About The Chang School

Our Mission: To be a leader in innovative, quality, lifelong learning that empowers adults to reach their life and career goals.

We are proud to be Canada’s largest, most successful continuing education program, with approximately 70,000 enrollments each year. What brings people here? Five key elements:

Superior and Innovative Programming

Are you interested in making a career change? Pursuing advanced training in your professional field? Taking a course for personal enrichment? Continuing education at Ryerson provides relevant, quality educational programming geared to adult learners. We offer a variety of programs of study to help you achieve your goals:

• 91 certificate programs
• Courses toward 13 part-time degree programs
• Nearly 1,500 courses, seminars, and workshops
• Courses towards accreditation by 13 professional institutes and associations

Accessibility and flexibility are features of our programming – you can learn anytime, anywhere. Our innovative forms of delivery include the following:

• In-class programs at our downtown campus – weeknights, weekend days, some weekdays, and some week-long, intensive courses
• Distance Education – nearly 400 online, print-based, and audio courses, as well as a unique combination of in-class and online learning

See our Courses and Programs for detailed information about courses, programs of study, and delivery formats.

Instructors Who Are Thinkers and Practitioners

Our instructors combine theoretical knowledge with practical, on-the-job experience – and they pass that experience on to their students. Continuing education instructors are high achievers who we attract from industry and the business community, along with Ryerson University faculty. The majority of our instructors have extensive work experience in occupations that are directly relevant to the courses they teach; they are also interested in adopting new modes of delivery and new teaching methods.

A Community of Motivated Students

If you’re interested in continuing education at Ryerson to advance your career, update your skills, or to gain prerequisites for full-time programs at Ryerson University, you’re in good company. Most Chang School students possess post-secondary education and are employed full-time, giving you the opportunity to interact with like-minded professionals.

Adult learners aged 50+ are a growing population at Ryerson’s Chang School and truly epitomize the concept of lifelong learning. Our Programs for 50+ engage older adults through applied research, program development, and opportunities for transferring knowledge and wisdom. Among the programs offered are study groups, lecture series, a theatre school and drama centre, and an interactive website for older adults.

Our Collaborative Model

The collaborative model at Ryerson’s Chang School is unique in Canada. It recognizes that continuous learning is best achieved by creating a distinct continuing education unit – one that can adapt to the unique needs of adult learners and at the same time be deeply connected to the University. This model makes part-time studies a great stepping stone to full-time education.

Connectedness Through Partnerships

Our students benefit from our connections to other educational institutions, industry leaders, associations, and the local community. The Chang School has partnerships with professional associations, societies, and institutes in such diverse areas as international trade, banking and finance, community services, management, and engineering and applied science. The Chang School is also committed to meeting the changing needs of our society and local community. For example, in cooperation with the Toronto District School Board, we offer Spanning the Gaps, a program to encourage “at risk” high school students to consider university as a possibility.

Associations

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is a member of the following associations:

• The Canadian Association for University Continuing Education (CAUCE) www.cauce-aepuc.ca
• The University Professional Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) www.upcea.edu