弗吉尼亚联邦大学

Providing learning and development opportunities and initiatives for adults in the workplace is very different from K-12 education. The M.Ed. in adult learning provides its graduates with the knowledge and skills to be major contributors to organizations, whether in human resource development, as instructional designers, or working in the field of adult literacy.

We realize that learning in the workplace, whether for profit or non-profit, revolves around using technology as a learning tool and format. Each course incorporates the use of – and learning of – current technologies. Students leave the program with theoretical and practical knowledge and experience to aid them in providing learning to adults in the workplace.

Our graduates work in business and industry, healthcare, government, non-profit, higher education, and community and human services agencies. As organizations realize the need for talent development and workforce development, our graduates have been poised to meet their needs, and to help organizations achieve their overall talent and workforce objectives.

Admission to this 33-hour program (which can be completed in two years) is predicated on the "whole person" concept, taking into account life experiences, academic record, references, and the reasons for the student’s interest in the program. As of spring 2020, the MAT or GRE are not required for admission. Successful applicants will have sufficient work experience to enable them to bring relevant experiences into the classroom learning environment, which is encouraged.

Prospective students are encouraged to take a course in the adult learning master’s program as a "non-degree seeking student" before admission to ensure the program is a fit for their career goals. This is not a requirement, but only a suggestion if students have doubts regarding the program. Any classes taken prior to admission into the program will be transferred into the program if the student is accepted.

Concentrations available

Adult literacy

The adult literacy concentration is designed to prepare adult literacy leaders and advocates for a world in great need of both. It builds on a foundation of core courses, as well as a strong grounding in cognitive, sociocultural and critical approaches to learning. The three elective concentration courses augment these learnings with rigorous training in assessment and instruction, extensive reading, writing and dialogue on the application of theory to practice, and networking with adult learning leaders and colleagues in Virginia and beyond.

Human resource development

The human resource development concentration prepares students to take on roles of increasing responsibility in the learning and development of employees in a variety of organizational settings. The focus of this concentration is for students to gain the skills and knowledge required to support the strategies, mission and goals of the enterprise through employee training and organizational development.

Instructional Design and Technology

The instructional design and technology concentration offers a unique opportunity to explore the ways in which technologies are changing how and where learning happens for adults. The three-course sequence begins with an examination of the theory and practice that informs e-learning, builds on that experience through a broad exploration of digital media tools and concludes with a solutions-based approach to instructional design challenges in e-learning for adults.