Penn State World Campus | Online

Careers in Adult Education Are on the Rise
As businesses and organizations collectively tighten their belts, employers are adding more stringent hiring requirements for new employees, and corporations are placing a stronger emphasis on training in the workplace. Such actions have led to an increased need for qualified adult education professionals in community centers, higher education institutions, and corporate training centers.

To help meet this rising demand, Penn State World Campus has partnered with the College of Education to offer this online master's degree in adult education as well as an online graduate certificate in distance education. All of the credits you earn in the certificate program may be applied toward the requirements for the master's degree in adult education, upon your acceptance into that program.

Why Adult Education Online at Penn State


In our program, students from diverse backgrounds and careers can come together to enhance their understanding of the unique needs of today’s adult learners and how they learn best. The courses are taught by the same world-renowned faculty who teach on campus. One of the faculty members who helped design the program is Professor Michael Moore, the founding director of the American Center for the Study of Distance Education and the founder and editor of The American Journal of Distance Education.

The curriculum covers a broad range of topics and allows you to pick concentrated areas of study, such as distance education, education technology, and family literacy. Each course focuses on preparing you to help adult learners build on their existing knowledge base and learn in a purposeful way.


Act 48 Approved

Penn State is an Act 48–approved provider for Pennsylvania educators, so the courses for the master of education in adult education may count toward professional development hours.

Who Should Apply?

If you are a professional who is interested in working with adults in such fields as distance education, continuing professional education, adult and family literacy, corporate training, or education technology, this could be the program for you.

Please note that this program does not lead to initial teacher certification, however, this program may help you to renew your certification. Check with your state's Department of Education for exact requirements for rectification.

Online Education at Penn State

Penn State has a history of 100+ years of distance education and more than a decade of experience in online learning. We create an online learning environment that offers you the same quality education our residential students experience in a face-to-face setting.