Adult, Professional, and Community Education (M.A.)

M.A. Adult, Professional, and Community Education

The program has been recognized for curriculum innovation by the Commission of Professors of Adult Education.
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Program Overview

This program has dedicated, learner-centered faculty who are leaders in the field, a focus on reflective practice, emphasizing both theory and skills to become more effective practitioners and leaders, and course delivery formats for working professionals (night, hybrid, and online courses).

Course Work

This program provides the expertise and experience to develop and lead various adult education programs. In addition to the common core, which includes a supervised internship, students are encouraged to take courses appropriate to their career-focused specializations: adult ESL (offered on-campus and online) and workplace, community, and continuing education (offered entirely online).

DegreeConcentrationHoursThesis OptionMinor Option
Degree
M.A.
Concentration
Adult ESL
Hours
36
Thesis Option
Non-Thesis
Minor Option
No minor
Degree
M.A.
Concentration
Adult ESL
Hours
39
Thesis Option
Thesis
Minor Option
No minor
Degree
M.A.
Concentration
Work, Community and Continuing Education
Hours
36
Thesis Option
Non-Thesis
Minor Option
No minor
Degree
M.A.
Concentration
Work, Community and Continuing Education
Hours
39
Thesis Option
Thesis
Minor Option
No minor

Online Availability

The majority of this program may be offered online. If you are not a Texas resident and will not relocate, please visit the Office of Distance and Extended Learning. International students, please visit the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) regarding additional considerations in taking online courses.

What Our Alumni Say

“This is a unique program and allows us to expand our professional interests.ˮ

— Gisell Lumbreras, M.A '17

Program Details

The program is diverse with local and international students. Graduates have gone on to make a difference as community educators, corporate trainers, higher education professionals, and educational leaders.

Program Mission

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Adult, Professional, and Community Education is an academically rigorous and student-focused program designed for individuals working in or aspiring to work in adult education programs in diverse settings, including community-based organizations, government agencies, business and industry, and post-secondary education programs for adults. The program prepares reflective practitioners to teach, develop, and manage adult educational programs and conduct applied research to improve practice.

Career Options

The program educates scholar-practitioners for diverse roles as teachers, staff developers, evaluators, and administrators. Graduates are found in government agencies, corporations, colleges and universities, the military, and community organizations, including libraries, museums, parks, schools, workforce development foundations, corporate training departments, NGOs, social services, religious organizations, adult literacy, adult basic education and ESL programs.

Program Faculty

The faculty members in this program are a unique group of individuals from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and are nationally recognized for their accomplishments. They also provide national and international leadership as journal editors and reviewers.

Contact The Graduate College for general questions about getting started with your application, funding your degree, and more. If you have program-specific questions after reviewing the program details, we encourage you to contact the following individuals.

Graduate Advisor
Dr. Jeremy Bohonos
j_b1083@txstate.edu
512.245.5656
Academic Services Building South (ASBS), Room 306

Advisor Support
Kassi Redwine
kr1352@txstate.edu
512.245.2531
Academic Services Building South (ASBS), Room 306

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Application Deadlines

DeadlinesU.S. CitizenInternational
Deadlines
Fall - Priority
U.S. Citizen
February 1
International
February 1
Deadlines
Fall - Standard
U.S. Citizen
June 15 (*Flexible)
International
June 1
Deadlines
Spring
U.S. Citizen
October 15 (*Flexible)
International
October 1
Deadlines
Summer I
U.S. Citizen
April 15 (*Flexible)
International
March 15

*This program’s deadline is flexible for those not requiring an F/J visa. A flexible deadline means applications received after the standard deadline may be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis with no guarantees for admission consideration.

Funding Information
Applications must be complete by the priority deadline to be considered for certain types of funding.

Decision Timeline
This program reviews applications on a rolling basis.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.

  •   Review important information about the online application.

    • $55 Nonrefundable application fee, OR
    • $90 Nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials

    Review important information about application fees.

    • baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university. (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
    • a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
    • minimum 2.75 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)

    Effective Fall 2024

    • baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university. (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
    • a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
    • a 2.75 overall GPA or a 2.75 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)

    Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.

  • GRE

    • GRE not required

    Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores

    Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.

    • official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall and minimum individual module scores of
      • 19 listening
      • 19 reading
      • 19 speaking
      • 18 writing
    • official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
    • official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
      • minimum individual module scores of 6.0
    • official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
    • official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall

    This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
    Review important information about official test scores.

    • three letters of recommendation from individuals with knowledge of you as a student or as a professional
    • writing sample (maximum 1,000 words) discussing a major issue currently confronting adult education. Please draw on your own experiences, detailing your position on the subject. 

    Effective Spring 2025

    • Writing sample (maximum 300 words) discussing your interest in adult education

    Review important information about documents.

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