The Adult Education Faculty believes that an adult educator, in order to facilitate lifelong learning, should be grounded in at least the following areas:

* Knowledge contexts of adult learning, including historical and philosophical thinking
* Social Contexts of adult learning, including the climate and environment of the learning experience
* Awareness of the needs of the adult as having multiple roles within a diverse world
* Multiple perspectives of adult education inquiry including practitioner and classroom-based research
* Understanding of diverse learning needs, delivery methods, and the need for flexibility
* Skills in program planning and instructional methods in a variety of settings such as the community, the workplace, and the classroom

Our Mission

Degrees Offered

• Masters of Education (M.Ed..) in Adult/Higher Education
• Online Masters of Education in Adult Education with an emphasis in HRD (PDF Document)
• Ed.D. (PDF Document)
• Ph.D. (PDF Document)

Certification
Adult Basic Education (ABE)

E. Desmond Lee Regional Institute of Tutorial Education:
The E. Desmond Lee Regional Institute of Tutorial Education is a collaborative of the universities of Washington University, St. Louis University, Webster, Maryville, Fontbonne, Harris-Stowe University and University of Missouri, St. Louis that develop and implement teaching, research and service programs for a precollegiate tutorial education network to enhance tutorial programming in area youth service organizations located in Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA and YWCA’s, residential care centers, St. Louis Public School District, Family Service Courts and churches.

Focus
Focus (on Lifelong Learning) is a newsletter published bi-annually by the Adult Education Department.  It provides information about upcoming conferences, student and alumni achievements, and other valuable information pertaining to the field of Adult Education.

Member of American Association for Adult and Continuing Education

For individuals pursuing a career in Community Education, the graduate degrees in Adult Education are usually the most appropriate because of their interdisciplinary nature. Courses may be taken in the other two emphasis areas as well.

To equip present and future professionals for "cutting edge" jobs and responsibilities, UM-St. Louis courses for professionals in adult education are based on the idea that adults as learners are different from children as learners.

Adult learners who participate in any program are considered andtreated as adults. Adult learning principles are practiced at all times – as the most effective way for adults to learn, grow, develop, and take responsibility. Central to the UM-St. Louis adult education degree programs is the development of a student's abilities in concert with each individual's career needs. Courses as well as conferences and workshops in the core Adult Education curriculum are designed to help participants develop learning projects that are compatible with and relate to their work setting, areas of interest, and career pursuits.

Division faculty enhance instruction with personal experience in research and practice through community partnerships. Additional expertise is available within the division from emphasis areas in
higher education, educational administration, community education, educational technology, and character education.

Phone: 314 516-5944

Fax: 314 516-5942

Today's rapidly changing, technologically oriented society has created a need for educators whose academic preparation and philosophical outlook reflect understanding and concern for the unique needs of the adult learner.