Adult and higher education
Note: This program is currently not accepting applications.
Adult learners have unique demands, and they rely on skilled professionals who can deliver educational programs that are both effective and equitable. When you earn your Master of Education (Ed.M) in Adult and Higher Education online from Oregon State University, you’ll be prepared to design, implement and assess educational programs across formats, including in-person, online and hybrid.
This two-year master’s degree program is designed for working professionals. While your coursework is completed online, you’ll join a cohort of students who learn together through collaborative assignments. You will explore real-world challenges, apply insights that connect research to practice and build professional ties. Experienced faculty with real-world industry experience will guide you at each step and prepare you for a rewarding career serving learners just like you.
Skills you’ll gain in OSU’s online adult and higher education master’s program
As a student in Oregon State’s online Ed.M. in Adult and Higher Education degree program, you’ll gain the in-demand skills you need to stand out in the job market and level up your career. You’ll learn from expert Oregon State faculty who have real-world experience in education.
- Instructional technology
- Instructional design
- Program evaluation
- Needs assessment
- Adult learning and development
- Organizations and systems theory
- Instructional strategies
Program details
Oregon State's Ed.M. in Adult and Higher Education program addresses current adult education issues and provides solutions you can immediately apply in the workplace. The online coursework focuses heavily on instructional design and technology, two areas in which Oregon State has vast expertise. The program curriculum is guided by the Academy of Human Resource Development standards, with core courses in educational technology and online learning.
The Ed.M. in Adult and Higher Education is offered online by Oregon State’s College of Education.
Degree requirements
A total of 45 quarter credits are required to graduate with your Ed.M. in Adult and Higher Education. Degree requirements and curriculum information are available on Oregon State's academic catalog.
Additional program features
Internship
You will complete an internship to gain practical experience that’s aligned with your personal interests and goals. You may be able to design an internship within your own workplace, provided it is different from your current job description. Learn more about the internship requirement on the College of Education website.
A limited number of students will have the opportunity to take part in a learning experience working with an OSU Ecampus instructional designer. Ecampus has won numerous national awards for its expertise in instructional design and faculty development.
State of Colorado: This program requires an internship. Although Oregon State University participates in the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), due to Colorado’s Workers’ Compensation Act, we have limited authorization to offer programs that require internships in the state of Colorado. The Colorado internship site must provide workers’ compensation. In some cases, a proposed internship site may not provide workers’ compensation insurance and, as a result, is not available as an internship site. Please contact Shannon Riggs, associate vice provost for educational programs and learning innovation, with questions.
This is not a teacher licensure program
In compliance with an agreement with the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission for participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), Oregon State University provides information regarding professional licensure through distance education. The courses and programs, delivered online by OSU Ecampus, are not formally approved for professional licensure outside of the state of Oregon.
Start on the pathway toward a master’s degree
Oregon State makes it possible for you to apply the credits you earn in an OSU degree, certificate or microcredential program directly toward the master’s degree in adult and higher education. Up to 22 graduate credits may be transferred toward a 45-credit master’s degree.
If you earn Oregon State’s Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design online, the certificate credits can be applied toward this online master’s degree in adult and higher education. Successful completion of the certificate or its courses does not guarantee admission to the Ed.M. program.
Applying credits like this, an approach known as stacking, can help you build credentials over time and advance your career. It's also a great way to test a field of study through a series of courses before committing to a full degree program. For students like Ali Lanenga, stacking can make a journey to a degree feel more manageable.
Admission requirements
Explore the detailed admissions information for the adult and higher education master’s degree program, including any application deadlines and required documents, on the College of Education website.
Explore certificates and microcredentials
You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online from Oregon State. Choose from a large collection of short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.
Adult and higher education Ed.M. careers
The knowledge you acquire in Oregon State’s online Ed.M. Adult and Higher Education degree program will help you fill in-demand jobs in the global marketplace. You’ll graduate ready to showcase your abilities and provide insights in fields that need experts in adult education.
Job market outlook
Use the interactive tool on this page to discover employment trends, top occupations and salary details for professionals who have skills related to adult and higher education. Please be aware that completing a program related to the job market information shown here does not guarantee employment or a specific salary.
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Contact
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Program specific questions
Get answers to your questions about pursuing an online adult and higher education degree.
Contact the College of Education
Contact the Graduate Student Success Team in OSU's College of Education at coed-graduatesuccess@oregonstate.edu.
