Adult and Higher Education
Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education (AHE)

Linking Theory to Practice, Policies, Research and Evaluation!
This master's degree program is designed for working adults. Our part-time program is rigorous, satisfying, and valuable for professional development. And it is flexible to fit the lives and aspirations of adults. If you are a Washington State employee, you may be able to use a tuition waiver in the AHE program for 48 of the 52 program credits. In our program we engage you in the big picture of adult and higher education--we link learning theories not only to real-life practice and situations but also to policies, research and evaluation. In AHE we value Accessibility, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ADEI) practices, policies and advocacy, which are core to our Learning Outcomes & Objectives. Our approach begins with our student community.
We will engage you in:
- Cultural competence to deal with Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in the workplace, society, and in the field of Adult & Higher Education
- Inquiry-based learning (i.e., action research) for the new workplace emphasizing team-based projects and problem-solving
- Shared leadership to understand organizational development and power with social justice aims
- Thematic based coursework that focuses on timely topics and issues in adult and higher education and learning
- Developing educational ‘capital’ that includes academic literacy, critical literacy, digital literacy, and information literacy
Advance Your Academic and Professional Career!
Students in our program work (or aim to work) in a variety of professions and settings including:
- community colleges and universities
- public safety and health care organizations
- corporations and industry
- non-profits and non-governmental organizations
- community and human service settings
Hybrid Learning Course Delivery Combines Online and Face-to-Face Courses
The AHE program courses are NOT available as total distance education delivery. Each course is conveniently offered in a hybrid learning format using a combination of online sessions with 2 mandatory face-to-face residential sessions held on the WWU campus in Bellingham, WA. The face-to-face sessions are held on two Saturdays at the beginning and end of each quarter with the remainder of the 10-week course occurring online. This rotating schedule combining in person with synchronous and asynchronous online learning, helps students to balance their studies with work, family and community obligations. Find out more about our part-time program using the navigation bar on the left.
We Serve Washington Residents From Lewis County to Whatcom County
Our students and alumni come from the Seattle/Tacoma vicinity to north of Bellingham, which supports a diverse student population. With the 2 face-to-face residential sessions each quarter on Saturdays, our geographic reach is expanding to Central and Eastern Washington.
This Masters of Education is designed as a part-time program for working adults who desire to teach, consult, or administer education programs, materials and policies targeted to diverse adult populations. Graduates will work in settings such as community/technical colleges, universities, government agencies, non-profit organizations and business and industry.