Master of Education in Adult Education

The graduate program in Adult Education is designed for educators, trainers and development professionals in industrial and workforce training, informal learning settings such as museums, libraries, health and wellness centers, prisons and other settings serving adult learners.  This program will provide in-depth training in program planning, identification or creation of adult-level instructional materials and methods for delivering training or education, methods to assess adult learning, and training in the use of technology to design and deliver instruction.

The Adult Education (M.Ed.) program was approved by the Ohio Board of Regents in 2014. This degree does not require field experience.

Admission Procedures

Master of Education Program from the Bachelor's Plus Program

Bachelor's Plus students interested in the Master of Education Degree Program should contact their graduate advisor to schedule an appointment during the latter part of their licensure program. A student cannot be formally admitted to the master's program until he or she has completed his or her licensure program, nor can any courses count as master's credit until the student is officially admitted into the master's program. Some graduate courses may count as credit toward a Master of Education Degree.

Master of Education in Adult Education and COAS Certificate Programs

An applicant possessing a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale may be accepted for admission to the College of Online and Adult Studies. Students with a GPA higher than 2.25 may be eligible for conditional admission to the College of Online and Adult Studies.

How to Apply

The following materials must be submitted to finalize the application process:

1. Completed Ashland University Application.

2. Submit a $30 application fee.

3. Submit official academic transcript(s) from accredited institutions of higher education documenting all undergraduate and graduate degrees awarded.

4. Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above.

Transcripts, application fees paid by check or money order, or other correspondence should be mailed to:

Ashland University

Attn: Enrollment Services

401 College Avenue

Ashland, OH 44805

Official Electronic transcripts should be submitted to:

enroll-grad@ashland.edu

Transfer Credit

The policy of the College of Online and Adult Studies specifies that graduate students may take courses for personal or professional development offered or sponsored by another institution.

Course credit may be transferred providing:

1. The course(s) is given or offered by an accredited college or university. Documentation is required for all courses if acceptance of them for degree credit is requested. Minimally, the course must be listed and described in this catalog or other official publication of the institution. The content of the course must satisfy a requirement in a degree program at the offering institution and be able to satisfy a degree requirement at Ashland University.

2. For prior approval of credit to be transferred, the student must have the transfer approved by the dean of the College of Online and Adult Studies. Prior assurances given verbally by faculty members or staff at Ashland must be regarded as estimates or opinions. They do not commit the University to a course of action. Transfer credits that have not been approved in advance will be considered at the discretion of the department chair and dean of the College of Adult and Online Studies using the guidelines for accepting any previously completed and acceptable graduate credits. Transfer credit is not considered official until it has been approved by both the dean and Registrar’s Office. Students are responsible for providing appropriate transcripts in a timely manner and confirming the transfer of credit with their respective academic advisor.

3. Written requests for acceptance of special courses, i.e., “tour” or “travel” type courses, must be fully documented so that their academic integrity can be judged. Promotional literature from a tour or travel agency or institutional sponsor is not considered appropriate documentation. Many accredited colleges or universities offer such courses for personal and professional development that can carry graduate credit but are not applicable to their degree programs.

4. Twelve (12) semester credits may be transferred from other institutions under the following conditions:

   • The student is in good standing at the other institution;

   • The grades in graduate courses to be transferred are “B” or better or an “S”;

   • The student has been admitted to a Master of Education degree program;

   • Exceptions to the above must be approved by the dean of the College of Adult and Online Studies;

   • Quarter hours transferred into the University will be converted into semester hours;

5. Course work accepted must be no older than five - seven years (depending upon course topic) from the date of admission into the M.Ed.;

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

A maximum of 12 credit hours of prior learning credit may be applied to the M.Ed. In Adult Education. Prior learning credit may only be used towards the cognate requirement of the degree.

Workshop Credit

In order to meet one semester hour of credit, the workshop must have required the equivalent of 15 class hours for participation, the content must have been of appropriate magnitude, the student must have met successfully all workshop requirements, and it must be recorded as graduate credit on a transcript from a regionally accredited program. The Adult Education program allows six credit hours in workshop credit toward elective credits in the cognate area. The dean of the College of Online and Adult Studies must approve workshop credits.

Degree Completion Time Limits

The student must complete all requirements for the Master of Education Degree within five years. The time limit normally is from the beginning date of the formal admission to the Master of Education Program to the last hours applied toward the degree. Special consideration will be given for leaves of absence for adequate cause. The student who fails to take courses or otherwise continue to pursue the degree for a period of three consecutive semesters will be terminated from the program’s active file and will be required to apply for reactivation of his or her records to the current catalog year. Exemptions require dean approval.

Curricula

The Master of Education degree makes extensive use of integrated theoretical and field-related experiences in the major program areas of curriculum and instruction and educational administration. This approach helps the classroom teacher incorporate the works of knowledgeable practitioners and theoreticians into already existing classroom structures and instructional practices.

The Adult Education M.Ed. was approved with a separate and distinct core from the other M.Ed. programs as required by the National Standards for Graduate Programs in Adult Education/Commission of Professors of Adult Education.

Cognate Area

The cognate is an individualized specialty area of study encompassing the student's interests and needs, yet related to the major area of study, Adult Education. All students are required to complete a cognate area of study consisting of a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours. Cognates are unique to each student based on area of interest and potential research agenda.

Students may select one of the following cognates (12 credit hours):

• Organizational Administration and Change: MBA 501 plus 3 courses from MBA 503, 505, 507, 511, or 540

• Communication: COM 510, 520, plus 2 courses from COM 620, 640, 650, or approved COM Elective courses

• Criminal Justice: 4 courses from CJ 430, 510, 520, 530, 540, or 660

• Education Technology: EDCI 507, 512, 522, plus one course from EDCI 538 or 633

• School Nurse: SNP 518, 525, 528, 680 (Note: SNP 520 substitutes for EDAE 501)

• Seminary: BSG 5501 plus 3 courses from CHS 5500, CLD 6630, CTH 5520, MSS 5501, NTS 5511, OTS 5511, 5512, or SPF 5540

• TESOL: EDFN 533, 646, EDCI 534, 535

• Custom: Requires department approval

Capstone Experiences

Students in M.Ed. Programs may have two options in which to complete their degree.

Option 1: The inquiry seminar provides opportunities for students to collaborate and explore an area of interest identified by the professor.

EDUC 788 Capstone Inquiry Seminar

Prerequisites: students should have completed the Core requirements and a total of approximately 21-24 semester hours in order to begin the capstone.

The inquiry seminar is a capstone experience conducted by full-time faculty. The class is limited to 15 students and may exceed one semester. The course has a broad theme (for like-minded students to enroll); the students will normally research more specific topics within the theme. Themes might include such topics as finance, curriculum, school improvement, etc. Requirements for the seminar include readings, focused discussions, a major paper following APA style, and a public presentation. Students must apply in advance to the professor in charge. The professor determines who is included in the seminar.

Option 2: The thesis, a scholarly paper prepared on a topic that embodies research of a specific nature, enables students to explore a topic of interest.

EDUC 781 Thesis Capstone in Education

Prerequisites: Students should have completed the Core requirements and a total of approximately 21-24 semester hours in order to begin the capstone.

The thesis is a capstone experience that focuses on a topic related to the student's field. In EDUC 781, the research may be the result of a field-based action experience pertaining to a school-based improvement project.

The student must submit and defend a proposal acceptable to a committee. Upon proposal acceptance, the student develops and defends the thesis around extensive and thorough research.

 Academic Policies and Regulations

Although most major program areas follow an orderly development, the student should understand that some modifications may become necessary because of state, institutional, or student expectations.

 Master of Education in Adult Education (ME.MED.ADED)

Courses and Descriptions

See EDAE Courses

See EDUC Courses