Requirements

Minimum of 30 credits of academic coursework. 24 credits must be earned from Colorado State University.

 

Required core courses

 

EDAE 520 – Adult Education (3 cr.)  

This introductory course covers the philosophical foundations,

a description of program service areas, adult participation trends,

and current issues. The goal for this course is the ability to articulate

the foundations and the current situation of adult education as a field

of study and practice.

 

EDAE 620 – Processes and Methods (3 cr.)

This course introduces you to the processes and methods used by

adult learning facilitators. Whether you are an adult educator,

community educator, community college instructor, or trainer,

you'll learn the strategies and competencies needed to deliver a

training or education program.

 

EDAE 624 – Adult Teaching and Learning I (3 cr.)

This course investigates the theory, research, and practice of adult

teaching and learning concepts. Its goal is to help you acquire the

ability to relate the models and theories of adult teaching and learning

to your professional and personal lives.

 

EDAE 639 – Instructional Design (3 cr.)

In this course you will design and develop a learning event of your choice. We work through

a systematic design model from inception to completion including determining the need,

conducting an audience analysis, selecting or creating instructional materials, developing

assessments and determining evaluation methods.

 

EDRM 600 – Introduction to Research Methods (3 cr.)

The goal of this course is for you to acquire the ability to review,

develop, and produce research. This is accomplished through the

facilitation of learning activities in the areas of the development of

an area of focus, problem and research statements, reviewing the

literature, designing a research method (qualitative and quantitative),

analyzing results, and writing about your findings.

 

EDUC 651 – Multicultural and Special Populations (3 cr.)

Working within educational and social institutions in the United States requires

a deep understanding of issues of diversity and equity. This course engages

students in developing their own personal understandings of multiculturalism

in their lives and professions, in critically examining how institutions and societies

end up providing differing opportunities and experiences to different groups of people,

and examining our roles in supporting or altering these systems and structures. The

course draws upon disciplines of anthropology, sociology, psychology, and other positions

and practices offered by intercultural, multicultural, and social justice researchers to examine

core concepts such as culture, social identity, empathy, diversity, equality, equity, culturally

inclusive curriculum, privilege, power, multiculturalism, oppression, social justice education,

cultural competence, transformational education, critical pedagogy, and the interrelationship

of race, class, sexual orientation, national origin, language, and (dis)ability. The institution we

examine specifically is education but your expertise and knowledge of other institutional

inequities will add to the complex dimensions of this work.

 

EDAE 698– Research (3 cr.)

This course is the final course in the program and should be completed in your last semester. 

If you have followed along on the AET journey ( click here for link ) you should be prepared to

put the final touches on your professional portfolio and share your journey with your peers. 

We share with you some examples of student presentations which provide a nice summary of

the student’s experience in the AET program. Click here to see examples of student presentions

 

 

Elective courses:

You are encouraged to take electives in your area of expertise and matched to your career goals. We suggest working with your advisor to select appropriate courses to meet your needs. The elective courses we offer in our program include:

 

EDAE 590 – Workshop: Assessment, Evaluation, and Return on Investment(3 cr.)

This course examines theories and techniques associated with the acquisition

of knowledge, evaluation of educational programs, and methods of return on

investment (ROI) commonly used. It includes an overview of various models for

assessing individual learners, and evaluating courses and programs in education,

industry, and adult training environments is the focus. Hands-on use of

assessment tools and the development of evaluation and ROI plans complement

course materials and provide you an opportunity to immediately apply your

newly-learned knowledge and skills.

 

EDAE 590 – Workshop: Teaching and Learning at a Distance (3 cr.)

The focus of this course is two-fold, with the first emphasis on the technologies

available for distance delivery. The second and primary emphasis is directed

toward methods for generating and maintaining communication, designing and

developing materials, and incorporating interactive and collaborative learning activities.

Click here to see one of the technologies that have been used in class.

 

EDAE 590 – Workshop: English as a Second Language to Adult Learners(3 cr.)

In this course, you learn the tools needed to successfully provide English learning

to speakers of other languages. Topics covered include adult learning theories,

language learning and language acquisition, learner error correction, assessments,

textbook and software selection, and instruction methods.

 

EDAE 590 – Workshop: Adult Basic Education (3 cr.)

This course addresses instruction at all of the levels (0-12.9) in Adult Basic Education and

Adult Secondary Education. Each level is addressed in terms of appropriate assessment tools

and instructional techniques. Emphasis is placed on teaching ways that adult educators can 

encourage the development of cognitive skills at each level and use them as a springboard to

the next level. The teaching of reading, writing, and math skills is emphasized.

 

EDAE 601 – Philosophy/Organization of Workforce Education (3 cr.)

The purpose of this course is to introduce or reintroduce the learner to the history,

philosophical underpinnings, structures, and organization of the workforce education

system with a primary focus on the United States’ structure. At the end of the course

the participants will be able to identify and discuss the history, philosophy, and reasons

for some of the key ideas within the workforce education field including but not limited to:

a.         History and structure of the WFED system

b.         Foundations of WFED 

c.         WFED policies and agencies

d.         Current issues within WFED

e.         Future trends in WFED

 

EDAE 629 – Program Development (3 cr.)

Program Development focuses on the higher level view of managing learning organizations

and multiple courses or workshops.  Topics investigated include: Partnerships, stakeholders,

marketing, budgets, course sequencing, instructor support, and program level evaluation.

 

EDAE 668 – Cognitive Theory and Learning Transfer (3 cr.)

This course investigates prior and current work in cognitive science that

informs us as to how learning occurs. Concepts such as schema theory, scaffolding,

and cultural lead to or inhibit the transfer or application of knowledge and skills

outside of the learning environment. How we can use these concepts to enrich the

learning experience and transfer will be developed through papers and presentations

on current literature and application.

 

EDAE 692 – Seminar: Adult Education: Experiential Learning (3 cr.)

This seminar is based on the premise that integrating experiential learning into

adult education will increase learning transfer for adult learners. During the

seminar, students discuss the tenets of experiential learning, explore metaphoric

framing and how to frame activities, and examine how to scaffold learning

activities to maximize learning transfer. They will also participate in the art of

facilitation (ice breakers, name games, problem solving initiatives, low ropes

course, and high ropes course activities), practice processing the learning experience

with adult learners, and explore strategies to help the learner transfer experiences

in the learning environment into real world applications. Click here to read a student testimonial!

 

EDAE 724 – Adult Teaching and Learning II (3 cr.)

This course enhances your understanding of alternative delivery systems,

performance technology, and faculty evaluations while honing the skills

needed to synthesize scholarly literature to inform decisions and practice in

adult teaching and learning. You apply current knowledge and philosophical

perspectives in teaching and learning to design a professional development

program (for example a plan or learning contract) that incorporates research-based

knowledge of adult learning and professional growth.

 

EDUC 792 – Seminar: Learning Problem Solving Skills through Instructional Design

Case Study (3 cr.)

This seminar uses explicit instruction in the use of a problem solving approach

to enhance problem solving and critical thinking skills.  We use instructional design

challenges presented in case study format to practice the skills while applying our

knowledge of adult education and instructional design to analyze each case and recommend

next steps.