Adult and Higher Education – Master of Arts

Admission Requirements

1. General admission to graduate study (for criteria, refer to "Admission to Graduate Study").
2. Two years of relevant professional experience is advisable.
3. A GRE score of 283 (verbal and quantitative combined) with a minimum verbal score of 145 or a 31 raw score (381-386 Scaled Score) on the Miller Analogies Test is required.
   1. Those not meeting the initially required GRE or MAT scores may alternately be admitted with a GRE index (GRE x undergraduate GPA) of at least 764 or MAT index (MAT scaled x undergraduate GPA) of at least 1,030, so long as the index results do not conflict with general graduate admission requirements.
   2. For students who have not met the testing requirements for admission into the program, but who have successfully completed nine (9) hours of coursework required for the program with at least a 3.5 or above GPA, the department chair may waive the testing requirement.
   3. The department chair will waive the testing requirement for students who have already completed a master's degree.
4. TOEFL 525 (197 computer-based) or 74 on English Language Instruction Test of the University of Michigan, for international students.

Program Competencies

The Master of Arts in Adult and Higher Education is designed to instill the following:

1. A competent understanding of the breadth and depth of adult and higher education including theory, practice, and the parameters of the field(s) as a whole.

2. Knowledge to identify and evaluate pertinent research, data and information for theory and practice within adult and higher education.

3. A competent understanding of adult and higher education career paths and their development to create and sustain an engaged professional and public life in adult and higher education.

4. Ability to identify, analyze and address current trends in adult and higher education leadership for effective professional functioning.

5. Ability to use creative and critical thinking skills as well as knowledge of pertinent field characteristics and issues to formulate data-based perceptions, practice planning, theory development and leadership.

6. Ability to generate and effectively communicate perceptions, issues, and information of theory and practice pertinent to the development of new ideas and scholarship that promotes the continued advancement of adult and higher education.

Assessment

During the final semester of study, all students complete a comprehensive written examination to be assessed by faculty members from adult and higher education and one optional faculty member from the student's specialty area. See #4 listed above under the degree requirements section for more information detailing the exit.

Requirements for the Degree

1. Satisfy the general degree requirements.
2. If a student has not become unconditionally admitted after completing 12 graduate hours, he/she will not be allowed to register for additional hours. Must be unconditionally admitted to complete the degree program.
3. All graduate students pursuing programs of study in the Department of Foundational and Graduate Studies in Education must maintain a 3.0 cumulative graduate GPA. Students falling below a 3.0 will be placed on a one-semester period of probation. Students failing to achieve a cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.0 at the end of the probation semester will be dropped from their respective program. Students who receive grades of "C" or below in more than two courses will be immediately dropped from his/her respective program. Any student receiving an "E" in any course will be placed on probation and no additional coursework will be accepted toward the program until the course in question is retaken with a grade of "B" or higher. Only courses in which a student earns a grade of "C" or higher may be used to satisfy degree requirements.
4. In the final spring or fall semester of the prescribed program of study, and with the consent of the program advisors, students must successfully complete a written comprehensive examination (to be assessed by faculty). Students not passing the examination may retake it near the end of the following semester (at least three months must elapse between exams). If the student does not pass the second written exam, he or she can retake the exam a third and final time near the end of the following semester (after at least three months have elapsed). For this third and final attempt to complete the exam, the student has the option of taking either an oral or written exam. Students not passing the third and final exam attempt will not graduate from the program.
5. Must be unconditionally admitted.

Program Requirements

Required Core

Electives

Concentrations - choose one

General

Students may tailor a concentration to suit their personal and/or professional interests. The concentration must be pre-approved by their advisor. EDAH courses used in the concentration may not be used as electives.

Adult and Higher Education Legal and Policy Studies

Choose three courses.

Business Training and Development

Choose three courses.

Community College

Counseling

Choose three courses.

English as a Second Language

Choose three courses.

Global Adult and Higher Education

Student Life

NOTE: Students may write a thesis in lieu of six hours of coursework. Also, with approval, EDAH 670 - Directed Research, EDAH 676 - Directed Study, or EDAH 678 - Internship, may be substituted for up to six-hours of elective coursework. The program is designed to be completed in a minimum of 30 semester hours, but based on student need, additional credit hours may be required.