Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind of Program Is It?

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D) program at Walden University can give dedicated students the advanced scholarly skills and research experience necessary to create and implement effective educational programs. When you choose the Adult Education specialization, you will have opportunities to study the differences between teaching adults and youth. The program is designed to prepare you to develop and lead programs expressly for adult learners, some of whom may have left school without adequate reading, writing, or English-speaking abilities. The adult-education domain could include informal settings such as libraries and nonprofit agencies as well as more formal college, corporate, and professional-development environments. Although some face-to-face program components are required, many of the classes can be taken online.

What Are the Prerequisites?

Those interested in the Ed.D program with a specialization in Adult Education should be education professionals who want long-term leadership roles in the field of higher learning. The desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others should be one of your chief goals. Applicants to Walden University's programs should be at least 24 years old and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent; applicants may need to complete additional requirements for some programs.

What Are the Course Requirements?

The program requires completion of 54 semester credit hours. The curriculum includes core subjects, a foundation course, doctoral studies, research topics, and a face-to-face residency.

Course Requirements

• The Changing Context of Postsecondary and Adult Teaching and Learning
• How Adults Learn: Theory and Research
• Applied Research in Education
• Designing and Assessing Learning Experiences
• Facilitating Adult Learning
• Research in Practice
• Adult Learning: Trends, Issues, Global Perspectives
• Completing the Prospectus
• Doctoral Study Intensive (2)

What Could I Do After I Graduate?

Career Options

After graduation, you might pursue mid-management and high-level administrative positions in the field. You could also pursue professional teaching positions or government- or military-based research opportunities. Potential job titles could include:

• Adult education program director
• Adult education program planner
• Education administrator
• Director of staff development

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org.

Walden offers both state-approved educator licensure programs as well as programs and courses that do not lead to licensure or endorsements. Prospective students must review their state licensure requirements prior to enrolling. For more information, please refer to www.WaldenU.edu/educlicensure.

Prospective Alabama students: Contact the Teacher Education and Certification Division of the Alabama State Department of Education at 1-334-242-9935 or www.alsde.edu to verify that these programs qualify for teacher certification, endorsement, and/or salary benefits.

Prospective Washington state students are advised to contact the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction at 1-360-725-6275 or prof.educ@k12.wa.us to determine whether Walden's programs in the field of education are approved for teacher certification or endorsements in Washington state. Additionally, teachers are advised to contact their individual school district as to whether this program may qualify for salary advancement.