Online Adult Education Degrees

The adult and lifelong learning program at the University of Arkansas qualifies scholar/practitioners to deliver and enhance education for adults in variety of capacities and formats. Upon graduation, participants will be prepared to work with adults engaged in educational pursuits offered by nonprofits and community-based groups, as well as learners pursuing secondary and postsecondary education. They may also work with adults involved in executive and professional education endeavors. The graduate program follows standards that were developed by the Commission of Professors of Adult Education, and students will be instructed by faculty who have hands-on experience in the field.

Graduate students interested in careers in adult learning can complete a master's program at Morehead State University in as little as one year. The program results in an MS in adult and higher education. The program is offered to distance learners, who can also finish the online option in as little as 12 months. The program, like all those offered by Morehead, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The flexible program is taught by seasoned instructors with field experience, and students will be guided through their academic journeys by Graduate School personal advisors who help with academic forms, course selection and university resources.

Troy University, which began as a normal school for aspiring teachers, offers a variety of adult education programs at the graduate level, including thesis and non-thesis options. There is also a graduate certificate program, and students can choose tracks in instructional design, instructional technology, leadership studies and workforce development. Graduates will be qualified to move onto careers in universities, four year colleges, two-year colleges and technical colleges. They may hold office management positions, work in student affairs or follow careers in program development. Other career options include the military, the private sector, and state and local agencies.

The adult education program at Indiana University-Bloomington, which can be completed online, results in a master of science in education degree. Students will learn the fundamentals of program planning, as well as the historical and theoretical context of adult education in America. The program, which is among the oldest of its kind in the nation, was established in 1946. It has been offered to distance learners in the online format since 1998. Graduates can pursue careers in both the private and public sectors as teachers, administrators, technical instructors, academic advisors, instructional designers, corporate trainers and human resource professionals.

Graduate students will leave the adult education program at SUNY Buffalo State with a master of science degree and the skills needed to enter careers in the fields of human resources and adult education. Other graduates may choose to move on to further education at the doctoral level. The 30-credit program includes nine credits applied to a field specialization, which will be chosen with the help of an advisor. Options include linguistics, literacy, administration, creativity, multiculturalism, education computing, health and wellness, and vocational education. Those who enter the program with limited adult education experience may also participate in an internship.

The Kansas State University Global Campus offers a master's degree in adult and continuing education online to distance learners. Participants have the option of combining the degree with one of the school's online certificate programs. Students can also choose to incorporate traditional, face-to-face courses as well. As students advance through the program, they will develop a portfolio, which is due during the student's last semester of coursework. Degree candidates cannot fulfill the required final examination without their portfolio. Prospective students are encouraged to check out a program-specific blog maintained on the university's website.

Billing the program as "the region's only adult educator graduate degree," the University of Southern Maine offers a master of science degree to graduate students. The program, which requires a minimum of 36 credit hours to complete, is delivered 100 percent online. Students can start at any time, and will have assistance from an admissions counselor before they register. Students will leave the program prepared to work in environments as varied as K-12 schools, the nonprofit sector and corporations in the private sector. The self-paced program allows working adults maintain their current schedules.

The School of Education, Health Professions and Human Development, which is part of the University of Houston-Victoria, offers a master of education degree in adult and higher education. The program, which students can complete 100 percent online, comes with two options. The adult education track is designed mostly for working educators in fields like health education, community agencies, religious institutions, and corporate training and development. There is also a higher education track, which was developed for professionals working in settings such as community colleges in roles like staff member, advisor, administrator and student affairs advisor.

Distance learners can pursue a master of arts degree with a concentration in adult learning completely online at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. There are three tracks: homeland security, adult and workforce development and e-learning. The program focuses heavily on technology and was developed according to the guidelines of the Commission of Professors of Adult Education. The school offers a self-assessment quiz for prospective students who are unsure if distance learning is right for them. Online learners will watch lectures, submit assignments and complete projects, and the degree is identical to those earned on campus through face-to-face instruction.

The Graduate School at East Carolina University offers a master of arts in education degree for students pursuing careers in adult education. The program is only offered online, and it begins in the fall, spring, and during three summer sessions. The multidisciplinary program provides students with philosophical, historical and theoretical instruction while teaching instructional strategies and processes, as well as program development. The majority of students pursue the program on a part-time basis. Distance learners will have the same access to school and student resources, advisory staff, and research and library materials as their on-campus peers.