Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 Graduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Education, Adult Education/Human Resource Development, M.S.Ed.


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Mission

The mission of the James Madison University professional education unit is to prepare caring, knowledgeable, skilled and reflective educators who believe that all students can learn and succeed. Our candidates and faculty are committed to lifelong learning and aspire to meet educational needs in a changing, pluralistic and democratic society. The personal and professional development of candidates is accomplished by emphasizing excellence and continuous innovation in quality undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.

James Madison University’s College of Education is distinguished through faculty and candidate achievements, academic rigor, excellence in teaching, candidate and faculty interactions and relationships, technological innovations, and national recognitions. The college maintains relevance through active and growing interactions with other colleges within the university and with local, state, regional, national and international communities.

The college is committed to providing:

  • Graduate programs that emphasize advanced knowledge in a specialty area and the development of effective leadership and professional skills for addressing the needs of a changing society.
  • Continuing professional development and service programs in cooperation with public and private schools and agencies, other colleges, institutions, and businesses.
  • The undergraduate and graduate teacher education programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and approved by the Virginia State Board of Education.

The basic philosophy of the college is reflected in the following goals:

  • To educate men and women for the multiple professions included in the college at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, not merely by transmitting skills and knowledge but by stimulating creativity, developing cognitive abilities, and encouraging the testing of hypotheses and reinterpretation of the human experience.
  • To encourage a balanced faculty orientation toward teaching, research, scholarship, community service and professionalism that recognizes individual strengths and preferences of the college’s faculty.
  • To create an environment that fosters an atmosphere of open communication among candidates, faculty members and community.
  • To anticipate societal needs and provide necessary resources for implementing effective on- and off-campus programs now and in the future.

Admission Criteria

The following must be provided when submitting the online application:

  • An online application submitted at: http://www.jmu.edu/grad/prospective.
  • Official transcripts reflecting all post-secondary education, with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher. Applicants can have electronic copies of transcripts sent via eSCRIP-SAFE. GRE scores at the 25th percentile or higher for both verbal and quantitative sections
  • An official record of scores on the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (scores must be less than five years old) or approved GRE waiver application.

Applicants should use JMU’s designated code of 5392 to send electronic test scores.

  • A two to three page personal statement explaining why the applicant is interested in pursuing a Master’s in AHRD.
  • Two letters of recommendation from employers or educators who can attest to the applicant’s potential for graduate-level course work.
  • A copy of the applicant’s current resume.

The Master of Science in Education degree with a major in adult education/human resource development is designed for persons entering or advancing in positions associated with learning in education, business, industry, government, and other public and private sector organizations. The program is targeted to college graduates pursuing a career in the AHRD field, experienced AHRD professionals who want to expand their skills and enhance their career potential, and working managers and professionals in leadership roles where skills in developing and leading people have become critical to their organizations’ success. A major strength of the program is that it allows individuals to tailor their programs to individual career needs and objectives.

Program Mission and Outcomes

The mission of the AHRD program is to prepare professionals to lead, design, implement and evaluate learning programs within education, business, industry, government, military, health care, and other public and private sector organizations. In addition to delivering effective instruction, AHRD professionals design ways to improve human performance, facilitate change and enhance creativity.

By completing our program, graduates will be able to:

  • Understand and apply systems theory, analytic systems, principles of adult development, learning theory, and leadership theory.
  • Understand business, industry, educational and other organizational settings.
  • Identify, understand and build effective organizational relationships that support teaching, learning and continuous human performance improvement appropriate to the context.
  • Organize, manage and evaluate teaching, learning, and continuous human performance improvement efforts.
  • Analyze, design, develop, implement and evaluate targeted curriculum in appropriate modes (including distance, action, self-directed, transformative, informal learning, etc.) for individual, team, and organizational applications with a focus on continuous human performance improvement.
  • Facilitate and lead team-based learning activities appropriate to the context.
  • Apply appropriate technologies in the creation of learning programs.
  • Recognize and respond responsibly to issues of diversity and ethics.
  • Demonstrate the ability to articulate and forecast the vision and role for teaching, learning and continuous human performance improvement appropriate to a context.
  • Interpret and conduct research.

Learners majoring in adult education/human resource development must follow several fundamental guidelines:

  • Consult major and concentration advisers for advice and approval regarding the program.
  • Plan to count no more than six credit hours of workshop credit in any degree program. To be accepted, workshop courses must be approved for credit in the program. The program will not accept workshop courses offered by departments outside the College of Education for elective credit.
  • Adhere to The Graduate School policy that at least half of the courses in any major of concentration be at the 600 level.
  • Secure the required approval of major and concentration advisers for any course credits to be transferred into a JMU degree program.

Degree Requirements

The major consists of a minimum of 36 credit hours of course work. These credits include core program courses, electives, and either a research project or a thesis. Students electing the thesis option will take one fewer elective course as thesis credits total 6 hours.

Degree Requirements


  • Program courses 30-33 Credit Hours
  • Research Paper or Thesis 3-6 Credit Hours

Total: 36 Credit Hours


Core Courses


The core requirements consist of foundational courses that are the basis for the understanding of adult education/ human resource development. These core courses encourage learners to investigate adult education/human resource development and to appreciate all facets of this dynamic field.

Qualifying Examination


At the end the second semester in which the learner is enrolled in this program, he/she will participate in a qualifying examination to be conducted by the program faculty. This examination will cover content knowledge covered in the first two semesters of the program.

Comprehensive Examinations


During the final semester in which the learner is enrolled in this program, he/she will participate in both oral and written comprehensive examinations to be conducted by the learner’s advisory committee. These examinations will cover key concepts, principles, theories and practices covered in the core courses. The comprehensive examination committee consists of at least two full-time AHRD faculty members and/or faculty of courses taken by the student.

Electronic Portfolio


During the final semester in which the learner is enrolled in this program, he/she will submit an electronic portfolio of all core course assignments to the program faculty. Evaluation of the learner’s portfolio will be conducted by the learner’s adviser and thesis/reading and research chair.

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