Master of Education in Adult and Continuing Education (M.Ed)

National Louis University’s Master of Education in Adult and Continuing Education prepares professionals to work with adults in a university, workplace or community-based setting. When paired with graduate study in a specific discipline, this may prepare professionals to teach in higher education.

Consider getting your Master of Education in Adult and Continuing Education at National Louis University (NLU) if you:

  • Are an educator, facilitator, or leader in a post-secondary institution, business, non-profit or government agency or community-based organization
  • Want to learn more about theory and strategies for teaching
  • Have an interest in how to utilize technology to enhance reading and writing
  • Would like to participate in independent research within the field
  • Are looking for an 18 month program to complete your degree

Why NLU for Adult and Continuing Education

NLU has a long-standing reputation for its education and administrator training programs, and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Since 1886, we've trained thousands of Chicago-area teachers, and continue to graduate the majority of Illinois' Golden Apple Award winners — one of the most prestigious teacher honors in the state. Our faculty brings a wealth of practical experience and academic knowledge to the classroom, and our students are highly qualified — creating a unique depth to NLU's Master of Education programs.

The department offers an 18 month program that is provided in two formats — online and blended (a certain number of face-to-face classes are required). At the conclusion of the program, each cohort participates in an Integrative Seminar in which students utilize all the concepts they have learned to develop a portfolio, and complete an internship individualized for their interests.

What You Will Learn

  • How to design curricula to meet the needs of adult learners in a variety of educational settings
  • How to develop and manage programs, train faculty or tutors and provide consultation in a variety of educational settings
  • How to utilize technology in the education of adults
  • How to encourage both collaborative and independent study among students
  • How to apply research design and methodology to adult education issues

Career Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of post-secondary teachers is expected to grow by 15 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Projected growth will be due primarily to increases in college and university enrollment, stemming mainly from the expected increase in the population of 18- to 24 year-olds, who constitute the majority of students at post-secondary institutions.

Adults returning to college to enhance their career prospects or update their skills will continue to create new opportunities for teachers to work with adults in a university, workplace or community-based setting, including nonprofit and for-profit institutions. Graduates also may be qualified for positions such as literacy/GED instructor, military instructor, community educator,trainer for corporate, health and social service professionals, learning center director, or student advisor or counselor.1

Admission Requirements

All applicants must meet NLU's general admission requirements. Refer to the appropriate application checklist.

Locations

  • CHICAGO DOWNTOWN CAMPUS

    NLU’s Chicago campus on South Michigan Avenue occupies five floors of the historic Peoples Gas Building. This landmark building, across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park, is easily accessible by train, bus and car and is surrounded by restaurants, parking lots/garages and shops.

    122 S. Michigan Avenue
    Chicago, IL 60603
    800.443.5522

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  • ELGIN

    Conveniently located in a fast-growing business district off I-90 and Route 31, NLU Elgin features 10 classrooms with high-tech media equipment; a computer lab with high-speed Internet access; two conference rooms; and comfortable student lounges. Parking is free at this recently remodeled and upgraded teaching site, which now includes wireless Internet access.

    620 Tollgate Road
    Elgin, IL 60123
    800.443.5522

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  • NORTH SHORE

    Opened in the summer of 2006, NLU North Shore at Skokie is a state-of-the-art modern campus located just off the Edens Expressway near the Old Orchard Shopping Center. The campus includes 44 wireless classrooms equipped with high-tech media equipment; four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, including a walk-in lab in the library; six conference rooms; a public café for beverages and snacks; a student welcome center; a library for research and study; and multiple, comfortable student lounge areas.

    5202 Old Orchard Road
    Skokie, IL 60077
    800.443.5522

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  • LISLE

    Located just minutes from the East-West Tollway (I-88), NLU Lisle features 42 wireless classrooms equipped with high-tech media equipment; four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, including a separate walk-in lab in the library; a café for beverages and snacks; a student welcome center; a library for research and study; conference rooms; and six comfortable student lounge areas with wireless access.

    850 Warrenville Road
    Lisle, IL 60532
    800.443.5522

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  • WHEELING

    Located in one of Chicago's major northwest suburbs, the newly renovated NLU Wheeling includes 20 classrooms with high-tech media equipment, four conference rooms, four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, large student lounge areas with wireless capabilities and interactive video capabilities, and an extensive research library. The site also houses the university library research collection.

    1000 Capitol Drive
    Wheeling, IL 60090
    800.443.5522

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  • FLORIDA (TAMPA)

    Established in 1988 and located in one of the city's major business districts, NLU's Tampa campus serves students in 13 counties in central Florida. In addition to six classrooms, the campus features a conference room, a computer lab with high-speed Internet access, an extensive research library and comfortable student lounges.

    4950 West Kennedy Blvd. #300
    Tampa, FL 33609
    800.366.6581 | www.nl.edu/florida

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  • WISCONSIN

    NLU's Milwaukee campus has a proud history of serving graduate students in education in southeastern Wisconsin. Nearly one in five certified Wisconsin teachers looks to NLU for graduate education programs – more than any other university in the state. In addition to classrooms with high-tech media equipment, the campus offers a state-of-the-art computer lab with wireless Internet access and an extensive IDS research library.

    12000 West Park Place, Suite 100
    Milwaukee, WI 53224-3007
    414.577.2658

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