Adult & Organizational Development (AOD) Masters in Education (Ed.M.)
The master's program prepares students for professional positions in the fields of adult learning and organizational development.
Temple's program supports professionals whose work focuses on facilitating developmental changes in individuals, teams and organizations.
Coursework draws from social science theory and research to develop students' diagnostic and intervention skills in the areas of adult learning, strategic communication, systems perspectives, group decision-making, team development, training design, conflict management and conflict intervention.
Classroom instruction and assignments draw heavily on students' professional experience and are aimed at developing applied intervention strategies that are useful in diverse workplace settings.
The program in Adult and Organizational Development encourages applications from students who work in a wide range of settings, including educational institutions, businesses, consulting agencies, healthcare institutions, governmental and community organizations, and non-profit groups.
All courses are taught in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate full-time working schedules.
Graduates of the program pursue careers in human resource management, training and adult development, organizational management, consulting, community organizing, conflict intervention and mediation.
Program Requirements
All Ed.M. degree candidates must complete a minimum of 36 graduate credits, including 12 credits of core courses, 15 credits of AOD electives, 6 credits of non-AOD electives and a 3-credit capstone course.
Required Core Courses
- AOD 5401 (0502) System Dynamics
- AOD 5402 (0508) Communication and Conflict
- AOD 5403 (0504) Facilitation of Adult Learning
- AOD 5404 (0506) Organizational Communication
Electives
- AOD 5515 (0515) Conflict Resolution in Education
- AOD 5516 (0516) Negotiation Processes
- AOD 5518 (0518) Third Party Intervention
- AOD 5522 (0522) Interpersonal Skills Training
- AOD 5524 (0524) Socio-cultural Dynamics
- AOD 5527 (0523) Training Design and Delivery
- AOD 5532 (0532) Leadership and Management
- AOD 5533 (0533) Team Development
- AOD 5534 (0534) Group Facilitation and Consultation
- AOD 5535 (0531) Organizational Assessment, Design, and Strategy
- AOD 5540 (0542) Current Topics in AOD
Capstone
AOD (9231) (0600) Proseminar in AOD: The capstone course provides students with the opportunity to design and complete a culminating project that applies the principles of AOD theory and practice. The capstone course must be taken in the last semester of a student's coursework and after completion of the four required AOD core courses. Students can take only one other elective course while they are enrolled in the capstone course.
Admissions Requirements
Admission to the Temple University AOD program is a competitive process in which your availability, aptitude and potential are assessed. Applicants must submit:
- A completed Graduate School Online Application
- Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all accredited colleges or universities attended.
Note: Undergraduate GPA (4.0 scale) of either 3.0 for all undergraduate work, or 3.5 for the last two years in the applicant's major
Note: If applicant's undergraduate GPA is lower than the above criteria, applicant can enroll as a Non-Degree Seeking student in three AOD Master's courses. If the applicant earns a GPA of 3.25 or better, he/she may be eligible for admission - Official score report on either the Miller Analogies Test, the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) taken no longer than 5 years prior to application.
Note: Students who choose not to submit the above test scores can choose to enroll as a non-matriculated student in three AOD masters courses (two of which are core courses). If the applicant obtains a GPA of 3.25 across these courses, he or she may be eligible for admission without submitting standardized test scores. - A current resume.
- Two (2) professional letters of recommendation [pdf]. Letters of recommendation should be obtained from former and current professors who can provide insight into the applicant's abilities and talents and can comment on the applicant's aptitude for graduate study. If already working in the field, the applicant may include letters from professional colleagues.
- A statement of goals. The Statement of Goals is typically two pages in length. It is evaluated against the program's mission. The statement should include the following elements: your reason for seeking a master's degree with a specific focus on the career to which you aspire; your interests; and your academic and job-related experiences that are relevant to the program.
Submitting Your Materials
See the Application Checklist for complete details on how to submit your application materials. Required supplemental materials should be sent attention to:
Graduate Programs Office
Attn. Application Processing
Temple University - College of Education
150 Ritter Annex
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6091
Note: submitting materials via mail may delay the processing of your application. Please allow additional processing time before your application will be reviewed. The College of Education at Temple University also receives supporting application materials for graduate admissions electronically via the Interfolio service.
Application Deadlines
To be considered for admission, your complete application, including all required supplemental materials must be post-marked no later than:
- For spring admission: November 1
- For fall admission: April 1
We strongly encourage applicants to apply early and to periodically check TUPortal (http://tuportal.temple.edu) as to the status of their materials.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adult and Organizational Development Ed.M. Program at Temple
Q: If I start by enrolling in one of the certificate programs, can I then apply to the master's degree and count the courses I have taken toward the Ed.M.?
A: Yes, credits completed in either AOD certificate program can be applied to the master's degree program. However, if you are going to apply to the master's program you need to do so before you enroll in the fourth course of the certificate program.
Q: Can I start the master's degree as a non-matriculated student without being enrolled in a certificate program?
A: Yes, students can take up to 9 credits of AOD coursework without having been admitted to the program or without entering a certificate program. Some students take AOD coursework while they are completing their application.
Q: Can I start the program in either the Fall or Spring semester?
A: Yes, it is possible to begin taking classes in either semester.
Q: If I am an international student, what do I need to do when applying to the AOD master's degree?
A: Prior to applying to the master's degree you will want to contact the Office of International Services regarding the admissions process and required documents. For additional information, please go to: LINK www.temple.edu/grad/admissions/international.htm UNLINK.
Q: What backgrounds do most students have as they enter the AOD master's degree program and what are students' professional aspirations?
A: AOD students have diverse educational and professional backgrounds. Those enrolled in our programs have academic degrees in varied fields, including: education, business, liberal arts, social work, psychology, nursing, hospitality, sports psychology and communication.
Students work in and prepare for diverse positions in a wide range of organizational sectors, including local and global non-profit and for-profit organizations in education, government, corporate, community and religious settings. AOD's diverse student body contributes richly to the AOD experience.
Q: When and where are the AOD courses offered?
A: All of AOD's coursework is offered at Temple's Center City Campus at 1515 Market Street, in Philadelphia, Pa. Classes are offered in the evenings and on weekends. Courses may be offered during the summer, usually in a one- or two-week format.
Q: Do most students work while they are enrolled in the program?
A: Yes, the majority of students in the master's degree and the certificate programs work full-time while they are enrolled in AOD coursework. Most classes draw heavily from students' professional experience in applying course content and developing application strategies.
Q: Does the program require that students complete an internship?
A: Students are not required to complete an internship, but internship credit is available for students who want to pursue this option. AOD faculty provides support in identifying internship opportunities suited to each student's particular professional goals.
Q: Is there a comprehensive exam?
A: No, there is not a comprehensive exam.
Instead, the capstone experience is a required proseminar in which students synthesize and apply the entire range of learning across their coursework in challenging projects that contribute to their capacities and credentials as an AOD professional.
Q: How long does it take to complete the master's degree program?
A: This varies depending upon the number of classes that students take each semester.
If students take a three-course load each term, the degree can be completed in two years. However, because most students work full-time, they usually take two or fewer courses per term and complete the program over a longer time period.
Q: What are the tuition rates for the AOD program?
A: For up-to-date information on tuition and fees for graduate courses, please go to: LINK www.temple.edu/bursar/about/tuitionrates.htm UNLINK.
Q: Are there opportunities for graduate assistantships or teaching assistantships?
A: The program has a limited number of graduate and teaching assistantships for full-time master's students. Interested applicants should contact the program director regarding these opportunities.
