Adult Education
    Duration2 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    USD 39,466 / Year
    Next IntakeAugust 21, 2023

    Adult Education

    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.

    • Department Website
    • College Website
    • How Do I Apply
    • Apply Now

    Program Coordinator: Steven Schmidt (221-B Ragsdale Hall; 252-328-1118; [email protected])

    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.

        Requirements

        Entry Requirements

        In order to be considered for admission, international graduate applicants follow the same steps as a U.S. applicant with a few exceptions as identified in Red font. Step by step instructions are identified below:

        • Complete the ECU Online Graduate School Application: One application fee and one set of supporting documents should be submitted for each program of study applying to.
        • Pay the Application Fee: Payment will be made through the self-service portal prior to submission of the application. The payment portal accepts debit or credit card only.
        • Provide Foreign Transcript Evaluation

        An official course by course credential evaluation of all foreign transcripts indicating that, at minimum, the US equivalent of a bachelor’s degree has been awarded by an accredited college or university is required.

        • Provide Official Transcript(s) & Diploma Copy: A copy of your transcript(s) and diplomas showing a full education history issued in your native language as well as a notarized or certified copy in English must be uploaded to your application.
        • Provide Evidence of English Proficiency: If English is not your native language and you have not completed at least one year of education (minimum of 18 credit hours) at a United States school, you are required to take a standardized English language exam or complete the ECU Language Academy (ECULA).
          • Language Exam Options: The Graduate School accepts either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Duolingo English Test or Pearson Test of English (PTE) and scores must be forwarded to the Graduate School by the testing service. The paper- or computer-based TOEFL exam is accepted by request only.
        • ECU Language Academy: You may choose to attend the ECU Language Academy instead of taking the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Also, if you do not obtain the required score on the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE, at least one session of the ECU Language Academy may be required prior to the start of your program. Successful completion of all levels of the ECU Language Academy is required for admission without TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. More information on the ECU Language Academy, including the ECULA application, is available on the Intensive English Program website. Individual programs may have higher minimum requirements.
        • Provide Official Standardized Admissions Test Results: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange for an official score report to be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service (GRE or GMAT). ECU’s institutional code is 5180. ECU does not have departmental codes.
        • Upload Statement of Purpose: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your personal statement (why you believe you would be a good candidate for the program) to your application. You may want to use resources to help you write a personal statement in English such as this webinar.
        • Provide Letters of recommendation: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange to have LOR’s submitted electronically with the online application. Review your program’s application requirements to determine the number of letters, if any, that they require.
        • Upload Resume: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your most recent resume to your online application.
        • Provide Financial information: If/when you are admitted to a graduate program at ECU you will be required to provide certified evidence of financial resources adequate to cover educational costs and living expenses. Documents only need submitted if/when an offer of admission is extended.

        English Requirements

        • PTEMin 65
        • IELTSMin 6.5
        • TOEFLMin 78

        Career

        Graduates with this degree are successful in many fields and careers, including the following:

        • Adult and Continuing Education Administration
        • Education Administrators

        Career Opportunities

        ECU has developed resources to help you learn more about career opportunities and job market outlook. In addition, the websites below provide specific information on careers in the various majors from which students may choose:

        NC Tower

        This website provides graphs and tables of in-depth information on employment rates, wages and ongoing higher education enrollment of graduates from the North Carolina Community College System and from the University of North Carolina system schools. NC Tower includes data on former UNC students who are working in roughly 90% of all jobs in North Carolina. This database excludes information for graduates who are:

        • Self-employed;
        • Work for the federal government, including the military: or
        • Work outside of North Carolina.

        US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

        This website also provides in-depth information regarding pay, projected new jobs, required education, growth rate and on-the-job training information on various occupations.

        Degree-specific internships

        For information on internship information for specific majors, go to the home page of the department in which the major is located and, as available, find the link to the information on internships in that major.

        Fee Information

        Application Fee 75

        How to Apply

        Thank you for your interest in a graduate program at East Carolina University!

        Contact information for each program, along with their application deadlines, can be found on the Find Your Program feature.

        Ready to apply now? Great!

        • If you have already created an account and/or are applying to multiple programs, please use the same account. After selecting the program of choice, simply login with your credentials.
        • Use a personal email account (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, AOL) when setting up your ECU application account. Please refrain from creating an account using any ECU associated emails because doing so may prevent you from receiving important email communication from us.

        Adult Education

        East Carolina University

        East Carolina University

        United States of America

        United States of America, Greenville