Adult and Continuing Education, M.S.

Graduate Degree
Graduate Degrees
Adult and Continuing Education, M.S.
The Adult and Continuing Education, M.S. degree program has an online option. Learn more about the Adult and Continuing Education, M.S. online degree program and Online Learning at Marshall University.

If you would like to become a training and development professional in business, industry or a service organization, Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, is a great place for you to pursue an accredited online master’s degree in Adult and Continuing Education.

Why Study Adult and Continuing Education at Marshall?

Our Master of Science degree in Adult and Continuing Education (ACE) is a fully online program designed for those who may be employed on a full-time basis. This accredited, comprehensive M.S. program is intended for individuals who serve in an instructional, training, leadership or professional role in human services areas of business, industry, government, community agencies, health care or education.

Our faculty have years of experience in teaching internet-based courses for adult working professionals. Through this experience, the faculty have developed unmatched expertise in designing and teaching online courses. One-on-one advising (face-to-face, online, phone, e-mail) is available to every student from program entry through completion.

Three areas of emphases are available:

Adult Education and Evaluation Emphasis serves professionals looking to expand their knowledge and further their careers, as well as professionals who want to transition into teaching adults. Adult Education and Evaluation also serves people who work with adults in either an instructional or an administrative role. Students are drawn from various areas, such as hospitals or other human service agencies, business or government, as well as those in adult preparatory programs at the postsecondary or community college level.
Career and Technical Center Teaching Emphasis serves professionals looking to expand knowledge and teach in career and technical centers. While the certification courses are designed for those employed by West Virginia career and technical centers, our master’s degree is applicable to the field of adult education in and around West Virginia.
Training and Development Emphasis serves people employed in business, industry or other organizations involved in the advancement of knowledge, competencies and skills of their employees. Students are drawn from various areas, such as a management, marketing, human resources and safety, whose responsibilities may include instructional design and preparation of employees for current jobs, future assignments and / or personal enhancement.

Our Adult and Continuing Education master’s degree is relevant to a number of career fields; therefore, courses are designed to allow you to tailor your assignments to fit your unique goals.

The types of jobs our M.S. graduates have include:

Career and Technical Center Teaching
Vocational Teaching
Human Services Agencies
In-Service Responsibilities in Hospitals, Business, or Government
Post-Secondary Adult Preparatory Programs
Community College Teaching

Career Outlook in Adult and Continuing Education

The job outlook for training and development specialists is expected to grow by 11% over the period 2016 to 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median income in 2018 was $60,780.

For career and technical education teachers, the median income was $56,750 in 2018, and the job outlook is expected to grow by 4%.

Opportunities in Adult and Continuing Education

You will learn to teach adults by gaining classroom knowledge, experiencing work-based activities and participating in projects intended to develop the competencies used by professionals in the areas of Adult Education and Evaluation, Training and Development, and Career and Technical Center Teaching.

Admission Requirements

Applicants should follow the admissions process described in this catalog or at the Graduate Admissions website: www.marshall.edu/graduate/how-to-apply-for-admission.

M.S., Area of Emphasis in Adult Education and Evaluation


In addition to Marshall University’s requirements for admission, the following criteria must be met for admission to the Adult Education and Evaluation program:

  • Students must apply online by completing and submitting the "Distance-Only" application, and all required credentials and fees must be on file in the Office of Graduate Admissions before an application can be processed. Visit www.marshall.edu/admissions/apply for additional information. 
  • Candidates must be in good academic standing, have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, and have a minimum undergraduate cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale.

M.S., Area of Emphasis in Career and Technical Center Teaching


In addition to Marshall University’s requirements for admission, the following criteria must be met for admission to the Career and Technical Center Teaching area of emphasis

  • Students must apply online by completing and submitting the "Distance-Only" application, and all required credentials and fees must be on file in the Office of Graduate Admissions before an application can be processed. Visit www.marshall.edu/admissions/apply for additional information. 
  • Candidates must be in good academic standing, have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning and have a minimum undergraduate cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Candidates applying to the Career and Technical Center Teaching area of emphasis must be employed as a career and technical center teacher in the State of West Virginia 
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