Adult Education
Extend your teaching abilities to postsecondary education, workplace training environments, and community organizations when you complete our Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) in adult education.
Adult Education Program Overview
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 Master of Arts in Education (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, health care settings and many more.
The program provides students the theoretical, philosophical, historical and research foundations of best practice in the education of adults. Gain the skills you need to help others meet their goals through concentration in one of six areas: community-based education, community college instruction, education in health care professions, instructional design in adult education, student affairs in higher education, or workplace training and development.
All students will take courses addressing 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 many areas of practice as well as the variety of adult learners and their needs.
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, nonprofit administrators and volunteer educators, health-care educators, and those who work in higher education administration in community colleges, colleges and universities.
Our program emphasizes 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.
What You Will Study
Program Coordinator: Christy Rhodes (221-A Ragsdale Hall; 252-737-4795; rhodesc14@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 Requirements:
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.
Related Programs
English, Secondary Education – BS
Bachelor of Science
- College of Education
-
On-Campus
Inspire high school learners through literature and writing, gain early classroom experience and graduate with dual degrees through our Bachelor of Science (BS) in English education.
Instructional Technology (Non-Licensure) – MS
Master of Science
- College of Education
-
Online
Design engaging instruction and educational media, build advanced instructional design skills and prepare for careers across education, business and government with our fully online Master of Science (MS) in instructional technology.
Educational Administration and Supervision – EdS
Specialist in Education
- College of Education
-
Online
The post-master’s education administration and supervision degree prepares individuals for district educational leadership positions and/or dual language/immersion leadership.