An Application of Knowles' Theories of Adult Education to an Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Program

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2011

School

Interdisciplinary Studies and Professional Development

Abstract

Malcolm Knowles' theory of andragogy is best known in the world of adult education as a conceptualization of how and why adults learn. The following practice-based article that has applied Knowles' theories and precepts to an undergraduate program reflects on how those concepts work with people whom Knowles might well have not considered "adults." The Interdisciplinary Studies program at The University of Southern Mississippi allows learners to formulate their own degree plan within broad boundaries, focusing on two disciplinary concentrations with a final research or creative project as a "capstone." This article reviews the process within which this program came into being and considers its inner workings. The authors reflect on the motivations that Knowles considered the foundational difference between "adults" and "children" and compare their own, somewhat traditional, base of learners to those precepts, finding that perhaps there are more similarities than differences when the learner is in control of his or her learning. © 2011 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Publication Title

Journal of Continuing Higher Education

Volume

59

Issue

3

First Page

161

Last Page

166

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