There are three specialization areas for the Master’s in Education (MEd): Adult Education, Student Affairs, and Higher Education. 

Adult Education Option 

The M.Ed. Adult Education specialization emphasizes fundamental skills and understandings of adult learners and is intended for individuals who will work within programs of adult education in contexts other than higher education institutions. This program of study is designed to develop skills in working with adult learners within formal and informal contexts such as community education, nonprofit settings, religious education, corporate training, and workforce development. (30 credits).

Program of Study

Adult Education Core - 12 credit hours 12
Foundations of Adult Education  
Program Evaluation  
Resource and Program Management  
Organization and Administration of Higher Education  
Statistics and Research - 6 credit hours 6
Educational Statistics I  
Applied Educational Research  
Electives - 12 credit hours 12
Approved electives may be selected from other Education programs or departments that strengthen the student's program of study. These courses need to be selected in consultation with the chair.
  
Internship: Students with no professional experience working in an adult education program are encouraged to enroll in a three-credit higher education Internship (EDLD 598) to gain practical field experience.
  
Total Credits 30

Higher Education Option 

The MEd Higher Education specialization emphasizes the structure and function of higher education and is intended for individuals interested in working within both student and academic affairs. Graduates with this specialization will be prepared to work within a range of post-secondary settings such as registrar, institutional research & assessment, library, marketing, and entry level programming and administration. (30 credits)

Program of Study

Higher Education Core - 12 credit hours 12
Higher Education History and Philosophy  
Organization and Administration of Higher Education  
College Students  
Institutional Research and Assessment  
  or  
Program Evaluation  
Higher Education Specialized Courses - 12 credit hours from the following: 12
Issues and Trends in Higher Education  
Finance and Administration in Higher Education  
Resource and Program Management  
Post Secondary Distance Delivered Education  
College Teaching  
Student Development Theory  
Law and Policy in Higher Education  
Student Services  
Approved electives may be selected from other Education programs or departments that strengthen the student's program of study.
  
Internship: Students with no professional experience working in higher education are encouraged to enroll in a three-credit higher education Internship  Internship (EDLD 598)  to gain practical field experience
  
Statistics and Research - 6 credits 6
Educational Statistics I  
Applied Educational Research  
Total Credits 30

Student Affairs Option 

The MEd Student Affairs specialization emphasizes student development & advising and is intended for individuals who will work within college student affairs’ programs in higher education. This program plan is designed to provide the graduates with the fundamental skills and understandings necessary to work within diverse post-secondary settings such as residence life, career services, athletics, and student government. (30 credits)

Program of Study

Student Affairs Required - 18 credit hours 18
Organization and Administration of Higher Education  
Program Evaluation  
College Students  
Student Development Theory  
Law and Policy in Higher Education  
Student Services  
Statistics and Research - 6 credit hours 6
Educational Statistics I  
Applied Educational Research  
Electives - 6 credit hours 6
Approved electives may be selected from other Education programs or departments that strengthen the student's program of study. These courses need to be selected in consultation with the chair.
  
Internship: Students with no professional experience working in college student affairs are encouraged to enroll in a three-credit higher education Internship, EDLD 598 Internship to gain practical field experience.
  
Total Credits 30

 

Program Flow

After acceptance, the student will be assigned a temporary advisor and should then meet with his/her assigned advisor. During the second semester of enrollment, the student will identify a graduate committee chair and committee members, establish and submit their program of study to the Graduate School, and clarify plans for the comprehensive examination or master's thesis. Near the completion of course work, the student will write the comprehensive examination. Students writing a thesis will not be required to write a comprehensive examination. 

Delivery Method

All options in Adult and Higher Education are offered as a face-to-face on campus program. Most courses will be delivered using  face-to-face instructional sessions blended with an online component. 

Chairs

The student should carefully select his/her chair after thorough conversations with members of the Adult & Higher Education faculty. The graduate committee chair will give strong leadership and approval regarding the balance of the committee's potential membership. The committee, as a whole, is subject to the approval of the Head of the Department of Education. The chair will facilitate program approval, comprehensive exam planning and clarification. Chairs and members of a student's committee are subject to change. In addition, revision to the program of study can be made during the course of study with the chair's approval.

Committees

Each masters student's committee must consist of three members. The majority of the committee should be made up of faculty from the degree-granting department.  The chair and one other member must be from the Adult & Higher Education faculty. The third committee member must have academic credentials in the area of the student's program of study and be approved by the Head of the Department of Education and Dean of The Graduate School.

Comprehensive Examinations

Near the end of completing course work, MEd students will complete a written comprehensive exam or a Master's Thesis. Students are expected to demonstrate mastery of the program of study and the ability to interact with the research in that area.  The substantive content of the written exam questions will be determined by the chair in consultation with the committee. Students may be required to meet with the committee to provide oral clarification of their written responses.

If completing a masters thesis in lieu of a comprehensive exam, you will need to discuss thesis credit requirements with your graduate committee chair by the second semester.

Grad Request Info

Contact Information

Dr. Bryce Hughes, Program Leader and Associate Professor
Phone: 406-994-6419 Email: bryce.hughes@montana.edu

Dr. Carrie Myers, Professor
Phone: 406-994-4203 Email: cbmyers@montana.edu

Dr. Sweeney Windchief, Associate Professor
Phone: 406-994-3339 Email: sweeney.windchief@montana.edu