Curriculum and Curriculum Focus Areas

The Master of Science in Adult Education has a minimum requirement of 30 credit hours of course work.

Core Courses

  • ADED 707 – Foundations of Adult Education
  • ADED 709 – Adult Development and Learning
  • ADED 708 – Instructional Methods in Adult Education
  • ADED 716 – Research in Adult Education

Thesis Option

  • ADED 794 Supervised Research
  • 9 credits of additional courses with approval of advisor
  • ADED 797 Thesis (6 credits)
  • Pass thesis defense

Non-thesis Option

  • 15 credits of additional courses with approval of advisor
  • ADED 784 Practicum (3 credits)
  • Pass Comprehensive Exam

Certificate in Community College Teaching

  • The Adult Education Program also offers a Certificate in Community College Teaching Certificate. For more information about the certificate, please contact Dr. Sonya Draper

Curriculum Focus Areas

College Leadership and Administration

This focus area is designed for new and experienced professionals who seek advanced professional preparation. These professionals manage and administer academic and student support services at the college and university levels. These settings include:

  • Community Colleges
  • Four-year Colleges and Universities
  • For-profit Institutions
  • Technical Institutions

Continuing and Community Education

This focus area is designed for new and experienced professionals and provides a framework for the examination of concepts like community of learners, non-formal and informal adult educational processes. It also seeks to identify, analyze and evaluate the educational dimensions of community efforts and activities as they emerge in the natural course of community life with an emphasis on tools/resources required to support adult educational practices. These settings include:

  • Adult Basic Education Programs
  • Adult & Family Literacy Programs
  • Adult Secondary Education Programs
  • Credit-Bearing Degree Programs
  • Military Education and Training
  • Professional Continuing Education
  • Correctional Education
  • Professional and Voluntary Organizations
  • Libraries, Museums, Zoos, and Aquariums
  • Faith-Based Organizations
  • For-profit Learning Centers
  • Cooperative Extension
  • Community-Based Organizations and Agencies

Educational Gerontology & Lifelong Learning

This focus area is designed for new and experienced professionals and provides a framework for the examination of concepts like educational and social gerontology and lifelong learning. It also seeks to identify, analyze and evaluate the educational dimensions of community efforts and activities as they emerge in the natural course of community life with an emphasis on tools/resources required to support educational practices for adults aged 65 and older. These settings include:

  • Senior Centers
  • Community-Based Organizations and Agencies
  • Cooperative Extension
  • Healthcare Facilities
  • Faith-based Organizations

Compensatory Education (Teaching Adults with Disabilities)

This focus area is designed for new and experienced professionals and provides a framework for the examination of compensatory education and the concept of ableism. It also seeks to identify, analyze and evaluate the educational dimensions of community efforts and activities as they emerge in the natural course of community life with an emphasis on tools/resources required to support educational practices for adults with disabilities. These settings include:

  • Adult Day Programs
  • Community Colleges
  • Healthcare Facilities