Earn your Ed.S. in Adult Education with a university that has more than 40 years of experience working with adult learners.

Walden’s program prepares you to design and deliver effective instruction geared toward adult learning styles and objectives. In this post-master’s online adult education program, you will develop a foundation in adult development and education theory; examine specific methods of facilitating adult learning, including coaching and mentoring; and study quantitative and qualitative methods for designing and assessing adult learning experiences. Through the culminating capstone project, you will address an adult learning issue in your workplace.

Selected credits in the Ed.S. program may be applied toward a Walden doctoral program, allowing you to expedite future goals as you gain skills immediately applicable in your current career. Whether you are seeking to advance in corporate or vocational training, adult literacy, or other adult education contexts, you can prepare to meet the growing demand for skilled adult educators* with Walden’s Ed.S. program.

An Education Specialist degree, sometimes referred to as a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (C.A.G.S.), is ideal for educators who want to remain working in the field but who would like to increase their influence and impact on their learning communities.

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  • More than $370,00 scholarships

  • Curriculum

  • Tuition and Fees

  • Highlights

  • Learning Outcomes

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Completion Requirements

  • 36 minimum semester credits

This program can be completed in as little as 2 years. Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.

Courses

*The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of self-enrichment teachers to grow by 32% by 2018 as adults seek to improve career skills and embrace lifelong learning (“Teachers—Self-Enrichment Education,” on the Internet at www.bls.gov/oco/ocos064.htm#outlook [viewed online December 10, 2011]). The demand for adult literacy and remedial education teachers is expected to grow by 15% through 2018 (“Teachers—Adult Literacy and Remedial Education,” on the Internet at www.bls.gov/oco/ocos289.htm [viewed online December 10, 2011]).

Walden is approved by Minnesota and Ohio to offer the Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration program that leads to principal licensure. Walden is also approved by Ohio to offer the M.S. in Education, Educational Leadership and Administration, which leads to principal licensure in Ohio.

Individuals interested in principal licensure in states other than Minnesota and Ohio may qualify for the license by virtue of completing a state-approved program; however, individuals must review their state’s regulations to ensure the program meets all requirements, paying particular attention to any requirements specific to out-of-state program completers.

Walden enrollment advisors can provide guidance on licensure issues; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with all state licensure requirements. Walden makes no representation or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure or endorsement.

  • Foundations: The Changing Context of Postsecondary and Adult Teaching and Learning

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    Learning in adulthood is imperative for individuals to realize the opportunities of 21st-century workplaces, technology, and society. Providing these learning experiences requires committed and responsive adult and postsecondary education leaders. In this course, education professionals investigate contemporary trends and issues in teaching and learning in postsecondary and adult education settings. The course also provides education professionals with an introduction to the expectations of graduate work in Adult Education and College Teaching and Learning programs. Education professionals learn to work effectively within Walden University’s online learning environment and develop an understanding of university and program support systems, expectations, and outcomes.

  • How Adults Learn: Theory and Research

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    Working effectively with learners in any postsecondary setting, from traditional college classrooms to workplace training, requires a sound understanding of how adults learn. In this course, candidates examine key concepts in adult learning theory, focusing on developmental theory and the wide range of research that supports it. Candidates explore adult learning theories from andragogy to transformation, including phase and stage developmental theories, and they examine effects of gender and culture on adult learning. They also have the opportunity to reflect on the relationship of this material to their own learning or teaching experiences.

  • Applied Research in Education

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    In this course, candidates develop a broad understanding of theoretical frameworks and of the appropriate use of both qualitative and quantitative methods. The course also focuses on methods designed specifically for studying human development and how individuals learn. Methods are explored through studying the philosophy of research and particular research strategies, reviewing literature in the field, and through searching for and critically analyzing literature relating to learners’ individual interests.

  • Designing and Assessing Learning Experiences

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    Research has considerably expanded knowledge of adult learning and development in recent years. These gains have resulted in a new paradigm for the design and assessment of learning experiences. In this course, candidates 1) advance their understanding of research methods as they examine literature about design and assessment; and 2) apply research-based principles to design a project that develops learning experiences for a specific population of adults, whether on-site, online, or through a blended hybrid model.

  • Facilitating Adult Learning

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    Grounded in research and theory about learning differences, this course explores the repertoire of practices that facilitate adult learning from both the teaching and learning perspectives. These practices range from mentoring and coaching to collaborative engagement and reflective practices. Learners deepen their understanding of research methods both through critiquing articles and by designing research studies to investigate specific learning practices.

  • Adult Education Capstone: Trends, Issues, and Global Perspectives

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    New research and technological innovations continue to change the current state of knowledge; therefore, it is necessary that everyone functions as a lifelong learner. In this course, education professionals examine intriguing and potentially critical directions in adult learning, including new technologies and the impact of globalization. The concluding capstone project provides education professionals with the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to apply theories, concepts, and skills gained throughout the program. Working in a consultative role as an adult education professional, candidates engage in a real-world, problem-solving project within their work environment.

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Next State Date is July 1. Apply Now

2013-2014

Curriculum Component  Requirements  Cost 
Courses  36 minimum semester credit hours  $825 per semester credit hour (includes course textbooks and materials) 
Capstone    $1,000 per course 
Technology Fee  per semester  $150 

Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Call 1-866-492-5336 for information about a full range of options for:

As a Walden student, you can choose when, where, and how you learn thanks to our online format and MobileLearn®. Through this education technology, you can listen to coursework on your MP3 player, access your classroom from your iPhone, download coursework to your laptop, and more.

Find out more about what defines Walden’s Ed.S. in Adult Education program:

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

  1. Apply knowledge related to the current research-based literature and trends in adult learning.
  2. Demonstrate the reflective teaching and learning skills needed by a professional in higher education and/or adult learning.
  3. Provide evidence of knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate, synthesize, and interpret educational research.
  4. Exhibit the ability to provide leadership via effective communication and use of technology.
  5. Articulate the impact of global interrelationships and affirm diversity in your own work in adult learning.
  6. Apply collaborative skills with a range of stakeholders in higher education and/or in adult learning organizations in order to effect positive social change.
  7. Demonstrate the ability to impact social change in adult education.

Walden is committed to providing the information you need to make an informed decision about where you pursue your education. Please find below detailed information for the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Adult Education relating to the types of occupations this program may lead to, completion rate, program costs, and median loan debt of students who have graduated from this program.

Occupations
Program Completion Rate
Program Costs
Median Loan Debt

Occupations—This program generally prepares students to enter the types of occupations listed below. For more information on these specific occupations, visit www.onetonline.org.

In addition to this list, there are other career options that graduates of this program may choose to pursue. To enter certain professions, students may need to satisfy specific additional requirements established by state and/or professional organizations in addition to completing their program.

View examples of our student and alumni accomplishments in their chosen fields.

Occupation Name*  Occupation Code* 
Adult Basic Education Teachers  25-3011 
Adult Basic and Secondary Education and Literacy Teachers and Instructors  25-3011 
Adult Education Teachers  25-3011 
Adult Literacy Instructors  25-3011 
Adult Secondary Education Instructors  25-3011 
Adult Secondary Education Teachers  25-3011 
Trainers, Corporate  13-1511 
Training Specialists  13-1151 
Training and Development Specialists  13-1151 
Counselors, Educational  21-1012 

*The “occupation name” is a general job title. “Occupation code” refers to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Standard Occupation Classification.

Program Completion—The program completion rate for July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, is not available because this program was not yet offered.

Program Costs—The total program costs are the estimated average costs over the duration of the program, excluding any scholarship or tuition reductions, for students completing the program on time. These costs can vary based on the number of credits. Typically, tuition and fees are subject to change annually.

Expense  Cost 
Tuition and Fees  $29,350 
Books and Supplies  $0 
Room and Board  Not applicable 

View cost per credit in the Tuition and Fees section.

Median Loan Debt—The Median Loan Debt for July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, is not available because this program was not yet offered.

Find information about Walden programs and licensure requirements specific to your state.

For assistance in deciding which online degree program fits your goals, request information or speak with an enrollment advisor by calling 1-866-492-5336. A list of international toll-free phone numbers is available for students outside the United States.