Skip navigation
A professor teaching a class: Pursue an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership - Adult Education at Regent University.

Ed.S. in Educational Leadership – Adult Education

Create Effective Learning Environments for Adults

Lifelong learning should be something we all commit to. In fact, there is an in-demand need for adult education in a variety of settings. If you see yourself developing and delivering instruction that impacts adult learners, then this concentration is for you. Regent’s Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership – Adult Education can prepare you for a career in adult education and leadership. As an organizational decision maker, you can gain the knowledge and skills to design, implement and evaluate professional development programs for adult populations.

Online
31
May 6, 2024
Download PDF

INCREASE YOUR INFLUENCE & SALARY

Advance in leadership roles and earn a higher salary.

WIDEN YOUR JOB PROSPECTS

Enjoy rewarding opportunities in schools and communities.

MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN ADULT EDUCATION

Create engaging education environments that foster adult learning.

ALIGN YOURSELF WITH EXCELLENCE

Regent has been ranked among Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report for four years (2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023). Our programs have also been ranked among the Top 10 Best Online Graduate Education Programs in Virginia for 11 years in a row (2013-2023). Experience the Regent difference through the Ed.S. in Educational Leadership – Adult Education program.

Presented from a Christian worldview, this specialty degree is supported by award-winning faculty in Virginia Beach.

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

On completing this Ed.S. concentration, the graduate can:

  • Assess the educational needs of adult learners.
  • Supervise, design curriculum, and evaluate learning for adults.
  • Gain essential skills in leadership, organization, and administration.

Career Opportunities

  • Adult Education Teacher/Professor
  • Adult Education Administrator
  • Adult Education Consultant
11 Higher Ed Administrators
Examines strategic planning and the role of program evaluation in the planning-implementation-evaluation cycle to include the curriculum planning process. Topics include various theoretical and philosophical perspectives, alternative evaluation designs and related methodologies including collaborative action research and issues related to design, measurement and utilization. The goal is to help educators become active collaborators in the evaluation process and to give them the tools to judge the value of an evaluation. Whether the task is designing an internal evaluation of a local program, contracting for an external evaluation at the district level, or critically reviewing an evaluation report as a basis for making an administrative decision, this course offers important leadership preparation. Each student will prepare an evaluability assessment related to a self-selected educational program in his/her area of concentration. Prerequisite: a graduate level research course.
Provides an overview of the major theorists associated with adult learning based on historical and philosophical perspectives. This course will review and evaluate theory and research that make adult education a distinctive field of philosophy and practice.
Current trends, issues, and global perspectives that impact adult learners.
Basic principles of supervision to insure continuous and effective professional development for adult learners.
Major theories in developmental psychology using select criteria including a Christian worldview.
Examine current trends and issues surrounding the development and administration of programs for adults including environment, social, political, cultural, and demographic variables along with organizational and institutional roles and differences.

2023-24 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

SessionSemester Check-InSession Start Date
Session AFriday, August 11Monday, August 21
Session MFriday, September 8Monday, September 18
Session BFriday, October 13Monday, October 23
Session CThursday, January 4Monday, January 8
Session TFriday, January 26Monday, February 5
Session DFriday, March 1Monday, March 11
Session EFriday, April 26Monday, May 6
Session FFriday, June 7Monday, June 17

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.


Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Part-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5656$3,390
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8006$4,800
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8003$2,400
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8003$2,400

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5659$5,085
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8009$7,200
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8006$4,800
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8006$4,800

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$850 (Fall & Spring)
$700 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

PART-TIME STUDENTS

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5656$3,390
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8006$4,800
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8003$2,400
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8003$2,400

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5659$5,085
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8009$7,200
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8006$4,800
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8006$4,800

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$800 (Fall & Spring)
$650 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$650

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Faculty

Dr. Finn is the concentration chair for Adult Education and is committed to your success.

Dr. Don Finn has been a faculty member since 2006 and served as the School of Education Dean from July 2015-2018. Specializing in Adult Education, he has been an educator for over 25 years and possesses a current Virginia Postgraduate Professional teaching license in secondary education.

Dr. Finn earned his B.S. in Secondary Education, Social Sciences concentration and his M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction with an Adult Education concentration from Radford University. He taught 7th through 12th grade social studies and in the adult night high school program in Montgomery County, Virginia. In 1999, he accepted a position to provide statewide leadership through the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center located at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). While at the VCU School of Education, he served as a collateral faculty member, a grant and project coordinator and instructor. He earned his Ph.D. in Adult Education and Organizational Learning from VCU in 2005.

His service has included leadership at the state and national levels as president of the Virginia Association for Adult & Continuing Education (VAACE) and various appointed roles, and as an elected executive board member for the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE). His COABE service includes: Secretary, Region 2 representative (2013-2015), national conference chairman (2012, 2015, 2018), conference program chairman (2016 & 2017), and President-Elect (2017-2019). He has been a textbook consultant, an article reviewer for select journals, and a consultant to adult education programs in Virginia and other states.

Finn has served on various Regent University committees including chairing the university Curriculum and Instruction Review Committee (CIRC), faculty senator, chairman of the School of Education Doctoral program and the Masters of Curriculum & Instruction (M.Ed.) program. He was named the School of Education Outstanding Faculty Member in 2010, VAACE Outstanding Adult Education Leader in 2013 and received the 2014 VAACE President’s Award for outstanding service.

Finn has authored and co-authored numerous articles and book chapters about effective instructional practices for adult learners, university professors and other diverse learners.

“Regent opened a door to self-discovery and selflessness. My Regent instructors encouraged me to operate on a higher level of motivation and others-oriented awareness.”

Sandra Turner, M.Ed., 2016 Professional Development

“My career has evolved over a short period of time because of my faith and the teacher preparation programs at Regent. The academic, spiritual and leadership guidance shared during my time at Regent gave me the foundation needed to excel in my field.”

Chonita Walker, M.Ed., 2011 Reading Specialist

“I was eager to fulfill a lifelong dream and make a career change to education. Regent's Career Switcher program allowed me to complete most of the training while still on active duty. I was hired immediately upon my retirement from the Air Force.”

Joe Sexton, M.Ed., 2012 Career Switcher

“I was equipped with the critical thinking skills I needed to strategically implement and assess fresh and creative ways to approach instruction and learning. I received consistent encouragement from my professors and cohort to push beyond my personal best in research and daily practice.”

Alicia Langley, M.Ed., 2012 TESOL

“The adult track of the TESOL program in Regent's School of Education prepared me to work with students on a beginning English level as well as students on the postgraduate level.”

Joyce Erber, M.Ed., 2009 TESOL