What Is an M.Ed. Degree in Adult Education and E-Learning?
A degree may open the door to a variety of opportunities and diverse career paths. The degree programs offered at AIU will not necessarily lead to the featured careers. This collection of articles is intended to help inform and guide you through the process of determining which level of degree and types of certifications align with your desired career path.
Children and teens aren’t the only ones who need or want to learn. You may have heard the saying, “learning is a lifelong process”—and that lifelong process can involve both informal life experiences and formal adult education and training.
Pursuing an online Master’s in Adult Education and E-Learning degree program could help you work to build the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue various career paths in the field.
What Is a Master’s Degree Program in Adult Education?
Depending upon the institution or program (some institutions could offer more than one option), the degree conferred upon completing a master’s program in adult education may be a Master of Education (M.Ed.), Master of Arts (M.A.) or Master of Science (M.S.) in Adult Education.
American InterContinental University’s Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Adult Education and E-Learning degree program is a practitioner’s degree program (as opposed to a research-based degree program) designed for educational practitioners at all levels of experience. Unlike the AIU Master of Education in Leadership of PreK-12 Educational Organizations degree program, students pursuing the concentration in Adult Education and E-Learning do not need to have a current teaching license.*
What’s the Difference Between a Master of Arts and a Master of Education?
Some schools offer a Master of Arts (or Science) in Education. Others offer a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.). And still others offer both a Master of Arts in Education and a Master of Education. But what is the difference between an M.A. and M.Ed., or between an M.A.T. and M.Ed.?
The difference between a Master of Arts vs. Master of Education degree program appears to come down to classification/focus. A Master of Arts/Master of Science in Education degree is generally considered a “research degree” because such programs tend to require a thesis. This type of graduate education program might appeal to students who are thinking of one day pursuing a doctoral degree.
A Master of Education, on the other hand, is generally considered a professional degree because such programs are more “practitioner-focused” and don’t require students to submit and defend a master’s thesis. This doesn’t mean that the knowledge and skills you’ll study in an M.Ed. program aren’t based in research, however. In AIU’s M.Ed. in Adult Education and E-Learning degree program, for example, you’ll study a number of instructional theories, techniques, tools and skills that you can apply in workplace training, continuing education and professional development settings.
Why Pursue a Master of Education Degree with a Concentration in Adult Education & E-Learning?
In order to teach adults in a public school, you’ll have to research your state’s education and licensing requirements. If you aspire to focus on corporate/workplace training and development or on continuing education, potential employers could conceivably require that you possess a master’s degree. But even where a master’s in adult education is not required, pursuing such a degree program could help you study the relevant fundamentals for instructing adult learners and develop more knowledge about the field.
AIU’s Master of Education in Adult Education and E-Learning degree program is designed to help candidates prepare to pursue adult-education teaching roles in basic and remedial education programs, continuing education programs and programs designed to develop or improve related knowledge and skills. The concentration explores how to collaborate in a community of learners, professionally apply these skills and develop e-learning solutions for a variety of learning environments and purposes, including corporate training. The M.Ed. in Adult Education and E-Learning degree program is a fully online, 45-credit program that is designed to be completed in as little as one year. Courses in this specialization may include:
- Adult Learner Characteristics and Facilitation
- Designing Instruction for eLearning for Adults
- Assessing and Evaluating Adult Learning
We also offer an M.Ed. concentration in Education Administration.
What Could I Do with a Master’s in Adult Education?
AIU’s M.Ed. degree program with a concentration in Adult Education and E-Learning is designed to provide candidates an opportunity to study the design, implementation and evaluation of adult education programs. It is designed to help develop an understanding of adult education and training theories, skills and techniques to help candidates prepare to pursue a career path in adult education.
If you’re interested in pursuing a master’s in education degree program, the following potential career paths might be of interest to you:
Instructional Coordinator
- What They Do: Instructional coordinators, also known as curriculum specialists, work in elementary and secondary schools, colleges, professional schools and educational support services. They also may work for state and local governments. They evaluate school curriculums and teaching techniques established by school boards, states or federal regulations; observe teachers in the classroom; review student test data; and discuss the curriculum with school staff. They might also train teachers on new teaching standards or methodologies or on technology.1
- Education & Work Experience: Instructional coordinators typically need a master’s degree in education or curriculum and instruction, and they must also possess relevant work experience in teaching or school administration. Those who work in public schools may need a state-issued license as well.1
- Job Outlook: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics employment of instructional coordinators is projected to grow 2 percent from 2022 to 2032.1
Training and Development Specialist
- What They Do: Training and development specialists help create, plan and run training programs for businesses and organizations. They analyze an organization’s needs and then develop training programs tailored to those needs. The training programs they develop may occur online, in the classroom or at a training facility, and they may be administered in various ways, i.e., via lectures, team exercises, videos, instruction manuals, etc.2
- Education & Work Experience: Training and development specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field or in education, social science, psychology or communications. Relevant work experience or experience with virtual learning, mobile training and other technology-based tools is typically required, although some employers might hire candidates who lack work experience but possess a master’s degree.2
- Job Outlook*: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics employment of training and development specialists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032.2
The list of career paths related to this program is based on a subset from the Bureau of Labor Statistics CIP to SOC Crosswalk. Some career paths listed above may require further education or job experience.
Interested in pursuing a master’s in education? Explore AIU's Online Master of Education degree program to learn more.
* American InterContinental University’s Master of Education degree program is not designed to meet state educator licensing or advancement requirements; however, it may assist candidates in gaining these approvals in their state of residence depending on those requirements. Contact the state board of education in the applicable state(s) for details.
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Instructional Coordinators,” https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/instructional-coordinators.htm (last visited 6/19/2024).
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Training and Development Specialists,” https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/training-and-development-specialists.htm (last visited 6/19/2024).
American InterContinental University cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. REQ1963881 6/2024