The Design of a Doctoral Degree Program in Adult Education Based on the Expressed Adult Education Needs of Professional Practitioners.

Overview & Synopsis

The purpose of this investigation was to design a program of studies leading to the doctor's degree in adult education based on the expressed educational needs of professional adult educators in the field. The data provided by 90 respondents were analyzed to determine the reliability of, or extent of agreement among, the respondents' ratings of 60 subject-matter areas presented in a questionnaire. The following were among the subject areas recommended for the program of studies: (1) core curriculum (history and philosophy of adult education, designing and evaluating adult education programs, psychology of adult education, sociology of adult education, social change, special problems in adult education); (2) general studies (organization and administration of adult agencies, methods and media in adult education, educational psychology, general survey, cultural change, fundamental research techniques, utilization and evaluation of audio-visual aids, interpreting educational research, social psychology); (3) administration (public relations, personnel administration, internship in adult education, budget development and control in education, public speaking); (4) teaching (contemporary educational trends); and (5) research (statistical methods, research design). (Author/NL)