Department Name

Degree Requirements: Master of Education

The M.A., Ed.M., and Ed.D. programs in Adult Learning and Leadership are structured around core courses, a core research sequence, concentration courses, and electives. A culminating project is required at all times. At the M.A. level, the project is usually an application of what has been learned to real world problems or concerns. The Ed.M. project and the Ed.D. dissertation are research-focused.

Required core courses can be selected in the areas of leadership, strategy and management, adult learning, human resource development, group dynamics, organizational behavior, and technology for learning or management. At least one course is to be taken (or in some cases, transferred from prior accredited graduate study) in each of these seven areas no matter what the degree level. Many courses are offered by the Program or the Depart-ment; other courses can be taken elsewhere in Teachers College or Columbia University.

Required Core Courses  (21-30 points)

Leadership (minimum of 3 points):

•  ORLD 4800   Workshop: Leadership and the biographical method (3)
•  ORLJ 5005   Leadership and supervision (3)
•  ORLD 5819   Workplace learning institute: Emotional intelligence workshop (3)

 Strategy and Management (minimum of 3 points):

•  ORLD 5054   Strategy development as a learning process in organizations (3)
•  ORLJ 4002   Functions of organizations (3)
•  ORLJ 5016   Topics: Advanced functions of organizations (3)
•  ORLA 5025  Ecology of data-driven leadership (3)
•  ORLA 5541   Federal politics, federal policies, and administrators (3)

 Adult Learning (minimum of 3 points):

•  ORLD 4800   Workshop: Community building (1)
•  ORLD 4053   Facilitating adult learning (3)

Human Resource Development (minimum of 3 points):

•  ORLD 5055   Staff development and training (3)
•  ORLD 5062   Human resource development in organizations (3)
•  ORLJ 5003   Human resource management (3)
•  ORLJ 5310   Preparation for coaching (3) 

 Group Dynamics (minimum of 3 points):

•  ORLD 5819   Workshop learning institute:      Group coaching workshop (3)
•  ORL 5362    Group dynamics: A systems perspective (3)
•  ORLJ 5017   Small group intervention: Theory and method (3)

 Organizational Behavior (minimum of 3 points):

•  ORLJ 4005 Organizational psychology (3)       (Note: This is a prerequisite for many ORLJ courses)
•  ORLJ 5045 Organizational dynamics and theory (3)
•  ORLJ 5106 Psychological aspects of organizations (3)
•  ORLD 5819   Workplace learning institute: Social intelligence workshop (3)

Technology (minimum of 3 points):

•  MSTU 4020   Social and communicative aspects of the internet (3)
•  MSTU 4022      Telecommuni-cations and distance learning (3)
•  MSTU 4083   Instructional design of educational technology (3)
•  A&HF 4089   Aesthetics of technology (3)

Required Core Research Sequence (3-18 points)

M.A. (minimum 3 points):

•  ORL 5521    Introduction to research methods in education (3) or
•  ORLJ 4009 Understanding behavioral research (3)

Ed.M. (minimum 6 points):

Ed.D. (minimum 18 points):

At the Ed.D. level, coursework must include a research design course, a data collection course (either qualitative or quantitative), a data analysis course (either qualitative or quantitative), and a dissertation seminar. These courses include, but are not limited to, those listed below. Ed.D. candidates must take ORLD 7500 (1 point) in the semester in which they defend their proposals. Ed.D. candidates must also enroll in ORLD 8900 (or 3 point Teachers College course) during fall and spring semester, after passing the certification examination. 

•  HUDM 4120   Basic concepts in statistics (3)
•  HUDM 4122   Probability and statistical inference (3)
•  ORLD 4800   Workshop: Critical literature reviews (2)
•  ORLD 5550   Research on organizational learning (3)
•  ORL 6500    Qualitative research methods in organizations: Design and data collection (3)
•  ORL 6501    Qualitative research methods in organizations: Data analysis and reporting (3)
•  ORLD 7500   Dissertation seminar in adult education (1)
•  ORLD 7900   Directed dissertation research (3)

Contextual Concentration Specific Course Requirements (15-18 points)

Adult Development Theory and Applications (minimum of 3 points):

•  ORLD 4051   How adults learn (3)
•  ORLD 5819   Workplace learning institute: Cultural intelligence workshop (3)
•  HUDF 4028   Sociology of the life course (3)
•  HUDK 5023   Cognitive development (3)
•  HUDK 5027   Moral development (3)
•  HUDK 5125   Cross-cultural developmental psychology (3)
•  ORLH 5525   Advanced professional seminar: College student development theories (3)

Adult Learning Theory and Applications (minimum of 3 points):

•  ORLD 4050   Introduction to adult and continuing education (3)
•  ORLD 4815   Developing critical thinkers (1)
•  ORLD 4827   Fostering transformative learning (2-3)
•  ORLD 4828   Imagination, authenticity, and individuation in transformative learning (2-3)
•  ORLD 4850   Discussion as a way of teaching (1)
•  ORLD 5057   Adult learning and education: Theory and practice (3)
•  ORLD 5815   Critical theory and adult learning (1)

Systems Learning Theory and Applications (minimum of 3 points):

•  ORLD 5061   The learning organization (3)
•  ORLD 5550   Research on organizational learning (3)
•  ORLA 4049   Creating learning communities (3)

Program Development and Management (minimum of 3 points):

•  ORLD 4052   Program development: Assessing learning needs and evaluating outcomes (3)
•  ORLD 5053   Developing and managing adult learning programs (3)

Conflict Resolution (minimum of 3 points):

•  ORLJ 5148   Managing conflict in organizations (3)
•  ORLJ 5340   Basic practicum in conflict resolution (3)
•  ORLJ 6040 Fundamentals of cooperation, conflict resolution, and mediation in different institutional contexts (3)
•  ORLJ 6350   Advanced practicum in conflict resolution (3)

Elective Courses

Electives include, but may not be limited to, courses in conflict resolution, policy and evaluation, technology for learning, and management/ information systems. These are tailored to the student’s career goals, and can be taken in the Department or elsewhere in Teachers College or Columbia University. Electives can include transfer courses. Students are required to take a minimum of 3 breadth courses at Teachers College (2-3 points each totaling at least 6 points) outside of our immediate program area to satisfy the Teachers College breadth requirement.

A culminating integrative project for the M.A. is required. For the Ed.M., the culminating project must be a research study. For the Ed.D., a dissertation is required. Guidelines for the integrative project are available in the program office located in Room 201 Zankel Building. Students should meet with their advisor the semester before they plan on graduating, to review the guidelines. Students in the Ed.D. program are required to pass a certification examination and to write a qualifying paper  and successfully defend a dissertation. Details of the program are available in CD and hard copy format as an advisement guide.