About

Do you have a desire to teach adults in a variety of settings, including the workplace, the military, business or nonprofit organizations, or at the community college level? Do you have a desire to work with adult learners in higher education administration or leadership, including academic advising?

The MAEd in adult education is designed for instructors, trainers, administrators, and others who teach adults or plan educational programs for adults in a variety of settings, including business and industry, nonprofit organizations, community colleges, healthcare settings, and many more.

The program provides students the theoretical, philosophical, historical, and research foundations of best practice in the education of adults. Study addresses program development, instructional processes or strategies, the nature of adult learning and development, the organization and administration of adult education programs, and an introduction to the field of adult education. Students will learn about the diverse areas of practice as well as the diversity of adult learners.

ECU Advantage

For more than 35 years, East Carolina University’s adult education program has filled a great need for adult educators in eastern North Carolina, including community college instructors, workplace trainers, non-profit administrators and volunteer educators, health-care educators, and those who work in higher education administration in the community colleges, colleges, and universities.

Our program places emphasis on developing the theoretical and practical foundation for critical thinking and effective practice that are needed by professional adult educators. Students also have a good deal of flexibility to customize their programs of study to meet their personal and professional goals. As a result, our alumni enjoy successful careers in many different aspects of adult education.

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Steven Schmidt (221-B Ragsdale Hall; 252-328-1118; schmidtst@ecu.edu)

The Department of Interdisciplinary Professions offers an online master's degree program in adult education, which is designed to assist teachers, instructional designers, administrators, trainers, and other persons working with adult learners to develop those skills necessary to initiate, design, administer, and implement effective educational programs. The mission of the degree program is to prepare adult educators who are knowledgeable and reflective in their practice and critical in their thinking. 

The Adult Education, MAEd requires a minimum of 36 s.h. as follows: 

Core courses - 18 s.h.
  • ADED 6445 - Introduction to Adult and Community Education
  • ADED 6453 - The Adult Learner
  • ADED 6481 - Development of Adult Education Programs
  • ADED 6484 - Organization and Administration of Adult Education
  • ADED 6487 - Instructional Strategies in Adult Education
  • ADED 6491 - Research Problems in Adult Education
Elective courses - 18 s.h.

Nine credit hours (three courses) are required to be ADED courses. The additional nine credit hours (three courses) can be ADED or any other graduate-level course at ECU. 

    Thesis option:

    The thesis option requires a minimum of 12 semester hours of electives with 9 semester hours required to be ADED courses. A maximum of 6 thesis hours may be applied towards the minimum semester hours requirement for the degree. 

    • ADED 7000 - Thesis
    Comprehensive assessment requirement

    All ECU graduate programs require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. The assessment for this program requires a culminating reflective portfolio. 

      For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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