Master of Arts in Adult and Community Education
Master of Arts in Adult Education and Communications Technology
The Master of Arts in Adult and Community Education (ACE)
is a 36-semester-hour program that offers a balance of academic courses, individual research, and practical field experience. The program can be completed either on the IUP main campus in Indiana or in Monroeville, a suburb of Pittsburgh.
Academic Requirements
The ACE program is made up of several sets of course requirements. The “knowledge and skill” courses are comprised of the 600 level courses:
ACE 620, Introduction to ACE
ACE 621, The Adult Learner
ACE 622, Program and Process Development in ACE
ACE 623, Organization and Administration in ACE
ACE 625, Facilitating Adult Learning
These courses help students develop a thorough understanding of the basic knowledge and skills needed to become effective adult and community educators.
The research series is composed of
GSR 615, Elements of Research,
and ACE 745, Practical Research (with the addition of AC 850, Thesis, for students selecting the thesis option).
The professional development courses consist of
ACE 740, Internship in ACE
ACE 735, Seminar in ACE
In these courses students have the opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge base in areas of professional interest to them. In addition, students have the opportunity to select elective courses.
Program requirements for the Master of Arts in Adult Education and Communications Technology are contained at the site for that program.
Thesis/Non-Thesis Option
Students can elect to do a thesis or take the non-thesis option. The thesis is a formal research project overseen by a faculty committee. Students electing the thesis option are committed to academic excellence through conducting an extensive research study. Students electing the non-thesis option must pass a comprehensive examination, which is usually completed during the last semester of a student’s program.
Elective Courses
Students in both the ACE and AECT programs are able to take elective courses. Select for a list of electives offered by the College of Education and Educational Technology. Please note the following:
- Enrollment in all of the courses listed depends on space available; most programs accomodate their own majors first.
- Students are advised to seek additional information about the courses from the instructor and/or department
chairperson.
- Courses are not necessarily offered every semester.
- All courses are three credits unless otherwise noted.
- Students are encouraged to check with departments for workshops and special topics courses which may not be
included in this list. These courses are typically numbered 581, 681, and 781.
- Some courses may be dual-listed as undergraduate and graduate courses.
- Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor to determine the appropriateness of electives for
their program of study.
Internship
A six-semester-hour internship is required of students in the ACE program. The internship is a theory-to-practice exercise in which students transfer what they have learned in class to a real-world setting. For the internship, students develop a “learning contract” which is approved by a faculty advisor and a supervisor at the site where the internship will take place. Students can complete the internship without it interfering with their current employment.
Course Requirements
Semester Hours (credits)
Non-Thesis Thesis
ACE 620, Introduction to ACE 3 3
ACE 621, The Adult Learner 3 3
ACE 622, Program and Process Development in ACE 3 3
ACE 623, Organization and Administration in ACE 3 3
ACE 625, Facilitating Adult Learning 3 3
GSR 615, Elements of Research 3 3
ACE 735, Seminar in ACE 3 3
ACE 740, Internship 6 6
ACE 745, Practical Research 3 3
ACE 850, Thesis -- 3
Electives 6 3
Total 36 36
Course Descriptions
ACE 620 Introduction to Adult and Community Education
A survey course which examines the fields of adult education and community education philosophically and historically and in terms of current programs and processes. The course includes the study of adult and community education principles and concepts as well as literature and resources.
ACE 621 The Adult Learner
The course focuses on the adult as learner, including physiological, psychological, and sociological characteristics and their effect on learning.
ACE 622 Program and Process Development in Adult and Community Education
A knowledge- and skill-building course designed for present and future adult and community education practitioners. This how-to course examines concepts and practices relevant to the development of educational programs in traditional and nontraditional settings.
ACE 623 Organization and Administration in Adult and Community Education
This course introduces the student to basic theories of leadership, management, and organizational structure. It includes study and application of the tasks, tools, strategies, and leadership roles of administrators in adult and community education.
ACE 625 Facilitating Adult Learning
This course examines teaching and learning theories as they relate to adults: the teaching-learning process in a variety of educational settings; instructional methods, techniques, and devices that are effective with adults; and instructional designs and evaluation methods that are effective in the teaching-learning process.
ACE 735 Seminar in Adult and Community Education
This course involves an intensive study of special topics in adult and community education with a research emphasis. Research content varies according to student interest. Prerequisites: 9 credits in Adult and Community Education and permission.
ACE 740 Internship in Adult and Community Education
This is an individually designed field project in which students work with a site project supervisor and a university advisor. The 6-credit internship is a single project taken in two phases, each earning 3 credits. Prerequisites: 9 credits in Adult and Community Education and permission.
GSR 615 Elements of Research
Selection of a research problem, data collection, types of research, research reports, and use of libraries and computers in connection with research problems are addressed. Elements of statistics are introduced. This course provides background for preparation of research projects including the thesis, and enables students to become intelligent consumers of academic research.
ACE 745 Practical Research in Adult and Community Education
Practical research in adult and community education is designed to have students conduct and report a formal research study in their field of interest. Students formulate a research problem and design a plan of inquiry to provide an answer(s) to their research problem(s). Students must be able to interpret their findings and communicate them both orally and in writing at a professional level. Prerequisites: GSR. 615 and permission.
ACE 850 Thesis
Students selecting the thesis option will complete a thesis project with a committee consisting of at least three faculty members.
