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Why earn a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Adult and Community Education?
Quick Facts
Next Start Date:
January 11, 2027
- Delivery: 100% Online or blended
- Major Credits: 91
- No GRE Required
- Offered by Ball State's Teachers College which is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
- Contacts: Dr. Bo Chang and Dr. Somanita Kheang
With a Doctor of Education in Adult and Community Education, you can become:
- An educator in a variety of classrooms
- A college professor.
- A researcher in adult, community, and/or higher education.
- A leader, director, or coordinator of a nonprofit organization.
- An academic advisor.
- A higher education administrator.
- A social services administrator.
- A workplace consultant.
- A leader.
What You'll Learn
Real-World Application
Our EdD program provides practical knowledge about adults, including program planning, evaluation, and research as you pursue your career goals of leadership in educational organizations, the academy, industry, government, or the nonprofit sector. Your degree expands your understanding of “how to read the word and the world” (Freire & Macedo, 1987).
By the time you graduate, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the latest research literature, trends, and ideas, empowering you to:
- Read and interpret research findings with confidence
- Develop research projects that drive meaningful changes in communities and/or organizations
- Apply evidence-based solutions to real-world challenges
Critical Skills for Careers in Adult and Community Education
With a doctorate in adult and community education from Ball State, you are prepared to become a leading expert in your chosen area of research, setting you up for a wide range of successful careers. Through this program, you will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in various fields related to adult education and community practices, including research, teaching, and lifelong learning. You will develop expertise in designing and conducting research, program planning, leadership, continuing education, community organizing, organizational management, and evaluation.
You’ll be prepared to work in areas such as:
- Education
- Leadership
- Government
- Community Organization
- Business
- Industry
- Nonprofit Organization
The doctorate provides professional development for positions that manage educational programs for adults. Roles may include (but are limited to):
- Educator
- College professor or instructor
- Training program director/manager
- Workplace educator
- Volunteer coordinator
- Nonprofit director/coordinator
- Social services administrator
- Consultant
- Academic advisor
- Higher education administrator
Knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values regarding teaching, learning, evaluating, planning, program development, leadership, policy, and research are at the core of the doctorate. Course work in this program shows you how power issues impact decisions and policies.
The EdD offers many electives and options for cognates that support your professional and personal goals. If you choose, you can bring in your Ball State Master’s Degree as your cognate, select an interdisciplinary cognate (Executive Development for Public Service), or select the cognate that coincides with your research interest.
Courses
For the EdD in Adult and Community Education, you will take a minimum of 91 graduate credits beyond your bachelor’s degree. If you already hold a master’s degree from another institution, some of your previous credits may be transferred to the doctoral program. This is determined by your doctoral committee.
At least 48 of the 91 credits must be completed at Ball State. This includes:
- at least half of the required research credits
- at least half of the required core credits
- at least half of the doctoral cognate courses
For a complete list of required courses and their descriptions, see the course catalog.
View Catalog
- EDAC 631 Adult and Community Education (3 credits)
- EDAC 634 The Adult as a Learner (3 credits)
- EDAC 635 Strategies for Teaching Adults (3 credits)
- EDAC 648 The Community Educator (3 credits)
- EDAC 655 Cont Ed for Professionals (3 credits)
- EDST 697 The Grant Process and Research (3 credits)
- EDAC 700 Seminar in Adult and Community Education (Adult & Community Education Majors) (3 credits)
- EDAC 780 Seminar in Managing Life Long Learning (3 credits)
- EDPS 640 Methodology of Educational and Psychological Research (3 credits)
- EDPS 641 Statistical Methods and Educational Psychological Research (3 credits)
- EDST 671 Evaluation of Educational Programs (3 credits)
- EDAC 730 Practicum in Adult and Community Education (3 credits)
- EDAC 710 Research Seminar in Adult and Community Education (3 credits)
- ID 705 Research Colloquium (3 credits)
- EDST 650 Introduction to Qualitative Research (3 credits)
Four (4) courses are selected in consultation with the Doctoral Committee:
- EDAC 629 Psychology of Adult Adjustment (3 credits)
- EDAC 632 Organizing Adult and Community Education Programs (3 credits)
- EDAC 638 Program Planning in Adult and Community Education (3 credits)
- EDAC 640 Foundations of Adult and Community Education (3 credits)
- EDAC 644 Collaborative Learning (3 credits)
- EDAC 646 Working in Voluntary Community Agencies (3 credits)
- EDAC 681 Managing Community Education (3 credits)
- EDAC 698 Seminar in Adult and Community Education (3-6 credits)
- EDAC 699 Internship in Adult and Community Education (3 credits)
- EDST 655 Introduction to Mixed Methods Research (3 credits)
- EDHI 610 Issues in Higher Education (3 credits)
- EDCC 640 The Community College (3 credits)
Cognate Courses 24 - 30 credits
By completing a dissertation, you’ll earn your final 10 credits for your doctoral degree.
- DISS 799 Doctoral Disesrtation (1 to 24 credits)
You may not register for dissertation credits until you’ve done both of the following:
- Completed all other course work
- Passed the doctoral comprehensive exams
Additional Benefits
Ball State faculty are scholars and practitioners who have worked and pursued research and projects across the United States and globally. Their research examines the history of adult education, the impact of community education to support local leaders, ways to improve teaching and learning in a variety of settings, implications of power and program planning, and frequently looking at educational leadership in higher education. Enrollments are limited so that student engagement opportunities with faculty experts are increased.
Read Their Bios
All the EDAC courses are offered online using Canvas. This provides flexibility of location, working on your own time, and balancing the other responsibilities as an adult learner.
Courses use discussion boards, project-based learning, critical reflection, and self-directed learning to engage the whole person and the experience you bring to the program. They are asynchronous with some synchronous zoom sessions that provide opportunities to debrief, reflect, and look forward.
The doctoral seminars set you up for success for the dissertation journey and comprehensive exam process.
An active faculty means you, too, have numerous opportunities for professional activity through research and project collaboration, attending conference presentations, and doing scholarly writing.
We have monthly community building virtual sessions called EdD Success Panels where the students meet to learn from each other about the processes of the doctoral journey. These sessions include (but are not limited to) lessons from the comprehensive exam and proposal process, ways to not burn yourself out, how to use tools for success, and career guidance.
As an online program, we recognize the importance of fostering meaningful connections with our students. That's why we are excited to host an annual in-person retreat on the Ball State campus, exclusively for our EdD students. While this annual summer retreat is not mandatory, attending the retreat helps doctoral students to build relationships with their peers and faculty in the program beyond the small boxes of Zoom. Our summer retreat provides our new and current students with opportunities to:
- Build relationships with their peers and faculty beyond virtual platforms
- Gain a deeper understanding of the campus community and feel a physical presence in the program.
- Share experiences, insights, and goals with fellow students, alumni, and faculty, fostering a sense of belonging and support.
- Prioritize your personal wellness and academic success alongside like-minded individuals.
More about Online Learning
Ready to Apply?
Review our admission requirements, dates and deadlines, and instructions. Then complete our online application.
Apply Now
For International Students
Before applying, contact Dr. Somanita Kheang and Dr. Bo Chang to learn about customizing a degree plan that works for international students.
Ball State is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to accept online students from all U.S. states. However, if you are considering a program that leads to professional licensure, some states may have additional regulations. Review our state authorization website if you live outside of Indiana and contact us if you have questions.
More Information
Do you want to learn more about our program or have questions about the application process or financial aid? We’re here to help! You may either request more information by completing our simple online form, or you may contact program co-directors Dr. Bo Chang at bchang@bsu.edu and Dr. Somanita Kheang at somanita.kheang@bsu.edu.