Colleges and Schools
Actively engaging adult learners requires a unique set of skills and a broad understanding of adult development. The Higher Education and Adult Learning specialization was created specifically to improve the competencies of adult educators. Whether you teach at a community college or provide training for adults in a school district or corporate setting, this specialization has the versatility to meet your professional goals.
This curriculum is uniquely designed to teach research skills within content-specific courses, allowing you to immediately apply knowledge to practice. The combination of core content, research skills, and your final doctoral study project leads to your development as an innovative and critical thinker who is prepared to examine, experiment, and reflect on practices that empower adults to be lifelong learners.
Completion Requirements
- 54 minimum semester credit hours
- Foundations course (6 sem. cr.)
- Applied Research (6 sem. cr.)
- Specialization courses (24 sem. cr.)
- Project Study (6 sem. cr.)
- Doctoral study intensive (a minimum of 12 sem. cr.)
- 1 face-to-face residency
- ePortfolio
Time to completion: 3 years, depending on individual progress. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call your enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.
Walden offers frequent start dates so that you can begin when it’s convenient for you. Next Start Date: January 5. Admission policies vary by program. Call 1-866-492-5336 or apply now.
Curriculum
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| Semester 1 | ||
| EDUC 8100 | Foundations: Higher Education and Adult Learning | 6 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| EDUC 8101 | How Adults Learn: Theory and Research | 6 |
| Semester 3 | ||
| EDUC 8102 | Applied Research in Education | 6 |
| Semester 4 | ||
| EDUC 8103 | Designing and Assessing Learning | 6 |
| Semester 5 | ||
| EDUC 8104 | Facilitating Adult Learning | 6 |
| Semester 6 | ||
| EDUC 8105 | Adult Learning: Trends, Issues, Global Perspectives | 6 |
| Semester 7 | ||
| EDUC 8106 | Project Study: Research in Practice | 6 |
| Semester 8 | ||
| EDUC 8090 | Doctoral Study Intensive | 6 |
| Semester 9 | ||
| EDUC 8090 | Doctoral Study Intensive | 6 |
Course Descriptions (pdf)
*Walden University does not offer a state-approved Ed.D. (Doctor of Education) or Ph.D. in Education program that is recognized for K–12 school administrator licensure/certification in Minnesota (Walden’s home state) or any other state. Walden University makes no representation or guarantee that successful completion of the Walden Ph.D. in Education program, or coursework for graduate credit within this program, will permit a graduate to obtain state certification or licensure as a principal, assistant principal, or other type of K–12 administrator.
