Master of Arts in Adult and Community Education

The program provides students with enhanced concepts and competencies in designing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs for adults in a variety of public and private educational settings. The program provides students with an understanding of how educational, social, political, and economic systems interface within communities. The program seeks to develop individuals who are committed to fostering learning as a lifelong process and in creating learning organizations and societies. The program further offers career preparation for corporate training, instructional design, staff development, program evaluation and community education development. The master’s degree program can also be used as preparation for entry into the doctorate in Adult, Higher and Community Education.

General Degree Requirements

The M.A. degree requires completion of at least 30 hours of graduate coursework. A minimum of 18 hours must be completed in the major, supplemented by a research course and electives from the major or related subjects. If students choose electives from the major, they are encouraged to design an area of concentration (9 credit hours) in either adult or community education. Students must maintain grade-point averages of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. Programs of study are individually designed.

Admission to the Program

Applicants for the M.A. in the Adult and Community education must complete the university Application for Graduate Admission form and provide transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. To be admitted to graduate study toward a master’s degree, a student must meet the following minimum criteria:

1. Hold an earned bachelor’s degree from a college or university that is accredited by its regional accrediting association
2. Have one of the following:

1. an undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
2. a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the latter half of the baccalaureate.
3. a 3.0 average in 9 semester hours of graduate work approved by the chairperson of the major department and approved in advance by the graduate dean, and a score on the Graduate Record Examination of 900 on the Quantitative and Verbal sections or 1350 with the analytical section added.

Degree Options

*A minor may be earned by successfully completing three additional courses or 9 hours.
*A double major may be earned with the master’s degree for executive development for the public service by completing 5 selected courses or 15 hours in the executive development program.

Master’s Degree in Adult and Community Education Course Requirements

To receive a Master’s Degree in Adult and Community Education, the student must complete the following 18 hours of coursework:

Required Courses	Credit Hours
EDAC 631-Adult and Community Education	3 hrs
EDAC 632-Organizing Adult and Community Education Program	3 hrs
EDAC 634-The Adult as a Learner	3 hrs
EDAC 635-Strategies for Teaching of Adults	3 hrs
EDAC 638-Program Planning in Community and Adult Education	3 hrs
EDAC 648-The Community Educator	3 hrs

Research Requirement:
The student must either write a master’s thesis, (1-6 hours) or select
one of the following research courses:

EDPSY 640-Methodology of Educational and Psychological Research	3 hrs
EDCUR 660-Ethnographic Research in Education	3 hrs
EDCUR 671-Evaluation of Educational Programs	3 hrs
EDAC 697-The Grant Process and Research	3 hrs
THES 698-Thesis	6 hrs

Elective Courses:
In addition, the student must complete 9 additional credit hours in adult and community education or from any other related field.

Adult Education Courses

EDAC 629-Psychology of Adult Adjustment	3 hrs
EDAC 540-Educational Gerontology	3 hrs
EDAC 640- Foundations of Adult and Community Education	3 hrs
EDAC 655-Continuing Education For Professionals	3 hrs
EDCUR 671-Evaluation of Educational Programs	3 hrs
EDAC 680-Staff Development to Strengthen Curriculum	3 hrs
EDAC 697-The Grant Process and Research	3 hrs
EDAC 699-Internship in Adult and Community Education	2-6 hrs

   Community Education Courses

EDAC 644-Collaborative Learning in AHCE	3 hrs
EDAC 646-Recruiting, Training, Supervising Volunteers	3 hrs
EDAC 681-Managing Community Education	3 hrs
EDAC 697-The Grant Process and Research	3 hrs
EDCUR 675-Eval. of Educational Personnel to Strengthen Curriculum	3 hrs
EDAC 699-Internship in Adult and Community Education	3 hrs

   Additional Courses

The student may choose additional graduate courses in adult and community education or from any other related field.

Admission Materials:

Contact the Graduate School
Ball State University
2000 West University Ave
Muncie, IN 47306
Phone: (765) 285-1286

For additional information, contact:

Dr. Michelle Dudka
Graduate Programs in Adult Education Department of Educational Studies
Teachers College Room 812
Phone: (765) 285-5461
Fax: (765) 285-5489

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