51ÎÛÂþ

Adult Education

Bachelor of Arts (Adult Education) degree

The Bachelor of Arts in Adult Education degree is a unique mid-career professional development program for people who are instructing, administering, developing programs for, or providing educational support to adult learners. The program is equivalent to a four-year degree, with the option of full-time or part-time study. Most students enroll on a part-time basis, taking one or two courses per semester. This program offers students the opportunity to link both practical and theoretical course work to the challenges they meet in their work setting while enhancing their knowledge, skills, and appreciation of the field of adult education.

Entrance requirements

To be eligible for admission to the BA in Adult Education, you must have acquired a field of expertise equivalent to three years full-time practice in any of the following areas:

• Teaching adults
• Development of educational programs for adults
• Administration of education programs for adults
• Counselling/advising adults
• Providing educational support services to adult learners
• Any other area related to the practice of adult education.

The field of expertise may have been acquired through a combination of previous training and education, and/or related experience.

Applicants must satisfy English language policy. For details on how this requirement may be met, see .

Students who do not meet these requirements might consider the Adult Education Studies program path.

When to apply

Applications are accepted for entrance to the Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters. For application deadlines, see Specific intake application process.

How to apply

1. Submit the application fee along with your 51ÎÛÂþ application for admission form to the Admissions and Records (A&R) office. Application forms are available from any A&R or Student Services office, or directly from the Adult Education department office in Abbotsford. You can also print an application form from our website at , or you can apply directly through the internet at . 

Along with the application form and the application fee, also attach the following documents:
 a. Completed questionnaire outlining work experience, prior training and education, and learning goals.
 b. Resume

Note: Contact the program advisor or program website for dates of upcoming information sessions.

2. You will be advised of an admission decision. Following notification of admission to the program, students should contact the program advisor for help with program planning and course selection.

Note: Official transcripts from post-secondary institutions you have attended are not required in order for you to be admitted to the BA in Adult Education program. However, prompt submission of your transcripts will speed up the process of determining your transferable credits. This in turn will facilitate planning the remainder of your degree program.

Basis for admission decision

Applicants who meet the entrance requirements will be admitted in order of their application date. This date is set when an application, all required documentation, and the application fee have been submitted.

Program planning

Obtain official transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended, and proof of any previously earned trades qualifications, certificates, or diplomas. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to UFV from the originating institution; see the Transfer Credit section for details. Submit all other official documents directly to the 51ÎÛÂþ Admission and Records office. These documents are required to determine the credit that will be awarded toward the degree and to assist in planning your program of study.

Program length and locations

The length of time required for completion of the program depends on the number of courses taken per semester and the number of prior learning credits accepted.

Courses are offered on the Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Mission campuses, and may be offered online, in a face-to-face format, or a combination of online/face-to-face. All courses may require students to have computer access to the internet for purposes of using online, full-text materials.

Program requirements

The BA (Adult Education) program requires completion of 120 credits with a minimum grade point average of 2.0. A minimum of 30 credits must be from 51ÎÛÂþ credit offerings. At least 45 credits must be from upper-level courses.

Program elements

A. All of:

B. A minimum of 15 upper-level credits in Adult Education, any or all of which may be selected from:

Note: Some examples of ADED 330 topics are:
• ADED 330C: Education for Health
• ADED 330F: Workplace Learning
• ADED 330I: Adult Literacy Education
• ADED 330M: Portfolio Development for the Reflective Practitioner
• ADED 330N: Assessing Adult Learning

C. Any two of:

D. A minimum of nine credits in:

This requirement can be satisfied in many ways. One option is to complete all of ADED 330M, ADED 330N, and ADED 345/CMNS 345.

E. A minimum of six credits in English

F. A minimum of 15 credits of:

G. Other electives: (see Note 2)

Note 1: It is highly recommended that BA Adult Education students take these courses early in their program.

Note 2: One of ADED 200 (Portfolio Development for Prior Learning Assessment) or ADED 330M (Portfolio Development for the Reflective Practitioner) is recommended for students who will be requesting credit for learning documented in a portfolio.

Workload and expectations

Course-related work in the program combines theory and practice. Use of the library between class meetings is expected. We encourage program participants to develop good writing and critical thinking skills. As a general guide for determining the number of courses undertaken at one time, you should expect to spend at least three hours outside of class for each hour in class, in addition to any necessary travel time. Participants who have family and/or employment responsibilities should give careful thought to the number of courses in which they register at a given time.

Increasingly course participation involves students needing to have ready access to the Internet for both email and web access. Many courses now supplement traditional paper text with materials available only online.

Prior Learning Assessment and recognition and transfer credit

Within the terms and conditions of program completion outlined above, any or all of the following types of credit (to a maximum of 90 credits in total) may be used in attaining credit to be used towards the BA in Adult Education.

1. Transfer Credit: Up to 90 credits are available through evaluation of previous studies.

2. Portfolio Assessment: A maximum of 30 credits can be obtained through portfolio assessment. The portfolio is prepared normally as part of a 51ÎÛÂþ credit course (ADED 200 or ADED 330M). Credits awarded through portfolio assessment will not necessarily be transferable to other degree programs or institutions.

3. Course Challenge: these are credits which are awarded through a specifically arranged process, by which a student demonstrates mastery of course objectives without taking the course. Regulations related to course challenge are outlined in the PLAR section of this calendar.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.