Gain knowledge of cutting-edge evaluation and assessment methods and tools with UMass Lowell's online Graduate Certificate in Evaluation and Assessment.
Evaluate the effectiveness of programs, policies, personnel, products and organizations of all types and sizes with UMass Lowell's Graduate Certificate in Evaluation and Assessment. Aimed at public and private-sector professionals who wish to gain expertise in this critical data-driven area, evaluation and assessment techniques apply to organizations in education, government, business, agriculture, public health, criminal justice, social services and environmental and urban planning.
Given the increasing focus on accountability and transparency in today's global economy, organizations need to measure results, ensure efficacy, analyze performance and demonstrate return on investment. Through this program, you will learn different research theories and methodologies and how to interpret results to make evidence-based decisions that impact policies and procedures.
Deepen your knowledge of a range of topics, including:
For nearly 125 years, UMass Lowell’s School of Education has been a leader in the field of education, offering world-class programs with a reputation for innovation and excellence. As education transforms throughout Massachusetts and the nation, we are preparing teachers and leaders to adapt and lead. School of Education faculty members understand today's education climate and offer in-depth knowledge and expertise as active researchers, instructors, thought leaders and policy specialists.
The Center for Program Evaluation at UMass Lowell researches program evaluation methods and offers evaluation planning, consulting, training and services for the university and regional and global communities.
*With advisor approval, other research methodology courses offered at UMass Lowell can be substituted.
This course examines the selection and use of procedures to make an adequate clinical and educational diagnosis. Includes the assessment of function and dysfunction in factors associated with language development; receptive, expressive, writing, reading; and the administration and interpretation of individual and group tests of perceptual, motor, and conceptual functioning in reading and language.
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
This course provides students with a foundational understanding of educational statistics. From variables, means, and measuring the central tendency to distributions, t-tests, significance and variance, students will explore the meaning and use of these essential social science tools. In tandem with technique, students will also explore the statistical issues behind topical concerns in education and become familiar with statistical sources of importance to educational researchers.
This course provides an opportunity to investigate emerging topics in the fields of research methodology or program evaluation education. Topics will vary by semester and the interest and expertise of the faulty member. Discussion of theoretical and practical considerations of the topic under consideration will be integrated across the semester.
The use and analysis of data in all forms requires that educational researchers understand how to manage and visualize data, making creative use of this knowledge as they build robust findings well supported by evidence. In this class, students will be introduced to the underlying principles of data management and the ways different kinds of data and information can be visualized to support analysis and representation to curious audiences.
Students examine various approaches to the formative and summative assessment of learning. This course examines the importance of assessment in planning curricula and individual lessons.
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
Evaluation tasks will be identified and the policy issues attendant to evaluation will be examined. Students will identify and discuss several models of program evaluation, understand what needs to be considered and addressed in needs assessment, and learn to identify an appropriate design for a new evaluation. Students will be expected to conduct program evaluation, present their ideas and illustrate how evaluation results can be useful for program decision making.
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
This course concentrates on the use of qualitative methods for educational research. Strategies for conducting qualitative studies are described and techniques for analyzing and reporting findings are emphasized. Students will also examine strategies for the ethical conduct of qualitative research.
Basic measurement and evaluation theories and techniques are surveyed, including achievement, attitudes, opinions, abilities, personality, skills and trait variables. Emphasis is given to methods of establishing reliability and validity of various measures.
Students will examine selected cutting-edge topics in the field of qualitative research. They will become familiar with key journals in the field of qualitative research. Students are expected to research and write about a self-selected topic in the field of qualitative research methodology. The course stresses the skills of methodological literature review and professional academic writing.
EDUC.7040 Qualitative Research Methods.
This course will further your knowledge of program evaluation by focusing on such topics as: Assessing the need for program evaluation; Working with stakeholders; Identifying, measuring and monitoring outcomes; Assessing impact; Social context of evaluation.
EDUC.6423 Program Evaluation.
