College of Education

Dept. of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Program Director : Dr. Jo D. Gallagher
Graduate Advisor : Dr. Jo D. Gallagher
Department’s Phone Number : (305) 348-2767
Department’s Fax Number : (305) 348-2081

For More Information, go to

• Program's web site
• College of Education web site

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Brief Description of the Program:

      The Master of Science in Adult Education (AE) program is designed for individuals who choose to serve the field as director/manager, program developer, teacher/instructor, advisor, and/or researcher. Graduates typically facilitate, manage, and evaluate learning programs for adult clients, volunteers, students, and associates in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. A sampling of the roles filled by AE master’s degree graduates includes the following:

• Community school administration
• Workforce education
• Continuing education
• Urban education and adult literacy
• Program marketing, management, and evaluation
• Distance education
• Lifelong learning
• Adult basic education, GED
• Religious education

      Through the program, participants are provided with a strong foundation in the theories, research, and best practices in the field. Interacting with faculty mentors, contributors to the field (through their works), and their peers, participants work to enhance their critical thinking, verbal and written communication skills, and their own lifelong learning strategies. The internship component affords participants the opportunity to directly apply what they have learned to AE issues and problems in an operational setting. This program also provides the course requirements that, in part, qualify individuals for state certification in Florida public school adult education administration.

      The South Florida setting provides an ideal laboratory for studying, practicing, and serving the many dimensions of adult education. Our urban and poly-cultural community, with its age and socio-economic population mix and proximity to international venues, offers a natural and conducive environment for attracting, preparing, and placing AE graduates.

      A minimum of 36 credit hours is required 15 hours of which are devoted to advised electives. Courses are offered for the master’s in Adult Education both Miami-Dade and Broward Counties in the evening hours. Everything possible is done to provide courses at the locations most convenient to part-time and full-time students. Further details and a general program of study may be found at the program’s website.

Application Requirements:

Application requirements for the Fall term are subject to change. Please contact the program director for further details and current information.

Additional Requirements for International Students:

None in addition to those listed in the FIU Graduate Catalog