I do an independent study course?
An independent study course is possible when there is a topic you want to investigate that is not a part of any available course and when a suitable supervisor is available. If you wish to do an independent study course, first request permission of the MET Academic Advisor and draft a proposal for what you want to do. In consultation with the Academic Advisor, a supervisor for the course will be selected.
The standard policy is that students will take no more than 3-credits in ETEC 580 (Independent Study).
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10. What do I do if I want the research component required by Teacher Qualification Services in British Columbia as part of my program?
The research component will be fulfilled by selecting ETEC 590 as a program elective. Since this is intended to be a culminating project or experience in your Program, it should be completed toward the end. You must have completed 8 courses, including the four core courses, before you can enroll in ETEC 590. Please keep in mind that ETEC 500 must be taken before ETEC 590. They can not be taken concurrently.
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11. 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
IMPORTANT: If you wish to drop a course, you must actually drop the course from your schedule on the UBC system. It is not enough to just stop showing up on the course web site.
If a student does not officially drop the course the student will be graded based on what he/she has contributed so far (usually very little to nothing). This can have an enormous impact on the student's GPA and status in the program.
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12. What do I do if I have a problem in a course?
As in any course, any problem should first be taken up with the course instructor. If this does not result in a satisfactory resolution of the issue, contact the MET Academic Advisor. If this does not result in a satisfactory resolution you can contact the Associate Dean of External Programs and Learning Technologies, Dr. Tom Sork, in the Faculty of Education.
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13. What do I do if I can’t take a course each term or need time away from my studies?
You must take at least one course in the first academic session (September through April) that you are enrolled in the MET program or you will be considered to have refused your offer of admission and must re-apply if you wish to continue.
Once you have taken your first course, you do not have to register in courses in a term if you are not able to. Please keep in mind that you have a maximum of 5 years to finish your MET degree, so if you need to take more than a term off, you should send a message to the MET Program Assistant requesting a leave from the program as required for up to 12 months.
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14. What does the Master of Educational Technology qualify me to do?
Online education is a fast growing field in schools, post-secondary institutions, and in other institutions where employees need to be trained. The MET credentials will assist in getting jobs in any of these workplaces, helping to set up and manage these distributed learning systems. It will also provide classroom teachers with ideas and perspectives for using technology more appropriately in their classroom.
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15. Does UBC offer an online PhD in technology education that is accessible after the MET?
An online search will assist you in identifying doctoral programs available online. We have no plans to start an online PhD at this time.
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