Adult Education

ufv.ca/adult-education

Bachelor of Arts (Adult Education) degree

The Bachelor of Arts (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 consists of 120 credits, which may be achieved through a combination of coursework, credit for prior experience, and transfer credit. Most students are part-time students, taking one or two courses per semester. The program offers students the opportunity to link 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

Option 1: University entrance (for students who have attended some post-secondary school)

1. Applicants must meet the Degree/diploma level English language proficiency requirement. For details on how this requirement may be met, see the English language proficiency requirement section of the calendar.
2. One of the following:
   • Completion of a minimum of nine credits in courses numbered at the 100 level and above, with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.67 (B- average) on all credits attempted;
   • Completion of a minimum of 30 credits in courses numbered at the 100 level and above, with a CGPA of 2.00 (C average) on all credits attempted; or
   • Completion of the Workplace Education associate certificate.

Option 2: Departmental discretionary admission

The Adult Education department will also consider applications from working professionals with at least three years of significant and relevant Adult Education or related experience, even though they may not possess the required GPA, course grades, or course currency necessary for entry into the degree program. The department will exercise its discretion in such cases and, where warranted, accept students on a conditional basis.

Students accepted to the program under this applicant category will be required by the department to support their application by submitting a résumé and/or letters of reference to the program advisor, as determined by the department.

Note: Applicants must meet the Degree/diploma level English language proficiency requirement. For details on how this requirement may be met, see the English language proficiency requirement section of the calendar.

If applicants are unsure if they meet the qualifications, they may contact the Adult Education Program Advisor. Students who do not meet these requirements might consider Qualifying Studies.

When to apply

Application dates for specific intake applications:

Semester	First day to apply	Recommended application deadline
Fall (September)	October 1	January 31
Winter (January)	May 1	August 31
Summer (May)	October 1	December 31

How to apply

1. Apply online at ufv.ca/admissions/apply.

   Additional documents required for a complete application:

   • Official transcripts (or interim transcripts) from all post-secondary institutions attended showing grade/course achievement as per program entrance requirements. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to UFV from the originating institution; see the Transfer Credit section for details. If post-secondary transcripts cannot be provided, evidence of compliance with the English language proficiency requirement must be provided.
2. Applicants will be advised of an admission decision and, if accepted, will be provided with registration information. A deposit is required prior to registration (see the Fees and Other Costs section) and will be applied toward tuition fees.
3. Following notification of admission to the program, students must contact the program advisor in order to create a program plan for their studies.

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

Students should contact the Adult Education Program Advisor for assistance with a program plan.

Program duration

The length of time required for program completion depends on the number of courses taken per semester, and the number of credits awarded through transfer credit or Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).

Location

All courses are offered online with some face-to-face sessions located on the Abbotsford campus. Distance students participate in these face-to-face sessions via video-conferencing technologies.

Workplace Education associate certificate

The four courses of the Workplace Education associate certificate are all required courses in the Bachelor of Arts (Adult Education) degree. Therefore, all students graduating with the degree automatically receive a Workplace Education associate certificate. Likewise, students who complete the Workplace Education associate certificate can use those courses towards the degree without having to transfer it in.

Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

Students can choose to combine the Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) certificate with the Bachelor of Arts (Adult Education) degree. This pathway recognizes TESL 433 (formerly TESL 333) as replacing ADED 472 and ADED 473 if and when all the other requirements for both the degree and the TESL certificate are met.

Contact the Adult Education Program Advisor for details.

Program outline

Lower-level requirements

A total of 60 credits as listed below:

Course	Title	Credits
ADED 210	Principles and Practice of Adult Education	3
or ADED 215	Foundations of e-Learning
Plus:	Six credits of ENGL and/or CMNS, 100-level or higher	6
Plus:	51 additional upper- or lower-level credits earned through coursework at UFV, transfer credits, or program-based PLAR (see Notes)	51

Note 1: Program-based PLAR is allowed to a maximum of 54 credits in total for the degree. Students applying for credit through program PLAR are also required to complete ADED 305.

Note 2: Students wishing to take courses at other institutions for credit in the BA (Adult Education) program must first obtain permission from the program advisor, and obtain Letters of Permission from UFV and from the other institution.

Upper-level requirements

A total of 60 credits as listed below:

Core courses

Course	Title	Credits
ADED 310	Fundamentals of Adult Education	3
ADED 320	Adult Learning	3
ADED 340	Program Planning and Evaluation	3
ADED 360	Adult Education in the Canada: History and Trends	3
ADED 390	Research in Adult Education	3
ADED 407	Organizational and Workplace Learning	3

Instructional design courses

Course	Title	Credits
ADED 325	Teaching Adults	3
ADED 408	Assessing Adult Learning	3
ADED 415	Facilitating e-Learning	3
ADED 425	Curriculum Design for Adult Learning	3
ADED 435	Facilitating Adult Learning	3

Diversity and social justice courses

Course	Title	Credits
Three of:		9
ADED 365	Adult Education in Canada: Indigenous Peoples
ADED 405	Diversity in Adult Education Contexts
ADED 410	Adult Education and Social Change
ADED 420	Adult Education in the Global Context

Capstone courses

Course	Title	Credits
Three of:		9
ADED 370	Directed Studies
ADED 470	Synthesis Project I
ADED 472	Reflective Practice (see Note)
ADED 473	Adult Education Practicum (see Note)

Note: TESL 433 (formerly TESL 333) can be used in place of ADED 472 and ADED 473 for students pursuing the TESL certificate.

Elective courses

Course	Title	Credits
Three of:		9
ADED 305	Portfolio Development for Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (see Note 1)
ADED 330	Special Topics in Adult Education
ADED 350	Storytelling and the Reflective Practitioner
ADED 380	Educational Technologies
ADED 421	Advanced Studies of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
ADED 422	Wellbeing and Lifelong Learning
ADED 423	Advanced Studies of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
ADED 430	Leadership in Adult Education
ADED 446	Community-based Adult Education Methods
ADED 471	Synthesis Project in Adult Education II
ADED 480	Seminar in Adult Education Issues
Non-ADED electives chosen in consultation with Adult Education Program Advisor

Note 1: ADED 305 is required for program-based PLAR.

Note 2: ADED courses not used in the Diversity and social justice section or the Capstone courses can also be used as electives.

Minors in other programs

Students can add any existing minors and extended minors in Arts, Science, or Professional Studies.

Note: This will require completion of more than 120 credits.

Program requirements

The BA (Adult Education) program requires the completion of 120 credits with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.00. At least 45 credits must be from upper-level courses.

Undergraduate continuance

Students enrolled in undergraduate courses (courses numbered 100 or above) must maintain an undergraduate Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 2.00 to remain enrolled in Good Academic Standing at UFV. Students in Good Academic Standing will have no registration limits placed on them. Failure to meet the minimum CGPA requirement will result in restrictions on registration and may eventually lead to academic suspension from undergraduate studies at UFV. Students on Academic Warning or Academic Probation are limited to registering in 10 credits. For further details, see the Academic standing and undergraduate continuance section of the academic calendar. Academic standing is governed by UFV’s Undergraduate Continuance policy (92).

Residency

Students must complete at least 30 of the credits required at UFV.

Graduation requirements

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all program requirements are met. This should be done by regular consultation with a Program Advisor. Degree candidates who qualify to receive a UFV degree must be approved by the Program Advisor and Senate.

Students must apply for graduation by completing the Graduation Request form available at ufv.ca/registrar/forms, or from the Office of the Registrar. This should be done in the first month of the final semester. The final deadline for students who wish to attend the June Convocation ceremony is April 1 of each year, with all program requirements completed by April 30.

Completed certificate programs, diplomas, vocational credits, and Red Seal may be accepted as part of the degree requirements subject to approval of the Office of the Registrar.

See the Graduation section of the calendar for more information.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.