Master of Education in Adult Learning and Development

Learning is a life-long process. Today's rapidly changing world requires adults to learn new ways of doing their jobs or to change careers several times throughout their lives. This new reality requires adults to return to educational institutions for classes, to partake in on-the-job training and development courses, and to attend continuing professional education seminars in order to achieve new career goals. The influx of adult learners into adult education venues has resulted in a demand for qualified adult educators to assist adult learners as they cope with the effects of an ever-changing world.

Ranked among the top 5 Masters programs in Adult Education according to graduateprograms.com, Cleveland State University's Master of Education in Adult Learning and Development program's mission is to prepare present and future adult educators with the theories, competencies, and knowledge that will help them plan, teach, and administer programs for a diverse population of adult learners in a variety of settings. The M.Ed. program is committed to providing adult educators with a cognizance of the issues and challenges confronting adult educators in diverse learning environments. Theories, philosophies, history, and practices concerning adult learning and development, teaching adult learners, and program planning and administration are emphasized through a variety of courses throughout the program. Students also gain practical experience through participation in internships.

Three specializations tracks with recommended elective courses for each track are available to students to focus their studies. These three tracks are: Organizational Learning, Higher Education, or Community Education. Students may choose elective graduate courses particular to each of these tracks to specialize in a particular area of adult learning and development, or with the help of their advisor to address their own interests, they may choose other elective courses which may help them achieve their career or personal goals.

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CASAL Department
Phone: 216.687.4613
casal@csuohio.edu

Admission Requirements

  • Application Form
  • $40 Application Fee
  • Undergraduate Transcripts
  • For all college M.Ed. programs that do not lead to a teaching license through the Ohio Department of Education, candidates must satisfy one of the following:
     
    • Undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.75 (3.0 if the baccalaureate degree is more than six years old at the time of application)OR
    • Completion of twelve or more semester credits of Cleveland State graduate coursework (including EDB 601 or HPR 601) AND received a grade of B- or better in EDB 601 or HPR 601 with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 and grades of B or better in the other courses OR
    • A score at the 50th percentile on the Miller Analogies Test or on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of Graduate Record Examination

 

-International students are required to have met at least one of the following English language proficiency requirements:

  • TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based): 78 (including at least 20 in reading, 21 in listening, 17 in writing, and 20 in speaking)
  • TOEFL PBT (Paper-Based): 550
  • IELTS: 6.0 and at least 5.0 in each section
  • PTE (Pearson’s Test of English): 50 iTEP: 5.0

Admission Deadlines

All applications must be submitted and complete on the following application deadline dates:

  • Domestic Students
    • Rolling
  • International Students
    • Fall Semester - July 21st
    • Spring Semester - December 10th
    • Summer Semester - April 14th

 

 

Program Requirements

  • EDB 601 - Educational Research

  • ALD 607 - Adult Education in a Changing Society

  • ALD 605 - Adult Learning & Development Theories and Practice

  • ALD 645 - Organizational Learning and Change

  • ALD 663 - Planning Programs for Adult Learners

  • ALD 688 - Internship in Adult Learning & Development

Each student selects 9 credit hours of study from the courses listed below, or from other courses after discuss of career goals with a faculty advisor.

  • ALD 545 - Program Evaluation
  • ALD 600 - Issues in Multicultural Foundations of Urban Adult Education
  • ALD 603 - Lifespan Development
  • ALD 606 - Modern Higher Education in a Changing Society
  • ALD 610 - Theory and Assessment of Adult Literacy Practice
  • ALD 631 - Group Dynamics for Educational Leadership
  • ALD 646 - Human Resources Development for Adult Educators
  • ALD 647 - Adult Learning and Workplace Diversity
  • ALD 653 - Community Colleges in a Changing Society
  • ALD 664 - Teaching Methods for Adult Learners
  • ALD 665 - Student Affairs for Adult Educators
  • ALD 679 - ALD in Nonprofit Organizations
  • CNS 524 - Career Development & Information Services

Organizational Learning

ALD 545: Program Evaluation 

ALD 631: Group Dynamics for Educational Leadership

ALD 646: Human Resources Development for Adult Educators 

ALD 647: Adult Learning and Workplace Diversity

ALD 664: Teaching Methods for Adult Learners

Higher Education

ALD 545: Program Evaluation 

ALD 606: Modern Higher Education in a Changing Society 

ALD 653: Community Colleges in a Changing Society

ALD 665: Student Affairs for Adult Educators

ALD 679: ALD in Nonprofit Organizations

CNS 524: Career Development & Informational Services

Community Education

ALD 600: Issues in Multicultural Foundations of Urban Adult Education

ALD 603: Lifespan Development

ALD 610: Theory & Assessment of Adult Literary Practice

ALD 631: Group Dynamics for Educational Leadership

ALD 664: Teaching Methods for Adult Learners

ALD 679: ALD in Nonprofit Organizations

 

  • Thesis (3 credit hours)
  • ALD 689 - ALD Portfolio Capstone
Did You Know?

The mean annual wage for Adult Basic and Secondary Education and Literacy Teachers and Instructors is $58,110 as of May 2018. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

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Career Outcomes

  • Adult educators are employed to plan, teach, administer, coordinate, and evaluate programs for adult learners. They work in many different types of settings, such as higher education, business and industry, labor unions, GED/ABLE programs, cooperative extension services, community agencies, professional continuing education programs, museums, health education centers, hospitals, libraries, and correctional institutions.
  • Occupations graduates commonly obtain are directors, managers, trainers, professors, student advisors, coaches, and consultants.
  • These are some of the local companies that are hiring CSU grads: Cuyahoga Community College, Seeds of Literacy, Life Skills High Schools, MJH, and Medical Mutual.