Courses
Evaluation
EVAL 6000: Foundations of Evaluation
This course, the core of the interdisciplinary Ph.D. in evaluation program, is designed to provide an overview of both past and contemporary perspectives on evaluation theory, method and practice. Topics include, but are not limited to, fundamental evaluation concepts and definitions, the general and working logic of evaluation, distinctions between evaluation and applied social science research, and evaluation-specific methods.
EVAL 6010: Interdisciplinary Seminar in Evaluation
This seminar is a forum for the integration of core evaluation concepts across the program, developing an understanding of evaluation as a profession, and for exchange of ideas among evaluation students, faculty and industry representatives from multiple disciplines. Topics vary each semester.
EVAL 6970: Cost Analysis for Evaluation
This course is an advanced graduate seminar designed to provide an overview of cost analysis in evaluation, including concepts and definitions, analytical frameworks, measurement of cost, placing monetary value on program ingredients, analyzing costs, cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-benefit analysis and cost-utility analysis.
EVAL 6970: Meta-Analysis
This course is an advanced graduate seminar designed to provide you with the knowledge necessary to conduct basic research syntheses and meta-analyses. Topics covered include computing effect sizes and confidence intervals, converting among effect sizes, factors that affect precision, fixed-effect and random-effects models, heterogeneity, prediction intervals, subgroup analyses, publication bias, and psychometric meta-analysis.
EVAL 6970: Qualitative Methods for Evaluators
Qualitative data serve complex and critical needs in evaluation practice. From observations of programs in situ to describing impact in greater detail, applied researchers need to understand and grasp the value of qualitative data if they are going to bring the breadth of data to bear on a problem. This course briefly contextualizes the epistemological foundation for qualitative data before introducing students, through hands-on project work, to a variety of qualitative data collection, analysis, and reporting methods. This course includes individual and group projects. While not a prerequisite, a general understanding of the epistemology of science will be helpful. Students will leave this class more proficient in applying qualitative methods in their future applied research and evaluation projects.
EVAL 6970: Research on Evaluation
Historically, research on evaluation was frequently conducted, carving and shaping practice to emphasize, among other topics, use and quality. However, several decades of stagnate efforts to conduct research on evaluation has limited evaluation innovation. Only in recent years have attempts to define and encourage more research on evaluation sparked new efforts. This course is intended to develop your awareness of the research on evaluation landscape and to identify and plan opportunities for contributing to it.