Global Directory of Academic Programs in Evaluation

The program focuses on research methodology and prepares scholars to critically engage in educational research and evaluation, develop appropriate and innovative research designs, and contribute conceptually sound analyses to the overlapping fields of education, the social sciences, and the health sciences. The strength of our program centers around a core of collaborative faculty and prominent scholars who remain dedicated to the development and application of dynamic research methodologies situated within contemporary conceptual frameworks. Areas of specialization within our degree program include qualitative methods, quantitative methods, mixed-methodology, psychometrics, and evaluation.

The program provides training in the foundations of research methodology, educational measurement, and program evaluation. Students receive comprehensive training through a core set of required courses, as well as hands-on, practical experience obtained through field experiences, practicums, and internships coordinated and supported by ERM’s Office of Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Services (OAERS). Students are able to tailor portions of the curriculum to meet their professional and academic goals through elective courses that allow students to gain a concentration in a particular methodological area of interest, such as program evaluation, educational measurement and assessment, or statistical modeling.

The program aims to develop students into expert methodologists who are appropriately prepared to pursue influential careers in the fields of research methodology, educational measurement, and program evaluation. To this end, the training offered by the program has the joint focus of providing students with a comprehensive training across the major domains of research methodology, while also having students gain extensive knowledge in one or more areas of concentration that align with the student’s professional and intellectual interests. The program is intended for students who are interested in becoming an expert in research methodology, the measurement sciences, or program evaluation.

The program provides rigorous training in quantitative and qualitative methodologies and addresses the current industry-wide shortage of highly trained individuals in educational research and other social science research settings. The program offers nationally recognized faculty committed to the mentoring process, projects and coursework tailored to students’ career goals and interests. It offers an effective balance between theoretical and applied courses, and training in fields with excellent career potential.

The overall focus of the program is to provide students with the requisite skills and experiences essential for three types of professional careers: i) as an evaluation, applied statistics, and assessment or measurement faculty member in higher education settings, ii) as an external evaluator employed by an evaluation group or organization providing external evaluation services, or iii) as an internal evaluator or in-house ESM consultant serving the needs of the organization in which they are employed. The program integrates evaluation, statistics, and measurement theory, content knowledge, technical skills, and highly relevant and meaningful field experiences to enable graduates to function as esteemed professionals, productive scholars, and leaders in their sub-fields of interest.

This online program provides rigorous training in quantitative methodologies, and addresses the current industry-wide shortage of individuals capable of functioning effectively in educational research and other social science research settings.

In contrast to similar programs that concentrate solely on evaluation, this certificate program focuses on both evaluation and assessment, providing a broader foundational knowledge of the principles and best practices of this growing field. In addition, the program allows students to customize their learning experience by offering multiple elective courses to fulfill certificate requirements.

The online Master of Science in Measurement & Evaluation program delivers the skills employers look for when hiring. The program follows a four-phase curriculum model or framework called the Professional Studies Experience (PSE). Students receive advanced training focusing on building workplace skills in communication, teamwork, ethical decision-making, innovation, and emerging technologies. Students gain cross-cultural competencies and collaborative skills essential for success in the 21st-century global knowledge economy.

The Master of Science in Program Evaluation and Data Analytics is a professional degree program that emphasizes skills needed to leverage data to improve organizational performance in the public, nonprofit and private sectors. It combines program evaluation courses with data science classes that empower students to utilize a diverse array of tools to generate insights on social impact and leverage data in organizations. Students receive training in data programming, visualization, dashboard design, open data, project management and impact analysis. Through this, students build the technical skills necessary to implement evidence-based approaches to policy and management.

The graduate certificate in Community-Engaged Research and Evaluation equips students with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to conduct authentic community-engaged research and evaluation, which is based on the premise that communities (individuals, organizations, and agencies) have the best understandings of their own assets, needs, values, and activities. Researchers and evaluators work in partnership with communities to construct questions and methods, collect data, and interpret results to develop the practical knowledge and tools that can resolve locally relevant problems.