Curriculum for the Ph.D. track in evaluation studies

Departmental core

(10 semester credits)

The departmental core is a set of prescribed courses that provides Ph.D. students in the Department of Educational Policy and Administration with a common base of knowledge. Students are expected to complete these courses (except 8015) during their first year of graduate study.

• EDPA 5001—Formal Organizations in Education (3 cr)
• EDPA 8302—Educational Policy Perspectives (3 cr)
• EDPA 8011—Doctoral Research Seminar (1 cr)
• EDPA 8015—Research Design and Ed. Policy (3 cr)

Program core

(21 or more semester credits)

The program core is a set of courses prescribed by the program emphasis. It is expected that students will complete their program core within the first two years of full time graduate study or within the first three years of part-time study.

• EDPA 5501—Principles & Methods of Evaluation (3 cr)
• EDPA 5521—Cost and Economic Analysis in Educational Evaluation (3 cr)
• EDPA 5524—Evaluation Colloquium (1 cr in each of 4 semesters)
• EDPA 8502—Program Evaluation Theory & Models (3 cr)
• EDPA 8595—Evaluation Problems (3 cr)
• EDPA 8596—Evaluation Internship (3 cr)
• EDPA 8596—Evaluation Internship (second internship in different setting) (3 cr)

Methodology courses

(16 or more semester credits)

Coursework in methodology provides students with the analytical techniques and skills necessary for disciplined inquiry and policy analysis. Methodology courses are usually selected from statistics, measurement and evaluation, research methods, computer analysis of data, psychometrics, and econometrics. All students are required to have some background or course work in statistics.

An introductory course sequence in multiple regression (3 cr)
EPSY 8261 and 8262 or comparable courses offered in other areas such as Statistics or Public Health

The following two qualitative method courses:

• EDPA 5056—Case Studies for Policy Research (3 cr)
• EDPA 5061—Ethnographic Research (3 cr)
• EPSY 5221—Basic Principles of Educational Measurement (4 cr)

At least one additional “methods” course to be identified with adviser (3 cr min.)

Demonstrated competency/coursework in the use of computer software in the following areas: word processing, data base management, data analysis (both statistical and qualitative), and graphics.

Supporting program or minor field of study

(12 or more semester credits)

The supporting program or minor field of study provides in-depth coursework in other departments that directly supports the dissertation area. In addition, this coursework is used by the student to focus on individual interests and professional goals.

Thesis credits

(24 semester credits)

All students are required to register for EDPA 8888 for 24 semester credits after completing the preliminary oral examination.

Total program

Course credits: 59
Thesis credits: 24
Total = 83 credits

Revised August 2004