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College of Education & Human Development Work, Community and Family Education Adult Education

Work and Human Resource Education
330 Wulling Hall - 86 Pleasant Street SE - Minneapolis, MN 55455
Tel: 612-624-1221 -  Email: whre@umn.edu
New Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development
Effective July 1, 2009, a new department has been created that integrates the business and marketing education, human resource development and adult education, and comprehensive WHRE programs from the Department of Work and Human Resource Education (WHRE) into the department formerly known as Educational Policy and Administration (EdPA). The name of this new department is Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development (OLPD). It will offer exciting opportunities for collaboration and interdisciplinary education and research. Click here for details.

 

Adult Basic Education Licensure (ABE)

The adult basic literacy license is a teaching license that will allow you to teach adults in public school community education programs. A 24-semester credit teaching license is available for those who wish to teach adult literacy but do not have an elementary or secondary teaching license. All coursework may be applicable to each of the graduate degrees in adult education. Also available is a 12-semester credit endorsement option for licensed teachers.

There are currently three routes for becoming licensed to teach adults.

  • For teachers with a valid teaching license, some districts require no other qualification.
  • For teachers with a valid teaching license, a 12-semester credit additional licensure is available in ABE. Many of the larger metro-area districts do require either endorsement or the ABE license.
  • For those without a valid teaching license a 24-semester credit licensure option has been approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching since 1992.

Frequently asked questions

English as a Second Language (ESL)
As of the 1999 legislative session, a person with a degree in English as a Second Language (ESL) can teach in adult ESL programs but they will not be licensed. If you want an M.A. in ESL and also want to get the ABE license, this option is available. An M.A. in ESL is available through the Program in Second Language Studies.

 

Additional Licensure Requirements for Current K12 Teachers

Adult Education (minimum of 3 credits)

  • AdEd 5101—Strategies for Teaching Adults (3 cr)
  • AdEd 5102—Perspectives of Adult Learning and Development (3 cr)
  • EPsy 5434—Counseling Adults in Transition (3 cr)

Literacy (minimum of 6 credits)

  • AdEd 5201—Introduction to Adult Literacy (3 cr)
    OR
    AdEd 5211—Introduction to Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
       AND AdEd 5212—Introduction to Adult Literacy in the Workplace (1 cr online course)
       AND AdEd 5213—Introduction to Adult Literacy in the Community (1 cr online course)
  • AdEd 5202—Assessment of Adult Literacy (3 cr)
    OR
    AdEd 5224—Assessment of Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
       AND AdEd 5225—Informal Assessment of Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
       AND AdEd 5226—Advanced Assessment of Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
  • AdEd 5203—Methods of Teaching Adult Literacy (3 cr)
    OR
    AdEd 5233—Methods of Teaching Beginning Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
       AND AdEd 5234—Methods of Teaching Intermediate Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
       AND AdEd 5235—Methods of Teaching Advanced Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
  • Description of the adult literacy course sequence

Field Experience

Substitute or Optional ESL Courses

  • Ling 5932—Topics in the Structure of Modern English (3 cr)
  • TESL 5721—Methods in Teaching English as a Second Language (3 cr)
  • TESL 5805— Basics of Second Language Acquisition for Teachers (3 cr)
  • TESL 8751—Genre Analysis for Second Language Learning (3 cr)

Requirements for Students With No Teaching License

Adult Education (minimum of 12 credits)

  • WHRE 5001—Survey: Human Resource Development and Adult Education (3 cr)
  • AdEd 5101—Strategies for Teaching Adults (3 cr)
  • AdEd 5102—Perspectives of Adult Learning and Development (3 cr)
  • AdEd 5103—Designing the Adult Education Program (3 cr)
  • Course in comparative and international development education selected in consultation with adviser (offered through the Department of Educational Policy and Administration (EDPA))

Literacy (minimum of 6 credits)

  • AdEd 5201—Introduction to Adult Literacy (3 cr)
    OR
    AdEd 5211—Introduction to Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
       AND AdEd 5212—Introduction to Adult Literacy in the Workplace (1 cr online course)
       AND AdEd 5213—Introduction to Adult Literacy in the Community (1 cr online course)
  • AdEd 5202—Assessment of Adult Literacy (3 cr)
    OR
    AdEd 5224—Assessment of Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
       AND AdEd 5225—Informal Assessment of Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
       AND AdEd 5226—Advanced Assessment of Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
  • AdEd 5203—Methods of Teaching Adult Literacy (3 cr)
    OR
    AdEd 5233—Methods of Teaching Beginning Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
       AND AdEd 5234—Methods of Teaching Intermediate Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
       AND AdEd 5235—Methods of Teaching Advanced Adult Literacy (1 cr online course)
  • Description of the adult literacy course sequence

Other Education (minimum of 2 credits)

  • Course in adult counseling (select with adviser)

Field Experience (6 credits)

  • Observing in multicultural settings, 3 cr.
  • Teaching adults if less than 180 hours teaching experience with adults, 3 cr.

State Department of Education Requirements

  • Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST-Booklet available from Student Services)
  • Human relations course (2-6 credits)
    EPsy 5135—Human Relations Workshop (4 cr) or a course approved by the Minnesota Department of Education
  • Drug and alcohol education
    PubH 3003 or 6003—Fundamentals of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (2 cr/1 cr)

Substitute or Optional ESL Courses

  • Ling 5932—Topics in the Structure of Modern English (3 cr)
  • TESL 5721—Methods in Teaching English as a Second Language (3 cr)
  • TESL 5805— Basics of Second Language Acquisition for Teachers (3 cr)
  • TESL 8751—Genre Analysis for Second Language Learning (3 cr)
  • Revised October 2009

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Last modified on October 02, 2009