School of Continuing and Professional Studies > Academics > Graduate Programs > Applied Professional Studies (MA) > Educating Adults Track > Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

Course Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 52 graduate credit hours with a cumulative GPA of not less than 2.5. 

Planning & Integration (8 credit hours)

Students, with the assistance of an academic committee, design individualized graduate learning plans. Once plans are approved, students pursue their plans and work to ensure that all parts link together.

Course Title Quarter Hours
AP 501PROFESSIONAL PLANNING PROSEMINAR4
AP 504RESEARCHING PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS4

Liberal Learning (16 credit hours)

The liberal learning seminars offer opportunities for unique and rich discussions with fellow professionals from diverse professional backgrounds. They are designed to challenge students’ thinking around topics relevant to working professionals as they enhance core skills in critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and problem solving.

Course Title Quarter Hours
Required Courses:8
LLS 410DWRITING FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS4
LLS 450BAPPLYING SYSTEMATIC INQUIRY (IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE)4
Elective Options (8 credit hours) choose from list:8
LLS 410FGENDER IN BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP4
LLS 410GADVANCED LEADERSHIP THEORY & PRACTICE4
LLS 410HEFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN A CHANGING PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT4
LLS 420DAPPLYING ETHICS IN THE PROFESSIONS4
LLS 420ELEADERSHIP, CHANGE AND POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONS4
LLS 420FLEADERSHIP MODELS FOR STRONG ORGANIZATIONS4
LLS 420GEMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AT WORK4
LLS 420HLEADING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
LLS 440AUNDERSTANDING AND FLEXING MINDSETS4
ORGL 510EVIDENCED BASED DECISION MAKING (formerly LLS 410E))

Tracks (24 credit hours): Individualized, Educating Adults, Organizational Leadership, or Social Change

Students design and implement learning strategies for enhancing their understanding and competence development in each of the following aspects of their track.

Course Title Quarter Hours
AP 510MAIN THEORIES AND IDEAS2
AP 520METHODS OF RESEARCH2
AP 530SPECIALIZED SKILLS2
AP 540COMMUNICATION MODES2
AP 550ORGANIZATIONAL AND/OR INTERPERSONAL DYNAMICS2
AP 560CHALLENGES FROM LARGER CONTEXTS2
AP 570ETHICAL ISSUES2
AP 574REFLECTION IN/ON PRACTICE2
AP 584SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE I2
AP 585SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE II2
AP 586SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE III2
AP 587SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE IV2

Program Culmination (4 credit hours)

Students culminate their graduate study through either four supplemental competencies or an integrating project (proposal and final artifact).

Course Title Quarter Hours
Supplementals (Electives)
AP 588SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE V2
AP 589SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE VI2
Integrating Project
AP 592GRADUATE CAPSTONE PROJECT4

Track Requirements

Individualized Focus Area

The Individualized Focus Area features a customized track where each student, with the support of an advisory team, researches and designs a path leading to the attainment of specific, academically grounded objectives in an applied professional field. With the help of their advisory team, students in the Individualized Focus Area integrate graduate level coursework, applied learning activity, academic inquiry, and  professional development. Since the Individualized Focus Area is not limited to a particular academic area with existing professional standards, it is ideal for entrepreneurial students ready to work with leaders in their field to determine the appropriate professional standards for their unique, often cutting edge or hybrid, focus.

Individualized Focus Area Competence Areas

Students in this track may choose from an array of courses and experiential learning activities to create their unique focus. They are guided in their choices by their advisory committees as they select learning activities that address the following list of professional competencies which can be satisfied through a combination of coursework, applied experiential earning activities, and liberal learning seminars from the MAAPS core curriculum: 
 

Course Title Quarter Hours
AP 510MAIN THEORIES AND IDEAS2
AP 520METHODS OF RESEARCH2
AP 530SPECIALIZED SKILLS2
AP 540COMMUNICATION MODES2
AP 550ORGANIZATIONAL AND/OR INTERPERSONAL DYNAMICS2
AP 560CHALLENGES FROM LARGER CONTEXTS2
AP 570ETHICAL ISSUES2
AP 574REFLECTION IN/ON PRACTICE2
AP 584SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE I2
AP 585SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE II2
AP 586SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE III2
AP 587SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE IV2

Educating Adults

The Educating Adults track is designed for students working in diverse settings who are involved in the process and practice of adults’ learning. Grounded in current research and best practices in adult education and learning theory, the Educating Adults track is made up of a set of core courses and learning activities to be applied in the students’ own workplace/practice setting. Participants in this track deepen their knowledge and skills in the areas of assessment, design, facilitation, evaluation, and applied research to improve their repertoire of core and cutting-edge knowledge and skill as educators of adults.

This track is for those who want to expand their knowledge of key theories and best practices in adult learning—including the latest in instructional technology, course and training design, learning facilitation, internet-based practices, and emerging trends. It is for educators of all types: trainers, coaches, managers, and more.

Educating Adults Required Courses

Course Title Quarter Hours
EA 516DESIGNING EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS4
EA 517FACILITATING ADULT LEARNING4
EA 526ASSESSING ADULT LEARNING4

Educating Adults Electives

Students in this track may choose from an array of courses and experiential learning activities, some possible possible course elective options include:

Course Title Quarter Hours
EA 516DESIGNING EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS4
EA 518ENHANCING PRACTICE WITH THEORY IN ADULT LEARNING4
EA 542DESIGNING OUTCOME-BASED PROGRAM EVALUATION: PERSPECTIVES & PRACTICES2-4
EA 545PARTNERING FOR SOCIAL ACTION GFDIS4
EA 546EDUCATING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE GFDIS4
EA 547DESIGNING ONLINE LEARNING GFDIS4

Organizational Leadership

The Organizational Leadership track is designed for students interested in developing and applying effective leadership skills known to be crucial to success in the business world. Completing the Organizational Leadership track will provide opportunities for students to positively impact their organizations. Students will learn to apply relevant leadership theories and models to generate solutions to real world problems within various types of organizations and to advance teams toward a shared corporate vision.

Organizational Leadership Required Courses

Course Title Quarter Hours
LLS 420ELEADERSHIP, CHANGE AND POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONS4
LLS 420DAPPLYING ETHICS IN THE PROFESSIONS4
ORGL 510EVIDENCED BASED DECISION MAKING (formerly LLS 410E)4

Organizational Leadership Electives

Students in this track may choose from an array of courses and experiential learning activities, some possible possible course elective  options include:

Course Title Quarter Hours
LLS 410FGENDER IN BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP4
LLS 410GADVANCED LEADERSHIP THEORY & PRACTICE4
LLS 410HEFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN A CHANGING PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT4
LLS 420DAPPLYING ETHICS IN THE PROFESSIONS4
LLS 420ELEADERSHIP, CHANGE AND POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONS4
LLS 420GEMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AT WORK4
LLS 420HLEADING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE4
LLS 440AUNDERSTANDING AND FLEXING MINDSETS4


Social Change

This track is designed for individuals whose practice involves leading effective social change in communities and organizations. Integral components of this track are ethical decision-making, global and inclusive perspectives, future trends, and mentorship. Learning gained from the track’s core curriculum, as well as the applied capstone project, is essential to unlock each participants’ potential to effectively lead social change. As students collaborate with the other advocates in their Social Change Track cohort and their communities, they have the unique opportunity to practice the creation of responsible action plans to effect constructive social change.

Social Change Course Options

Students in this track may choose from an array of courses and experiential learning activities, some possible possible course electives include: Transformational Leadership, Understanding and Responding to Identity and Intersectionality, Arts for Social Action, Technology for Communication, Tools for Change, Leading and Social Change.

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