Master of Arts in Adult and Community Education

This program provides students with enhanced concepts and competencies in designing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs for adults in a variety of public and private educational settings. The program provides students with an understanding of how educational, social, political, and economic systems interface within communities. The program seeks to develop individuals who are committed to fostering learning as a lifelong process and in creating learning organizations and societies.

The program further offers career preparation for corporate training, instructional design, staff development, program evaluation and community education development. The master¹s degree program can also be used as preparation for entry into the doctorate in Adult, Higher and Community Education.

Courses are offered on campus in Muncie, online, and in the Indianapolis area through Ball State's School of Extended Education.

Information Sessions
Register for an online information session about our Master's in Adult and Community Education, held on Campus, greater Indianapolis area, Fort Wayne, or online.

To view a past virtual information session, click on ACE and Exec Dev M.A. Degree Pgms Virtual Info Session. 

For more information, contact Ruby Cain, Assistant Professor.

General Degree Requirements
The M.A. degree requires completion of at least 30 hours of graduate coursework. A minimum of 18 hours must be completed in the major, supplemented by a research course and electives from the major or related subjects. If students choose electives from the major, they are encouraged to design an area of concentration (9 credit hours) in either adult or community education. Students must maintain grade-point averages of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Programs of study are individually designed.

Admission to the Program
Applicants for the M.A. in the Adult and Community education must complete the university Application for Graduate Admission form and provide transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. To be admitted to graduate study toward a master's degree, a student must meet the following minimum criteria:

Hold an earned bachelor's degree from a college or university that is accredited by its regional accrediting association.

Have one of the following:

1. an undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
   
2. a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the latter half of the baccalaureate.
   
3. a 3.0 average in 9 semester hours of graduate work approved by the chairperson of the major department and approved in advance by the graduate dean, and a score on the Graduate Record Examination of 900 on the Quantitative and Verbal sections or 1350 with the analytical section added.

Degree Options
*A minor may be earned by successfully completing three additional courses or 9 hours. You must contact the other department and the graduate school for permission.

Plan of Study
Master of Arts in Adult and Community Education
(minimum of 30 credit hours)

Course Requirements (18 hours)

Research Requirement:

The student must either write a master's thesis, (1-6 hours) or select one of the following research courses:

Elective Courses:

In addition, the student must complete 9 additional credit hours in adult and community education or from any other related field.

Adult Education Courses:

* serves also as a research course

Community Education Courses:

Additional Courses:

The student may choose additional graduate courses in adult and community education or from any other related field.

Admission Materials Contact:
Graduate School
Ball State University
2000 West University Ave
Muncie, IN 47306
Phone: 765-285-1286

For additional information about Graduate Programs in Adult Education Department of Educational Studies, contact: Ruby Cain