Online Adult Education Degree Programs

Adult education has evolved in the past fifteen years from teaching adults basic or remedial skills to preparing them for a new economy. In addition to literacy and GED fundamentals, adult educators introduce students to the latest technology, and teach them better ways to solve problems and manage information. A driving force in this shift from remedial to career-focused education has been the growth of working professionals looking to update their skills. Online distance learning programs have played a role in this trend, making it possible for adult learners to incorporate education into their busy lives.

The broadening of adult education has brought about a parallel evolution in opportunities for trained adult educators. Adult education is a growing field that works to better understand how adults learn and how to most effectively teach them, whether individually, in a class, or in a corporate setting. Adult educators face a unique set of challenges in designing courses that are both accessible and relevant to their student base. They are expected to employ and develop up-to-date and creative methods of teaching adults, including using the Internet and electronic technology.

Jobs in Adult Education

Adult education jobs range from community teaching to corporate training, remedial to career education, classroom to online instruction. Job titles include:

• ESL Instructor
• GED Instructor
• Adult Literacy Teacher
• Career or vocational instructor
• Corporate Trainer
• Online Instructor
• Self-enrichment Instructor

Literacy, remedial education, and English as a Second Language instructors offer courses at local community colleges or through online programs. Career advancement educators offer courses through vocational schools or technical institutes. They are likely to teach courses online, to accommodate their working student body. Corporate trainers work as private consultants or as full-time employees of a corporation, non-profit organization, or government agency.

Learning to Teach Adults

There is no standard certification for adult educators, but many adult education jobs require a degree. A bachelor's degree is the standard minimum qualification. In addition, many community colleges expect a master's degree in Adult Education or a relevant specialty, such as ESL teaching or Corporate Training. Coursework for an adult education degree can include: planning and executing adult education programs, adult education administration, and adult education in a social context. Online distance learning instructors take courses in educational technology and online delivery. Adult education degrees do not provide K-12 teaching certification.

The Outlook for Adult Education

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook handbook projects that the market for adult education jobs will increase "faster than average" from 2006 to 2016. Job growth projections range from 14 percent for adult literacy educators to 23 percent for self-enrichment and vocational teachers. Adult educators earned an average salary of $47,830 in 2007.

As the economy demands a higher level of literacy and technical expertise from its workers, more and more adults will head back to the classroom to build their skill set. Adult educators stand to play an important role in this trend, as their mandate expands from remedial education to cutting-edge technical and business skills training.

• Education