Adult Learning, Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Robin Hurst, Ed.D.
Adult Learning Program Coordinator
rrhurst@vcu.edu
(804) 828-8021
Admission requirements summary
Adult Learning, Master of Education (M.Ed.)
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| Degree: M.Ed. |
Semester(s) of entry: Fall Spring Summer |
Deadline dates: Mar 15 Nov 1 Mar 15 |
Test requirements: GRE or MAT |
The Master of Education in Adult Learning is a 33-credit program of study that prepares individuals for a broad range of positions related to the education of adult learners. Students choose one of three elective tracks to concentrate in adult literacy, human resource development, or teaching and learning with technology. Graduates are found in major corporations, higher education, health care organizations, state and federal agencies, nonprofit and community-based organizations, and human services agencies. Admission to the program is predicated on the “whole person” concept, taking into account life experience, academic record, references and the reasons for the student’s interest in the program. An interview with the program adviser is recommended prior to admission. Successful applicants will have sufficient prior work experience with adults as learners to enable them to bring relevant work experience into the classroom learning environment.
The program provides a foundation in educational research methods and a strong core of seven courses in the theory and practice of adult learning, including emphasis in development of facilitation skills, as well as the design and delivery of adult learning programs. Upon completion of the foundation and core courses, students choose one of three areas of focus: adult literacy, human resource development (learning in the workplace), or teaching and learning with technology. The last course in the program, a capstone seminar in action learning, reunites students from all three elective tracks for a comprehensive synthesis experience as they work in action learning teams to solve a real problem of strategic importance to an organization in the community.
A unique feature of the program is the learning portfolio, maintained in an online journal (blog) format. The learning portfolio, in combination with the capstone seminar, replaces a comprehensive examination requirement. For the portfolio, students write reflective blog entries during each of the core and elective track courses. During the program, selected assignments are posted to the blog to document personal growth and learning over time. At the end of the program, students create a synthesis of their learning in an essay format or through creation of a digital story. The portfolio serves as a demonstration of the graduate’s abilities to a prospective employer and can be added to a student’s resume. Throughout, the program utilizes students’ experiences in working with adults as learners to unite theory with practice and emphasizes 21st-century technologies for teaching and learning.
Curriculum
| Credits | ||
| Foundation course | 3 | |
| EDUS 660 Research Methods in Education | ||
| Core courses | 21 | |
| ADLT 601 Adult Learning and Development | ||
| ADLT 606 Design and Delivery of Adult Learning Programs | ||
| ADLT 610 Consulting Skills in Adult Learning Environments | ||
| ADLT 612 Learning in Groups and Teams | ||
| ADLT 636 Capstone Seminar in Action Learning | ||
| ADLT 650 Adult Literacy and Diversity | ||
| ADLT 688 Lifespan Issues for Adults with Learning and Behavioral Disabilities | ||
| Elective tracks | 9 | |
| Students choose an elective concentration of nine credit hours in one of the three focus areas: adult literacy, human resource development, or teaching and learning with technology. These courses are designed to be taken after the student completes foundation and core courses, with the exception of ADLT 636, the capstone seminar. | ||
| Adult literacy electives | ||
| READ 602 Literacy for Adults | ||
| TEDU/ENGL/LING 552 Teaching English as a Second Language | ||
| TEDU 681 Investigations and Trends in Teaching (issues in adult literacy) | ||
| Human resource development electives | ||
| ADLT 620 Human Resource Development Overview | ||
| ADLT 623 Organizational Learning | ||
| ADLT 625 Change Strategies for HRD Practitioners | ||
| Teaching and learning with technology electives | ||
| ADLT 640 Theory and Practice of eLearning Integration Into Adult Learning Environments | ||
| ADLT 641 Exploration of Digital Media for Adult Learning | ||
| ADLT 642 Design Challenges in Creating eLearning for Adults | ||