Lifelong Learning and Adult Education

Lifelong Learning and Adult Education extends through the life span from late adolescence to advanced age and takes place in a rich diversity of organizational as well as informal settings. The Lifelong Learning and Adult Education degree can open doors worldwide to successful careers in faculty and administration positions at universities and colleges or to fulfilling leadership and research positions at government and public agencies non-governmental organizations, churches or religious organizations, adult basic education programs, healthcare providers, international organizations, and community-based organizations. Course work, reading assignments, research projects, internships, informal discussions, and the dissertation all provide opportunities for in-depth and challenging learning experiences. The Lifelong Learning and Adult Education program is interdisciplinary, and students are advised to take courses in supporting fields within the University.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

The best-qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces that are available for new students. Applicants with a junior/senior grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or above (on a 4.00 scale), and a graduate GPA of 3.50 or above will be highly considered applications to the program. However, applicants with strong backgrounds and abilities in areas of particular interest or relevance to adult education practice may be admitted to either of the doctoral programs with a baccalaureate degree only (provided the junior/senior GPA is at least 3.0), or with master's-level studies in which the graduate GPA is at least 3.2. GRE scores are not required for admission.

A sample of student writing is required for each degree. M.Ed. applicants submit a recent writing sample, such as a term paper, report, or publication of 3000 words or more. Ph.D. and D.Ed. applicants should submit either a published article, master's paper, master's thesis, or a paper from their master's studies.

Three letters of reference are required from people who are best qualified to evaluate the applicant's ability to succeed in graduate study. These letters may be from an academic adviser, instructors who are familiar with the applicant's academic record, a research project supervisor, an employment supervisor, or others who are able to provide a substantive evaluation of the applicant's work. Letters of recommendation must address the applicant's academic ability, motivation, and likelihood of success in completing the program.

A statement of purpose describing the applicant's short and long range career objectives is required. This statement includes an explanation of how the proposed study of adult education relates to the stated career objectives.

Applicants who exhibit exceptional qualities without meeting all of the stated requirements for admission may be considered for provisional admission while they remove the identified deficiencies. Deficiencies must be rectified within the first two semesters of enrollment in the degree program; courses taken to remove deficiencies are considered to be prerequisites and do not earn credit toward the degree.

Degree Requirements

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies.

A minimum of 30 credits is required for the M.Ed. degree. A minimum of 18 credits out of the 30 must be taken at the 500- or 800-level, with a minimum of 6 credits at the 500-level, and a minimum of 24 credits must be in ADTED prefix courses. The M.Ed. program in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education consists of a required core of 12 credits in ADTED courses and 18 credits in ADTED or other electives. 

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Other courses may be substituted for these electives with the adviser's permission.

M.Ed. students are required to write a master's paper as part of the required 30 credits of course work. Students complete the master's paper while enrolled in ADTED 588 during their last semester. 

M.Ed. students must select either the general M.Ed. degree or one of the three formal options:

1. Adult Basic Education and Literacy **Option not currently available for admission**
2. Global and Online Distance Education
3. Medical and Heatlh Professions

M.Ed. students who select a formal option must adhere to the requirements specified below.

Adult Basic Education and Literacy Option

**Admission to this option is not currently available pending potential curriculum changes.**

The M.Ed. in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education – Adult Basic Education and Literacy Option consists of a required core of 12 credits in ADTED courses, 12 credits in ADTED courses required for this option, and 6 credits of ADTED or other electives.

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Other courses may be substituted for these electives with the adviser’s permission.

Global Online and Distance Education Option

The M.Ed. in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education – Global Online and Distance Education Option consists of a required core of 12 credits in ADTED courses, 12 credits in ADTED courses required for this option, and 6 credits of ADTED or other electives.

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Other courses may be substituted for these electives with the adviser’s permission.

Medical and Health Professions Option

The M.Ed. in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education – Medical and Health Professions Option consists of a required core of 12 credits in ADTED courses, 9 credits in ADTED courses required for this option, and 9 credits of ADTED or other electives. 

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Other courses may be substituted for these electives with the adviser’s permission.

Doctor of Education (D.Ed.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies.

A minimum of 60 credits beyond the master’s degree is required for the D.Ed. degree. A minimum of 90 credits is required for the D.Ed. degree, of which at least 30 must be earned in residence at either University Park. D.Ed. students who do not have previous experience in adult education are expected to acquire the equivalent of one year of experience in one or more fields of adult education practice prior to receiving their D.Ed. degree. All doctoral students must pass a qualifying examination, a comprehensive written and oral examination, and a final oral examination. To earn the D.Ed. degree, doctoral students must also write a dissertation that is accepted by the doctoral committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School.

The qualifying examination is administered after when the student has earned a total of at least 30 credits toward the graduate degree, including the master’s program and graduate work done elsewhere. During the comprehensive examination, in addition to being examined in their area of specialization, all D.Ed. students are examined in the core adult education areas. A minimum of 21 credits in course work must be taken in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education, including:

D.Ed. students conduct applied research with the goal of improving practice in the general adult education field.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Policies.

A minimum of 48 credits beyond the master’s degree is required for the Ph.D. degree. Ph.D. students are required to take:

In addition, Ph.D. students must fulfill the residency requirement and English competence requirements, must pass qualifying, comprehensive, and final oral examinations, and maintain continuous registration during dissertation research.

Ph.D. students are required to take 12 core credits in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education, 18 credits in an emphasis area that is composed of Lifelong Learning and Adult Education and supporting courses outside Lifelong Learning and Adult Education, and 18 research credits, in addition to the residency requirement, qualifying, comprehensive, and final oral examinations, and continuous registration during the dissertation research. To earn the Ph.D. degree, doctoral students must also write a dissertation that is accepted by the Ph.D. committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School.

Students in the Ph.D. program focus on research in Globalization and Lifelong Learning, selecting one emphasis area (Distance Education, Literacy for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations, Comparative Lifelong Learning, or Learning in Work and Communities). Required research methods courses help students develop the background knowledge and tools to enable them to engage in original research.

Dual-Titles

Dual-Title M.Ed., D.Ed., and Ph.D. in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education and Comparative and International Education

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-208 Dual-Title Graduate Degree Programs.

Admission Requirements

Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education and The Graduate School before they can apply for admission to the dual-title degree program. After admission to their primary program, students must apply for admission to and meet the admissions requirements of the Comparative and International Education dual-title program. Refer to the Admission Requirements section of the Comparative and International Education Bulletin page. Doctoral students must be admitted into the dual-title degree program in Comparative and International Education prior to taking the qualifying examination in their primary graduate program.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the dual-title degree, students must satisfy the degree requirements for the degree they are enrolled in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education, listed on the Degree Requirements tab. In addition, students must complete the degree requirements for the dual-title in Comparative and International Education, listed on the Comparative and International Education Bulletin page.

The qualifying examination committee for the dual-title Ph.D. degree will be composed of Graduate Faculty from Lifelong Learning and Adult Education and must include at least one Graduate Faculty member from the Comparative and International Education program. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. There will be a single qualifying examination, containing elements of both Lifelong Learning and Adult Education and Comparative and International Education. Dual- title graduate degree students may require an additional semester to fulfill requirements for both areas of study and, therefore, the qualifying examination may be delayed one semester beyond the normal period allowable.

In addition to the general Graduate Council requirements for Ph.D. committees, the Ph.D. committee of a Lifelong Learning and Adult Education and Comparative and International Education dual-title Ph.D. student must include at least one member of the Comparative and International Education Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. If the chair of the Ph.D. committee is not also a member of the Graduate Faculty in Comparative and International Education, the member of the committee representing Comparative and International Education must be appointed as co-chair. The Comparative and International Education representative on the student’s Ph.D. committee will develop questions for and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive examination.

Students in the dual-title program are required to write and orally defend a dissertation on a topic that is approved in advance by their doctoral committee and reflects their original research and education in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education and Comparative and International Education. Upon completion of the doctoral dissertation, the candidate must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense) to earn the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation must be accepted by the doctoral committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School.

Joint Degrees  

Joint M.D./M.Ed. with the college of Medicine

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-211 Joint Degree Programs.

Admission Requirements

Those who wish to apply for admission to the joint M.D./M.Ed. degree program would have to meet the admission requirements for both the M.D./M.Ed. programs. Admissions requirements and applications for admission for Penn State College of Medicine are available at the M.D. Program section of the Penn State College of Medicine website. Prospective students interested in simultaneously pursuing an M.D. and M.Ed. first must apply to the Penn State College of Medicine M.D. program using the national American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application system and indicate their intent to pursue the M.D. degree at Penn State. Applicants can apply for admission to the joint degree during their first three years in the College of Medicine. Given that students will already be enrolled in the College of Medicine it will be possible for faculty to observe their academic record and counsel them on the advisability of the joint degree.

The general admission requirements for the M.Ed. degree are listed on the Admission Requirements tab. Joint M.D./M.Ed. candidates may substitute the MCAT for GRE or MAT scores. After the student has been accepted to the College of Medicine, s/he must apply and be admitted to the Graduate School for admission to the graduate program.

Degree Requirements

Students must fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the M.D. program are listed on the M.D. Program section of the Penn State College of Medicine website. Degree requirements for the M.Ed. degree are listed on the Degree Requirements tab. In accordance with the Graduate Council policy on Joint Degree Programs, any nine credits from the M.D. program will meet the substitution requirement into the M.Ed., and any nine credits from the M.Ed. will be accepted into the M.D. program, from among the courses that reflect the interdisciplinary common ground between the two programs. It is to be noted that the course requirements for the joint degree are the same for students admitted to the M.Ed. in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education in the Medical and Health Professions option. If students accepted into the joint degree program are unable to complete the M.D. degree, they are still eligible to receive the M.Ed. degree if all the M.Ed. degree requirements have been satisfied.

Minor

A graduate minor is available in any approved graduate major or dual-title program. The default requirements for a graduate minor are stated in Graduate Council policy GCAC-218 Minors.

Student Aid

Graduate assistantships available to students in this program and other forms of student aid are described in the Tuition & Funding section of the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School’s website. Students on graduate assistantships must adhere to the course load limits set by the Fox Graduate School.

World Campus students in graduate degree programs may be eligible for financial aid. Refer to the Tuition and Financial Aid section of the World Campus website for more information.

Those students interested in graduate assistantships can apply annually; applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Courses

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

Adult Education (ADTED) Course List

Learning Outcomes

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

1. APPLY/CREATE: Produce a brief, coherent prospectus on a topic area related to lifelong learning and adult education, supported by a logical rationale and relevant bodies of literature that may be used to examine this topic.
2. THINK: Execute a critical review of literature related to a research topic or issue in lifelong learning and adult education, articulate the key features of this review, provide a compelling rationale for pursuing this issue, and describe how to use it to examine the research topic or related issue.
3. KNOW: Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the foundational issues, major theories, and methods that transect the field of lifelong learning and adult education.
4. COMMUNICATE: Articulate well-reasoned arguments and ideas with clarity in oral presentations and written formats and use the conventions of the discipline.
5. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Illustrate knowledge of the professional and ethical standards for research and practice in the field of lifelong learning and adult education.

Doctor of Education (D.Ed.)

1. KNOW: Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the foundational issues, major theories, and methods that transect the field of lifelong learning and adult education.
2. KNOW: Illustrate in-depth knowledge of an area of specialization within, or complementary to, the field of lifelong learning and adult education.
3. THINK: Design a rigorous research study that articulates a specific research problem, is situated in academic literature relevant to this problem, and employs a methodology appropriate for examining this problem.
4. APPLY/CREATE: Execute, in a rigorous, ethical fashion, an independent research project that significantly furthers knowledge and critically reflective practice in lifelong learning and adult education.
5. COMMUNICATE: Articulate well-reasoned arguments and ideas with clarity in oral presentations and written formats and use the conventions of the discipline.
6. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Show awareness of how diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging relate to the field of lifelong learning and adult education.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

1. KNOW: Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the foundational issues, major theories, and methods that transect the field of lifelong learning and adult education.
2. KNOW: Illustrate in-depth knowledge of an area of specialization within, or complementary to, the field of lifelong learning and adult education.
3. THINK: Design a rigorous research study that articulates a specific research problem, is situated in academic literature relevant to this problem, and employs a methodology appropriate for examining this problem.
4. APPLY/CREATE: Execute, in a rigorous, ethical fashion, an independent research project that significantly furthers knowledge and critically reflective practice in lifelong learning and adult education.
5. COMMUNICATE: Articulate well-reasoned arguments and ideas with clarity in oral presentations and written formats and use the conventions of the discipline.
6. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Show awareness of how diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging relate to the field of lifelong learning and adult education.

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