GRADUATE DEGREE — MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ADULT EDUCATION

Degree Requirements

The Adult Education curriculum is divided into two areas: the Core Courses and the Professional Focus Area Courses. Adult Education faculty and staff will help you plan a realistic course of study that fits your schedule and allows you to earn your degree while working and managing the other parts of your busy life. In addition, there is an optional, but highly recommended, online orientation for all new Adult Education students. The orientation begins one week prior to the start of the semester and continues through the first eight weeks of the semester. It is a 1 credit hour, letter-graded course that counts toward the total 36 hours needed for the degree. The orientation will provide important information on navigating the Adult Education Program, as well as familiarize you with adult education as an academic field of study.

The orientation covers

• navigating the main areas of Oncourse, including communication and file management options
• APA style and expectations for writing graduate-level papers
• appropriate use of Web resources in graduate course work and where to find them
• information about the capstone course and portfolio process and helpful strategies for working toward your portfolio from the start of your program
• IUPUI resources for distance students
• program planning guidelines and resources

All students complete the same 23 credit hours of Core Courses. Students then work with their faculty advisor to select 13 credit hours of Professional Focus Area courses that supplement the Core Courses. The Professional Focus Area provides the opportunity for you to customize your program so that it meets your professional development needs. Once admitted into the program, you have up to six years to complete the 36 credit hours of course work.

The curriculm is designed to support the mission of the department: To prepare individuals to engage with adults to promote lifelong learning as a conscious and purposeful process in a variety of organizational and community contexts. Specific desired learning outcomes include: Demonstrate understanding of and ability to discuss philosophical and theoretical approaches to adult education; Demonstrate knowledge of theoretical approaches to adult learning, developing programs and creating instruction using appropriate strategies and technologies to promote lifelong learning; Analyze organizational contexts and select effective leadership strategies to develop learning communities; Demonstrate knowledge of approaches to theory-based research and the ability to analyze and interpret research findings. Understand the importance of promoting diversity in all dimensions of purposeful learning and community engagement as reflexive practitioners; Engage in communities with integrity and a sense of ethics Demonstrate professional communications skills

Core Courses

In the Core Courses you learn about the history of the adult education field, the contributions of the major adult education theorists, and the theories, models, and research methods used to design and administer adult education programs. This includes an integrative capstone seminar that culminates in the development of a portfolio documenting your learning and showcasing examples of your growth and development.

The Core Courses are:

ACE-D 500 Introduction to Adult Education Theory (3 cr.)

ACE-D 505 Adult Learning through the Lifespan (3 cr.)

ACE-D 506 Adult Education Planning and Development (3 cr.)

ACE-D 512 Forms and Forces in Adult Education (3 cr.)

ACE-D 521 Participation Training (2 cr.) (Requires one 3-day residency in Indianapolis)

ACE-D 525 Introduction to Distance Education Sysems (3 cr.)

ACE-D 620 Adult Education Research (3 cr.)

ACE-D 640 Capstone Seminar in Adult Education (3 cr.)

Professional Focus Area

In the Professional Focus Area (PFA) you select courses together with your faculty advisor based on your Statement of Professional Development and Goals that is part of the program application. The guiding question of the PFA is "what do you need or want to learn to achieve your goals?" Sample Professional Focus Areas include small group facilitation, instructional design, distance education, organizational development, training and development in not-for-profit organizations, adult education in higher education settings, etc. This area is customized with each individual student and can include graduate courses in a content area (e.g., math, computer science, English composition, ESL, etc.) for those teaching a specific subject.

Of the 13 hours of PFA courses no more than 9 credit hours can come from outside the Adult Education Department unless you are also completing a graduate certificate program from another department. If you find a course that interests you in another IU department please note that these outside courses may or may not be available online. You are welcome to take on-campus courses at any of the IU campuses. If you are not close to an IU campus and are unable to find enough appropriate courses for your specific situation and goals via distance education at IU, we will be happy to work with you regarding the transfer of up to 6 credit hours of appropriate course work from other accredited institutions.

Adult Education department courses that could be used as Professional Focus Area courses include:

New Student Orientation (1 cr.)*

ACE-D 523 Small Group Theory (3 cr.)

ACE-D 600 The Teaching-Learning Transaction in Adult Education (3 cr.)

ACE-D 613 The Organizational Context of Adult Education (3 cr.)

ACE-D 615 Adult and Continuing Education in Collegiate Settings (3 cr.)

Various Special Topics Seminars including Listening Dynamics in Teaching and Learning and Perspectives on Diversity in Adult Education

Various Self-directed Learning courses such as independent study, directed readings, practicum, or internship.

* New Student Orientation is a 1 credit hour half-semester class that all new students are encouraged to take. It is not required however so that 1 credit hour would count towards Professional Focus Area hours.

<< Return to Prospective Students Page