Adult Learning and Development (ALD) Certificate Program

Program Overview

The Adult Learning and Development (ALD) Certificate Program is designed to provide present and future adult educators with the theories, competencies, and knowledge necessary to plan, teach, and administer programs for a diverse population of adult learners in a variety of settings. The ALD Certificate Program provides an avenue for meeting the continuing education requirements of professional adult educators. Additionally, this program presents a challenging, relevant course of study for adult educators who desire further education but not necessarily a degree.

Any student who qualifies for regular admission to the College of Graduate Studies may be admitted to the certificate program. Students may complete the ALD Certificate as part of their graduate degree program or on a non-degree basis. Certificate program students' advisor is the ALD program coordinator. Students who wish to apply credits earned for the ALD Certificate toward a graduate degree must follow the admission requirements outlined in the Cleveland State University Graduate Bulletin and seek admission as a degree-seeking graduate student.

Classes are available both in person and online. Learn about our online certificate program. »
 

Admission Requirements

Bachelor's Degree

GRE Requirement: Not Required.
 

Faculty Research

Faculty research interests reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the field. Recent work includes a number of books and book chapters, articles in professional journals, and presentations at professional meetings. Faculty members belong to associated professional organizations, such as the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, the Ohio Association for Adult and Continuing Education, the Commission of Professors of Adult Education, the American Educational Research Association, the American Association for Higher Education, and the American Society for Training and Development.
 

Career Information

Learning is a lifelong process. Today's rapidly changing world requires adults to learn new ways of doing their jobs and prepare for career changes. This has resulted in a demand for qualified adult educators to assist adult learners as they cope with the effects of ever-changing technologies, organizational development, and new career requirements. Adult educators work in a variety of settings, such as Adult Basic Education (ABE) or General Educational Development (GED) programs; two-and four-year colleges, universities, and technical institutions; ESL and literacy programs; continuing education, training, and development programs in human resource development departments in business and industry; cooperative extension services; health care organizations; social service agencies; continuing professional development; and community development. This list reflects the growth of the adult education field. The need for well-prepared professional adult educators to help adults learn is crucial to businesses, agencies, and institutions.
 

Degree Completion Requirements

The certificate program requires a total of eighteen credit hours: a fifteen-credit core of required courses and three credits of elective course work chosen by the student with approval from program faculty.
 

Core Courses

• ALD 605 - Adult Learning & Development Theories and Practice
• ALD 607 - Adult Education in a Changing Society
• ALD 645 - Organizational Learning and Change
• ALD 663 - Planning Programs for Adult Learners

Elective

Course work chosen by the student with faculty approval (3 credits).
 

Contact Us

For more information about our programs contact Dr. Rachel Wlodarsky, Associate Professor and APHE Program Coordinator, at r.wlodarsky@csuohio.edu or (216) 687-5424.