Master of Arts in Adult Education

Welcome

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Adult education usually refers to the adult status of students and the concept of a facilitator working with that adult to help them learn material they feel is necessary to improve some part of their lives. The Master of Arts in Adult Education prepares graduates to develop and deliver programs that serve the specific educational needs of adult learners.

The Adult Education program at Western Kentucky University follows the scientist/ practitioner model of training. It prepares students to be successful performing both research and practical applications. The program is practice-oriented, offering a broad foundation for the professional who will render a wide variety of adult education services.

There are two concentrations in this program. The Adult Education - General Concentration provides graduates with a general background in the field of adult education and a focus on teaching adults in a variety of settings.  The Adult Education - Community and Technical College Concentration focuses on preparing instructors who work with adult learners in community and technical colleges.  Graduates from this program will have eighteen hours in a specific discipline as well as a foundation of adult and higher learning classes.

Admission Requirements

Application and all supporting materials (i.e., transcripts, GRE scores) need to be received in Graduate Studies by the dates listed below to ensure adequate time for departmental review. Applicants can apply online at www.wku.edu/graduate, or may download a printable application.

Application Deadlines
Fall Semester: June 15
Spring Semester: November 15
Summer Term: Contact Department

Please note: To be eligible for any type of financial aid or a graduate assistantship, you must be admitted in good standing to a degree program. Non-degree seeking students are ineligible for financial aid and graduate assistantships.

Applicants to the M.A.E.- Adult Education program need a minimum GAP Score (GRE x GPA) of 2200 with an Analytical Writing score of 3.5 or greater.  Students who have taken the GRE prior to October 1, 2002 will need to have a GAP Score (V + Q + A) x GPA of 3500 or greater. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements are encouraged to contact the department for information on alternate admission, and/or review departmental policy at http://edtech.wku.edu/programs/AlternateAdmission.htm

Program Requirements

Students can choose a General Concentration track or Community and Technical College Concentration track. The requirements differ between the two. Details for each area of concentration are below:

General Concentration (30 hours required)

Core Courses + Research Methods (24 hours)
ADED 510: Introduction to Adult Education
ADED 520: Methods for Teaching Adults
ADED 530: Program Planning for Adults
ADED 540: History and Phiosophy of Adult Education
ADED 611: Adult Learning and Development
EDFN 500: Research Methods or equivalent as approved
ADED 599: Thesis OR
ADED 590: Adult Education Practicum AND
ADED 597: Directed Study in Adult Education

Electives (6 hours): Six hours of graduate electives are selected with advisor approval

Recommended Sequence of Courses

Certain courses may offered on a rotating basis, so please plan your program of study carefully. Contact Dr. Jim Berger, the academic advisor for the program for additional information on course offerings at jim.berger@wku.edu. See what is currently being offered at www.wku.edu/online.

Department Contact Information

Program Director: Jim Berger
Email: jim.berger@wku.edu
Phone: 270-745-3892
Web: http://www.wku.edu/aded/