Nov 27, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
Catalog Navigation
  Catalog Home
  President’s Welcome
  University Overview
  Academic Policies
  Admissions
  Academic Support Services
  Campus Life
  Disclaimers
  Financial Aid
  Financial Information
  Graduate Studies
  Registration & Scheduling Services
  Programs (A-Z)
  Programs by College
  Course Descriptions
  Research Service Center
  Annual Security Report & Annual Fire Safety Report
  Administration of the University of Southern Maine
  My Catalog Bookmarks
HELP
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Adult and Higher Education, M.S.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs by College

The University of Southern Maine’s Master of Science in Adult and Higher Education program was established in 1972 to meet the region’s need for trained adult education public school administrators. Since those early days it has expanded its role in the state and region to prepare professional adult educators for positions in a wide variety of sectors including public K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, large and medium-sized corporations, and community not-for-profit agencies. Specific jobs graduates fill include director of adult education, dean, academic advisor, corporate trainer, staff development specialist, program designer, research associate, and adult education teacher. The 36-credit hour degree may be earned entirely online.

Program Requirements

The Master of Science in Adult and Higher Education requires 36 credits of coursework. Students must also submit a professional portfolio. This portfolio requirement is embedded in the capstone course.

Basic Core (9 credits)

Middle Core (9 credits required from the following)

Field-Based Practice Courses (3 credits)

Senior Course (3 credits)

Electives (12 credits)

Students may cluster their electives into a concentration in consultation with their faculty advisor

Transfer Credit

A maximum of twelve credit hours of graduate-level study may be approved as transfer credit provided these credits were not used as part of another degree or certificate program, were earned no more than five years prior to matriculation, are in subject areas related to adult education, and show a grade of B or better on the transcript. In rare situations and when compelling evidence is provided, the program faculty reserves the right to expand the number and age of credits transferred into the M.S. in adult and higher education program beyond the twelve credit, five-year rule.

Graduate students in master’s level adult education programs at other universities may transfer into the program if they take their final twelve hours, including directed study or internship and graduate seminar, in USM’s adult and higher education program. A maximum of nine credits in self-designed coursework may be counted toward this degree.

Recommended Course Sequence

  • The course sequences below are recommended but not mandatory.
  • “Core” courses are designed to be taken early. “Middle Core” and “Elective” courses may be interspersed throughout the curriculum. The field course (HRD 687  or HRD 698 ) and capstone seminar (HRD 649 ) should be taken toward the end of the curriculum.
  • The fastest people move through this M.S. program is two years. The typical pace is three years. And due to their life circumstances some students prefer to take four years.
  • All courses in this M.S. program are offered online.

Two-Year Track

Year 1 (Fall)

  • History and Philosophy of Adult Education (HRD 600  = Core)
  • The Adult Learner (HRD 631  = Core)

Year 1 (Spring)

  • Introduction to Educational Research (EDU 600  = Core)
  • One middle core course (there are six to choose from)

Year 1 (Summer)

  • One middle core course
  • One elective (there are several each summer to choose from)

Year 2 (Fall)

  • One middle core course
  • One elective (there are several to choose from)

Year 2 (Spring)

  • Field course (either Internship or Directed study)
  • Capstone Seminar in Adult and Higher Education (HRD 649  = Capstone)

Year 2 (Summer)

  • Two electives

Three Year Track

Note: The sequence below has the student taking one course in the fall, two in the spring, and one in the summer. This schedule can be changed in various ways to equate to four courses per year over a total of three years.

Year 1 (Fall)

  • History and Philosophy of Adult Ed. (HRD 600 )

Year 1 (Spring)

  • The Adult Learner (HRD 631 )
  • Introduction to Educational Research (EDU 600 )

Year 1 (Summer)

  • One middle core or elective course

Year 2 (Fall)

  • One middle core or elective course

Year 2 (Spring)

  • One middle core course
  • One elective course

Year 2 (Summer)

  • One middle core or elective course

Year 3 (Fall)

  • Field course (either internship or directed study)

Year 3 (Spring)

  • Capstone Seminar in Adult and Higher Education (HRD 649 )
  • One elective

Year 3 (Summer)

  • Final elective

Four Year Track

Note: The sequence below has the student taking three courses per year over four years.

Year 1 (Fall)

  • History and Philosophy of Adult Ed. (HRD 600 )

Year 1 (Spring)

Year 1 (Summer)

  • Introduction to Educational Research (EDU 600 )

Year 2 (Fall)

  • One middle core or elective course

Year 2 (Spring)

  • One middle core or elective course

Year 2 (Summer)

  • One middle core or elective course

Year 3 (Fall)

  • One middle core or elective course

Year 3 (Spring)

  • One middle core or elective course

Year 3 (Summer)

  • One middle core or elective course

Year 4 (Fall)

  • Field course (either internship or directed study)

Year 4 (Spring)

  • Capstone Seminar in Adult and Higher Education (HRD 649 )

Year 4 (Summer)

  • Final course (either middle core or elective)

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs by College