Oct 03, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2024 - 2025 
    
Graduate Catalog 2024 - 2025

Adult Learning and Development, Graduate Certificate


The program draws on the expertise and knowledge of adult educators and professionals in agencies and businesses throughout the community, as well as other faculty and staff members from Cleveland State University.

Introduction

The Adult Learning and Development (ALD) certificate program is designed to provide present and future adult educators with theories, competencies, and knowledge that will help them plan, teach, and administer programs for a diverse population of adult learners in a variety of settings, including, but not limited to, technical/vocational colleges; proprietary schools; four-year colleges; literacy, ABE, and GED programs; and training programs within health care, business, and industrial settings.

The ALD certificate program provides an avenue for meeting the continuing professional education requirements often required of professional adult educators. Additionally, the certificate program presents a challenging course of study for adult educators who seek further education but not necessarily a graduate degree.

Today’s adult educator must possess vision, theory, and practical skills to promote active learning and reflection among a diverse population of adult learners. The ALD certificate program provides present and future adult educators with an awareness of the issues facing them in a variety of learning environments. Theories, practical applications, instructional design, philosophy, and program planning and administration are emphasized through the courses in the program.

Faculty Research

Faculty research interests reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the field. Recent work includes a number of books and book chapters, articles in professional journals, and presentations at professional meetings. Faculty members belong to associated professional organizations, such as the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, the Ohio Association for Adult and Continuing Education, the Commission of Professors of Adult Education, the American Educational Research Association, the American Association for Higher Education, and the American Society for Training and Development.

Career Information

Learning is a lifelong process. Today’s rapidly changing world requires adults to learn new ways of doing their jobs and prepare for career changes. This has resulted in a demand for qualified adult educators to assist adult learners as they cope with the effects of ever-changing technologies, organizational development, and new career requirements. Adult educators work in a variety of settings, such as Adult Basic Education (ABE) or General Educational Development (GED) programs; two-and four-year colleges, universities, and technical institutions; ESL and literacy programs; continuing education, training, and development programs in human resource development departments in business and industry; cooperative extension services; health care organizations; social service agencies; continuing professional development; and community development. This list reflects the growth of the adult education field. The need for well-prepared professional adult educators to help adults learn is crucial to businesses, agencies, and institutions.

Admission Information

Prospective students should apply for graduate admission as a “certificate” student to register for classes. They must meet the graduate certificate admission requirements  detailed in the Admissions section of this catalog. With program permission, non-degree graduate students may also enroll in the courses noted below, but non-degree graduate students cannot earn a University graduate certificate. Degree-seeking graduate students who hold regular admission status may be admitted to this certificate program. Credits earned for the certificate may be applied toward a graduate degree as approved by the student’s graduate program director and in keeping with the policies of the College of Graduate Studies.

Application materials should be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office.

Apply Now: https://grad.engagecsu.com/

For further information, contact:
Education Student Services Center
Cleveland State University
2121 Euclid Avenue
Julka Hall 170
Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: (216) 687-4625 Fax: (216) 687-9284

Certificate Requirements


(15 credit hours)

The certificate program requires a total of fifteen credit hours: a twelve-credit core of required courses and three credits of elective course work chosen by the student with approval from program faculty.