Ed.S. in Educational Leadership – Adult Education
Create Effective Learning Environments for Adults
Lifelong learning should be something we all commit to. In fact, there is an in-demand need for adult education in a variety of settings. If you see yourself developing and delivering instruction that impacts adult learners, then this concentration is for you. Regent’s Education Specialist in Educational Leadership – Adult Education prepares you for a career in adult education and leadership. As an organizational decision maker, you will gain the knowledge and skills to design, implement and evaluate professional development programs for adult populations.
INCREASE YOUR INFLUENCE & SALARY
Advance in leadership roles and earn a higher salary.
WIDEN YOUR JOB PROSPECTS
Enjoy rewarding opportunities in schools and communities.
MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE
Create engaging education environments that foster adult learning.
ALIGN YOURSELF WITH EXCELLENCE
Regent has been ranked among top national universities by the U.S. News & World Report for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020). Our programs have also been ranked by it among the Top 5 Online Graduate Education Programs in Virginia for seven years in a row. Experience the Regent difference through the Ed.S. in Educational Leadership – Adult Education program.
Presented from a Christian worldview, this specialty degree is supported by award-winning faculty in Virginia Beach.
Upon completion of this Ed.S. concentration, the graduate will be able to:
- Assess the educational needs of adult learners.
- Supervise, design curriculum and evaluate learning for adults.
- Gain essential skills in leadership, organization and administration.
Career Opportunities
- Adult Education Teacher/Professor
- Adult Education Administrator
- Adult Education Consultant
- Adult Education
- Advanced Educational Leadership
- Character Education
- Christian Education Leadership
- Curriculum & Instruction
- Educational Psychology
- Educational Technology & Online Learning
- Exceptional Education Executive Leadership
- Higher Education
- Higher Education Leadership & Management
- K-12 School Leadership
- Special Education
2020-2021 Semester Check-In Deadlines:
All new students are expected to check-in for the semester 2 weeks prior to the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.
| Session | Semester Check-In | Session Start Date |
| Session A | Friday, August 14 | Monday, August 24 |
| Session M | Friday, September 11 | Monday, September 21 |
| Session B | Friday, October 16 | Monday, October 26 |
| Session C | Tuesday, January 5 | Monday, January 11 |
| Session T | Friday, January 29 | Monday, February 8 |
| Session D | Friday, March 5 | Monday, March 15 |
| Session E | Friday, April 30 | Monday, May 10 |
| Session F | Friday, June 11 | Monday, June 21 |
Application Process – Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)
Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.
Step 1: Application & Application Fee
Submit your application using our Regent University Online Application.
Pay the $50 nonrefundable application fee by check or money order mailed to Regent University, Enrollment Support Services, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464.
Fee Waiver: Attend a graduate School of Education on-campus or online information session to learn how to streamline your application process, discover financial aid resources and waive your $50 application fee.
Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.
Step 2: Submit your Unofficial College Transcripts
We are able to examine and view your unofficial transcripts from U.S.-based schools, which indicate successful completion of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, in order to review your application for an admissions decision. Please submit your unofficial transcript to our Admissions Office by email to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: SOE Specialist Application Pieces.
Non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by an NACES-approved company. For further details, please review the International Admissions Checklist on the International Students Admissions page.
International Applicants: Please visit the International Students Admissions page for a more detailed explanation of the Regent University application information and to determine whether or not you qualify as an international student.
*Upon conditional acceptance to the program by review of unofficial transcripts, Regent University’s Admissions Office will attempt to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institutions, which indicate successful completion of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. We will notify you if your previous institutions will not release transcripts directly to us.
Step 3: Complete Your Admissions Questionnaire
Please complete a brief admissions questionnaire based on your professional goals and interests. This should only take a few minutes to complete, but please answer the questions completely and thoughtfully. This gives us a better opportunity to get to know you and align your objectives with our programs. The admissions questionnaire can be found here. Once completed, it will be sent directly to an admissions counselor who will be in touch with you right away to help complete the rest of your application.
Step 4: Government-Issued ID
To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please email a scanned copy or photograph of it to apply@regent.edu with the subject line: Government ID.
Step 5: Admissions Interview
If an interview is necessary, the admissions office will contact you to schedule an appointment. The interview can be conducted on campus or over the phone and typically takes about an hour.
Important Information
Background Check: Students in endorsement programs are required to complete a background check because the program includes direct contact with students in field experiences. Regent University School of Education has entered into an agreement with Certified Background/Castle Branch (CB), a private vendor that conducts background checks for many universities and educational institutions. After you are admitted into the program, you will be provided instructions to set up an online profile with Certified Background and request your background check. Learn more.
2019-20 Tuition Rates
| Degree Level / Program | Cost Per Credit Hour |
|---|---|
Ed.S., Ed.D., & Ph.D. | $775 per credit (In-state & Out-of-state) |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $550 |
| Library Orientation | $50 (one-time fee) |
| Blackboard Orientation | $50 (one-time fee) |
2020-21 Tuition Rates
| Degree Level / Program | Cost Per Credit Hour |
|---|---|
Ed.S., Ed.D., & Ph.D. | $775 per credit (In-state & Out-of-state) |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $600 |
| Library Orientation | $50 (one-time fee) |
| Blackboard Orientation | $50 (one-time fee) |
*Rates are subject to change at any time.
Estimated Cost of Attendance: View the estimated cost of attendance to see an example of the total cost of tuition and fees.
Faculty
Dr. Finn is the concentration chair for Adult Education and is committed to your success.
Dr. Don Finn has been a faculty member since 2006 and served as the School of Education Dean from July 2015-2018. Specializing in Adult Education, he has been an educator for over 25 years and possesses a current Virginia Postgraduate Professional teaching license in secondary education.
Dr. Finn earned his B.S. in Secondary Education, Social Sciences concentration and his M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction with an Adult Education concentration from Radford University. He taught 7th through 12th grade social studies and in the adult night high school program in Montgomery County, Virginia. In 1999, he accepted a position to provide statewide leadership through the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center located at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). While at the VCU School of Education, he served as a collateral faculty member, a grant and project coordinator and instructor. He earned his Ph.D. in Adult Education and Organizational Learning from VCU in 2005.
His service has included leadership at the state and national levels as president of the Virginia Association for Adult & Continuing Education (VAACE) and various appointed roles, and as an elected executive board member for the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE). His COABE service includes: Secretary, Region 2 representative (2013-2015), national conference chairman (2012, 2015, 2018), conference program chairman (2016 & 2017), and President-Elect (2017-2019). He has been a textbook consultant, an article reviewer for select journals, and a consultant to adult education programs in Virginia and other states.
Finn has served on various Regent University committees including chairing the university Curriculum and Instruction Review Committee (CIRC), faculty senator, chairman of the School of Education Doctoral program and the Masters of Curriculum & Instruction (M.Ed.) program. He was named the School of Education Outstanding Faculty Member in 2010, VAACE Outstanding Adult Education Leader in 2013 and received the 2014 VAACE President’s Award for outstanding service.
Finn has authored and co-authored numerous articles and book chapters about effective instructional practices for adult learners, university professors and other diverse learners.