Adult & Community Education

The Adult & Community Education (ACE) option prepares professionals to strengthen their leadership, teaching and research skills in a variety of adult learning settings, including higher education, workplace training, community education, literacy programs, museums, libraries and social service agencies.

The curriculum combines adult learning theory, instructional methods, assessment and research skills to support effective practice across diverse environments.

The Ed.D. focuses on preparing scholar-practitioners for leadership roles in higher education, nonprofits, consulting and corporate training. The Ph.D. emphasizes theory and research development for those pursuing careers as scholar-researchers in adult education.

Students talking outside on campus.

The Adult & Community Education option uniquely prepares graduates to be:

  • Educational directors for area businesses, industry, government and military enterprises
  • Directors, coordinators and grant-writers involved in alternative delivery of programs
  • Researchers in the fields of adult education, adult learning and community education
  • Teaching professors in colleges and universities
  • Consultants serving education, business, industry, government and military enterprises
  • Educators responsible for all aspects of adult education and community service

Our graduates work in a variety of settings, both locally and nationally. Recent graduates are working in human resources, training and development, higher education and in nonprofits and student services as trainers, managers, directors, professors and consultants.

  • Deadline to Apply: February 1
  • Program Start: Autumn semester
  • Prerequisites/Pre-major Requirements: Master's degree
  • Minimum Program Hours: 60, post master’s degree
  • Coursework: adult learning, foundations of occupational and adult education, educational research, instructional methods, foundations of doctoral scholarship
  • Other requirements: Dissertation

View the Ed.D. Curriculum Sheet or Ph.D. Curriculum Sheet

School of Education

Email: marie.champagne@ndsu.edu Phone: (701) 231-7101 Page Manager Facebook