Community Education Concentration
Goddard College's low-residency MA in Education Program offers a concentration in Community Education, for students currently engaged in community education and related fields. The Community Education (CE) concentration is designed for working adults engaged in community education and related fields. It is available to students pursuing the Individual Focus in Education (Non-Licensure) degree option and is available to student enrolling in the Education program at the College's Plainfield, VT main campus or our Seattle, WA site.
The concentration is designed to legitimize the skills and knowledge students acquired through working in the field. We recognize each student’s community as a learning laboratory, and in keeping with the concept that education does not necessarily take place within four walls during a specific period of time, Goddard CE students are expected to utilize experience in the worksite as catalyst for a baseline of study. As a result, Goddard students receive a relevant and meaningful education rooted in theory and expanded through practice.
Community Education students use experiences in the workplace and the community to produce a relevant and meaningful program of study rooted in theory, expanded through practice, and focused on personal and professional educational goals. Students complete a field study in which they develop and document the skills and knowledge related to their work as a community educator, be that of an afterschool educator, youth worker, program director, etc.
Areas of focus may include:
- out of school time programming;
- place based education and service learning;
- connecting learning opportunities during and after school;
- another area of the student’s interest.
Graduate students are required to complete a culminating project in the form Master's thesis (MA) in an area of interest in community education. This is the work of the student’s last semester and reflects the integration of theory and practice.
WORK OF THE CONCENTRATION
This concentration is for both skilled practitioners and those interested in pursuing the field of community education. The degree requires a field placement internship. For persons already employed in the field, one’s work site can serve as one’s internship placement site. For those who want to join the field, the site placement could include a variety of organizations such as: 21st Century Community Education Centers, after-school programs, adult learning programs, youth advocacy agencies, public policy work, court programs, Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs, and Big Brother and Sister programs.
CONCENTRATION CRITERIA
Students graduating with a concentration in community education will have successfully completed a minimum of three semesters and accomplished the following:
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Acquired a basic understanding of learning theory and educational development of individuals and groups;
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Demonstrated understanding of the formation of relationships between institutions and communities;
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Demonstrated the skills to bring resources together for teachers, students, parents, and community members to create positive impact in schools and community;
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Presented evidence of how to maximize school and community facilities, funds, and programs for the education of learners of all ages;
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Learned program management, planning, implementation, and evaluation of a program of community education services;
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Developed an understanding of relevant theory in the field;
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Engaged in a semester internship experience;
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Submitted an internship portfolio documenting knowledge in teaching, school communities, and counseling;
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Submitted a final internship portfolio that documents their knowledge and skills as community educator;
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Produced a master’s thesis that includes: formulation of significant questions, application of methods of inquiry, identification and utilization of learning resources, interpretation of ideas, and integration and application of theory and practice.