Academic Programs Catalog

The Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation prepares students for evaluation careers in diverse settings including government, education, social services, and evaluation consulting firms. It emphasizes professional development in history, theory, and standards of evaluation practice, evaluation methods, and evaluation practice skills.

Admission

To be admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation, applicants must have:

1. a bachelor's degree from a recognized educational institution.
2. an academic record equivalent to at least 3.00 (B) in undergraduate course work in their junior and senior year. This requirement is waived for students currently pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree program at MSU.
3. submitted three letters of recommendation and a personal statement about their academic and professional goals and experience.
4. submitted Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores if they are an international applicant.

Admission to the program is selective and meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee admission. The applicant’s overall record is considered, including the student’s personal statement, recommendations, academic transcripts, and other documentation as required.

Students currently pursuing a graduate degree at MSU should submit a letter from their program advisor or chairperson indicating that the student is in good standing and they agree the certificate is an appropriate adjunct training opportunity. It is recommended that applicants have earned at least 12 undergraduate credits in a social science such as anthropology, sociology, or psychology.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation

The Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation is available only online. A total of 12 credits are required for the certificate.

1.	The following course (3 credits):
	PSY	880	Foundations of Evaluation Practice						3
2.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
	PSY	881	Evaluation Design						3
	PSY	884	Qualitative and Mixed Method Evaluation Methods						3
3.	Two of the following courses (6 credits):
	PSY	881	Evaluation Design						3
	PSY	882	Evaluation Data Collection Methods						3
	PSY	883	Statistics for Evaluators I						3
	PSY	884	Qualitative and Mixed Method Evaluation Methods						3
	PSY	885	Communicating and Reporting						3
	PSY	887	Statistics for Evaluators II						3
	PSY	888	Evaluation Management						3
	Courses used to fulfill requirement 1. above may not be used to fulfill this requirement.