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Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology - Research, Statistics and Evaluation
The RSE program balances breadth and depth in theory and practice through a variety of student experiences. The program consists of four interrelated components that provide a set of common core experiences, as well as flexibility to accommodate individual student interests and needs. The four components include: (1) a set of required foundational courses designed to develop students’ understanding of the nature, limits, and sources of human inquiry and knowledge to become proficient in planning, conducting, and interpreting findings of educational research and evaluation; (2) additional elective courses designed to assist students in acquiring a deeper understanding and expertise in specific inquiry methods and analytical tools; (3) mentored experiences where students acquire practical experience in designing and conducting research; and (4) a dissertation experience that involves practice experience in designing and carrying out research (including analyzing and reporting of results both in writing and orally) in the student’s area of interest.
Total Number of Credits required
The PhD program requires a minimum of 72 credits. Students must complete at least 54 credits of coursework. This includes content courses and research methodology courses, and up to 3 credits of research apprenticeship per semester, but does not include internship and dissertation credits. At least 36 course and apprenticeship credits must be completed after admission to the program. Students can apply up to 12 credits of dissertation work towards the total of 72.
Required Courses
To earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Research, Statistics and Evaluation, the following minimum requirements must be met:
All students must successfully complete a program of study determined by the Program Committee in one of three strands (statistical methods, qualitative research, or program evaluation).
All students must successfully complete 21 foundational course units in RSE (listed below) in addition to course work specified by the program committee.
EDLF 7300 Foundations of Educational Research (3 credits)
EDLF 5330 Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis I (3 credits)
EDLF 7402 Introduction to Program Evaluation (3 credits)
EDLF 7404 Qualitative Analysis I (3 credits)
EDLF 7420 Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis II: General Linear Models (3 credits)
EDLF 8310 Generalized Linear Models (3 credits)
EDLF 8440 Qualitative Analysis II: Advanced (3 credits)
Additional Course options to be selected with advisement (21 credit minimum*)
EDLF 5310 Data Management for Social Science Research (3 credits)
EDLF 5500 Field Experiments (3 credits)
EDLF 7060 Theoretical Perspectives on Educational Policy (3 credits)
EDLF 7080 Educational Policy: Professional Seminar (3 credits)
EDLF 7180 Tests and Measurements (3 credits)
EDLF 7350 Seminar in Educational Research (3 credits)
EDLF 7403 Survey Design and Instrument Construction (3 credits)
ELDF 7410 Mixed Methods Research Design (3 credits)
EDLF 8311 Field Experiments (3 credits)
EDLF 8315 Causal Inference in Educational Policy (3 credits)
EDLF 8340 Measurement Theory (3 credits)
EDLF 8350 Educational Statistics IV: Multivariate (3 credits)
EDLF 8360 Multilevel Modeling in Education Research (3 credits)
EDLF 8361 Structural Equation Modeling (3 credits)
EDLF 8400 Program Evaluation Design (3 credits)
EDLF 8410 Advanced Seminar in Program Evaluation (3 credits)
EDLF 8450 Computer Assisted Qualitative Analysis (3 credits)
* Students may elect to substitute or augment these with method courses offered in other departments (e.g., psychology, economics, policy, mathematics)
Other Requirements
- The student must complete successfully written comprehensive examinations in the major and supporting areas as well as an oral examination. These examinations must be completed prior to the student’s third year.
- The student must successfully complete all dissertation requirements including (a) defending a dissertation proposal before the student’s full doctoral committee, (b) the planning and carrying out of a research study (dissertation) appropriate to the field of specialization, and (c) passing an oral final examination on the conduct and conclusions of the dissertation.
For more detailed information, please refer to the Research, Statistics and Evaluation Policy handbook.
