Global Directory of Academic Programs in Evaluation

The program will prepare students for staff positions in evaluation, testing, or research in schools and non-school organizations. The program equips graduates with the knowledge and skills for lifelong pursuit of inquiry as a mechanism for improving the human condition. This program develops scholars, evaluators, and leaders who have a comprehensive understanding and ability to integrate and utilize inquiry methods from multiple ontologies/epistemologies/paradigms to address research and evaluative questions directed towards understanding and solving pressing problems and contributing to the knowledge base that informs practice.

The program is designed to prepare students to be an evaluator, assessment specialist, or researcher for leadership and teaching positions in schools, non-school organizations, institutions of higher education, and government. It is interdisciplinary in nature and is designed to expose future academics, researchers and evaluators to practice linked learning in a world-class environment of excellence. The faculty advising and teaching in these programs are nationally and internationally recognized in their fields.

The program is designed to prepare students to understand and work on evaluation teams and with evaluation-related activities. Students who complete the program will be able to work on evaluation teams and with evaluation-related activities in the workplace as well as in external evaluations.

This interdisciplinary program is designed to cultivate evaluation scholars and practitioners with a deep understanding of evaluation theory, methodology, and practice. The program focuses on developing the competencies necessary to become a highly skilled evaluator and is tailored to each student's professional goals. It is multidisciplinary, exposing students to a variety of disciplines, problem-solving strategies, and methods of inquiry. The program aims to foster critical thinking, encourage debate among students, and provide opportunities for interaction and learning from leaders in the field.

The program is aimed at individuals in the private and public sectors who want to enhance their careers. It provides students with practical knowledge and diagnostic skills related to diversity in the workplace and society, which are in high demand in many occupational fields. The program gives students a competitive edge and prepares them for careers in various industries, including human resources, research and planning, banking, education, government, health care, insurance, marketing, and non-profit organizations.

University of Colorado Denver’s Program Evaluation certificate provides both the theoretical knowledge and real-world experience to make our students well rounded, career-ready evaluators who exceed in diverse settings.

Students learn leading theories of program evaluation, explore evaluation design processes, and gain practical experience by developing and conducting at least one evaluation for a school or nonprofit. Students learn to collaborate with stakeholders to design meaningful evaluations, develop strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, examine ethical considerations in evaluation, and construct reports to target multiple program users. Examples and experiences provided are varied within Pre-K - 12 school settings, non-profit and community settings, large scale policies, and culturally responsive evaluation.

MA students come from a variety of backgrounds with the common thread of questioning status quo and exploring ‘what works’ in their field. This program is very practitioner-focused providing an opportunity for those who are interested in improving schools, social programs, and community organizations through high-quality research and evaluation, data-driven decisions and the dissemination of evidence-based research.

The program serves graduate students who have a variety of interests in topics such as learning sciences, the politics of school reform, explorations of race and inequality, and educational measurement and research methods.

The program ensures that the students have a broad understanding of important topics in education and that they begin developing the research expertise needed to carry out independent research projects.

The program combines training with research experiences gained from participation in research projects. In measurement and evaluation, specific areas of study include measurement theory, rasch measurement, item response theory, true score theory, generalizability theory, test score equating, standard setting, instrument design and program evaluation. In Statistics, areas of study includes statistical theory, hierarchical linear modeling, nonparametric modeling, regression analysis, multivariate analysis, structural equation modeling, factor analysis, causal analysis, categorical data analysis, research synthesis and meta-analysis, exploratory data analysis, model estimation, model goodness-of-fit analysis, model selection, robust analysis, missing-data analysis, and research methods. In assessment, study areas include qualitative methods, testing for licensure and certification, computer adaptive testing, large-scale testing and classroom-based assessment.