hools,
eges
, and
sities.hools,eges, andsities.Adult education
cou
rses provide informat
ion on adult growth and Porno development,
adult psychology, and program planning and development.
These
courses prepare you to provide informative, interesting programs
and lectures for your students orpmployees. Adult education takes
place most often in postsecondary schools, including vocational
schools, colleges, and universities. It's also happening more and
more often online. Aspiring adult education professionals may
choose to both learn and teach through online
degree programs.
Teaching in a postsecondary setting usually requires at least a
college
degree and a strong knowledge of a particular subject. Your
prior education and work experience often determine the specialties
you can teach. For example, a person with a college degree in
finance who earns a
graduate degree in adult education may go on to teach
university courses in accounting.
Adult educators have sprung up in corporate environments as well,
providing on-the-job skills and training. A company's human
resources department usually oversees this position, often referred
to as corporate
training. Trainers provide professional development programs
for employees encompassing a wide variety of job-related topics,
ranging from general business concepts to company specifics.
Today's adult education
majors enjoy a quite favorable job outlook. Corporations place
increased emphasis on training in the workplace, creating more jobs
for the adult educator. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the
human resources industry, of which trainers are considered a part,
to grow faster than average in the next eight years. Similarly, as
enrollment in colleges and universities increases, college
professors can also expect higher demand for their talents.
Degree programs
in adult education equip you to teach adults in the setting and
field of your choice. Most adult education degrees are master's
degrees or higher, building on more generalized education degrees
and experience at the undergraduate level. Some undergraduate adult
education programs do exist, however.
Online
degree programs in adult education have become increasingly
widespread as working teachers and educators seek to boost their
credentials without losing income by taking time off work. Master's
and PhD programs are particularly suited for online study, with
their high component of independent study and research.
Associate's degrees in adult education are rare and focus
primarily on the vocational education industry. They generally
include courses in human behavior and adult psychology. Vocational
educators often begin their careers with only an associate's degree
and work experience in their field. For example, a person with
experience as a welder may earn their associate's degree in adult
education in order to teach welding at a vocational school.
The associate's
degree prepares students for a bachelor's
degree, since few career opportunities exist for adult
educators without one. An associate's degree typically takes two
years to complete.
A bachelor's degree in adult education includes courses on
communication, curriculum development, and theories and practices
of adult education. The bachelor's degree prepares you to enter a
corporate setting as a trainer, or to teach adults in a
postsecondary setting such as a vocational or technical
school.
The bachelor's degree typically takes four years to complete. A
bachelor's in adult education should not be confused with a K-12
teacher education program, as it does not certify you to teach in
an elementary or secondary school.