College of Education and Human Development

Adult Education

Master's Degree Program

The Master of Science program in Adult Education is the only graduate program of its kind in northern New England. Originally established in 1972 to meet the region's need for trained public school administrators of adult education programs, the program today prepares adult educators who work in a variety of organizational and community settings. Today's students are teachers and administrators in higher education as well as in non-school settings including hospitals, recreation agencies, businesses, community and human service organizations. They work as trainers, teachers, staff development specialists, administrators, program designers, program directors, organizational change agents and consultants. If you would like to read stories about our alumni adult educators, visit Alumni Career Stories.

A master's degree is offered through on-line courses so that students from around the state may enroll.

The program requires 36 credits of coursework. Students must also submit a professional portfolio to complete their degree. Suggested courses to begin with are HRD 600, HRD 604, and HRD 631.

Program Requirements (36 credits)

Basic Core (12 credits)
HRD 600 History and Philosophy of Adult Education
HRD 604 Self-Directed Education: Orientation (1 cr.)
HRD 605 Self-Directed Education: Review and Focus (1 cr.)
HRD 606 Self-Directed Education: Comprehensive Exam (1 cr.)
EDU 600 Research Methods and Techniques
HRD 631 The Adult Learner

Middle Core (9 credits required from the following)
HRD 601 Marketing Training and Adult Education
HRD 630 Facilitating Adult Learning
HRD 632 Program Development in Adult Education and Human Resource Development
HRD 633 Managing Adult Education and Human Resource Development
HRD 635 Training and Development
HRD 653 Consulting: Fundamentals and Practice
HRD 667 Action Research and Evaluation Methodologies

Field-Based Practice Courses (3 credits)
HRD 687 Internship in Adult Education and Human Resource Development OR
HRD 698 Directed Study in Human Resource Development

Senior Course (3 Credits)
HRD 649 Seminar in Adult Education and Human Resource Development

Electives: (9 Credits)
Students may cluster their electives into a concentration in consultation with their faculty advisor.
HRD 545 Gender and Learning
HRD 555 Introduction to Student Affairs in Higher Education
HRD 556 Topics in Higher Education
HRD 557 Gerontology for Educators
HRD 558 Aging and Life Review
HRD 559 Aging, Death and Bereavement
HRD 635 Training and Development
HRD 637 Community Education
HRD 639 The Heart of Teaching
HRD 643 Mulitcultural Adult Development
HRD 646 Global Perspectives of Adult Education and Practices
HRD 647 Work and Learning
HRD 693 Life Stories, Personal Mythmaking, and Spiritual Development
HRD 699 Independent Study in Adult Education & HRD
HCE 604 Career Development
EDU 559 Aspects of Reading for Multilingual Learners
EDU 561 Aspects of the English Language
EDU 562 Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in the Classroom
EDU 671 Organizational Behavior
EDU 678 School Law (state director certification)
EDU 679 Evaluation & Supervision of School Personnel (state director certification)
EDU 683 School Finance (state director certification)

The following courses are examples of focus areas that students may wish to pursue.

Students interested in community education might select their electives from these courses:
EDU 559 Aspects of Reading for Multilingual Learners
EDU 561 Aspects of the English Language
EDU 562 Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in the Classroom
HRD 637 Community Education
HRD 646 Global Perspectives of Adult Education

Students interested in the field of educational gerontology might choose these three courses as electives:
HRD 557 Gerontology for Educators
HRD 558 Aging and Life Review
HRD 559 Aging, Death and Bereavement

Students interested in getting Public School Adult Education Director Certification need to take these courses:
EDU 678 School Law
EDU 679 Evaluation & Supervision of School Personnel
EDU 683 School Finance

Note: this requires a variation in the basic and middle core requirements; please consult with your advisor.

Students interested in working in student affairs in higher education may select these electives:
HRD 555 Introduction to Student Affairs in Higher Education
HRD 556 Summer Institute in Special Topics in Higher Education
Note: this requires a variation in the basic and middle core requirements; please consult with your advisor.

Students interested in teaching adult learners may select these courses:
HRD 630 Facilitating Adult Learning
HRD 639 The Heart of Teaching

Students interested in working in the field of training and development may select these electives:
HCE 604 Career Development
HRD 635 Training and Development
HRD 647 Work and Learning
HRD 653 Organizational Consulting
EDU 671 Organizational Behavior