Doctor of Philosophy in Evaluation, Measurement and Research
Program Overview
The Ph.D. program in Evaluation, Measurement and Research in the Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology at Western Michigan University is designed for highly qualified students and seeks to prepare them as evaluators, assessment specialists, or researchers for leadership and teaching positions in schools, non-school organizations, institutions of higher education and government. The doctoral program in Evaluation, Measurement, and Research is interdisciplinary in nature and is designed to expose future scholars to practice linked learning in a world-class center of excellence. The faculty advising and teaching in these programs are nationally and internationally recognized in the field of evaluation. The program requires at minimum of three graduate courses each in evaluation and measurement, and a minimum of six courses in research analytics – qualitative and quantitative. Some examples of a cognate are policy studies, assessment, computer applications or statistics. Students may also participate in an internship that provides opportunities to work under the direction of a senior evaluator, measurement specialist or researcher. Students are also encouraged to submit proposals for presentations at professional state, national, and international conferences, and to attend such conferences.
Why this Program
- You will work with national and internationally recognized faculty.
- You can take advantage of opportunities to engage in grant-funded research.
- You will engage in cutting-edge coursework and be exposed to the latest advances in evaluation, measurement, and research.
- You will feel supported in a small program with faculty interested in individualizing and maximizing your experiences.
- You will have opportunities to present research and evaluation studies at the peer reviewed professional conferences.
- You will be encouraged and supported to prepare publications with faculty or on your own.
Courses
Pre-doctoral core:
- EMR 5400: Fundamentals of Evaluation, Measurement and Research
- EMR 6410: Introduction to Measurement in the Behavioral Sciences
- EMR 6420: Evaluation I: Theory, Methods & Program Eval
- EMR 6430: Personnel Evaluation
- EMR 6450: Data Analytics I: Design Studies
- EMR 6480: Qualitative Research Methods
- EMR 6490: Philosophy of Science and Scientific Inquiry
- EMR 6500: Survey Research
Total: 24 credits
Doctoral core:
- EMR 6510: Advanced Application of Measurement Methods
- EMR 6520: Evaluation Practicum
- EMR 6550: Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Design for Applied Research and Evaluation
- EMR 6580: Qualitative Research Practicum
- EMR 6650: General Linear Models
Total: 15 credits
Advanced seminar in concentration area (may be taken more than one time):
- EMR 6600: Advanced Seminar in Research
- EMR 6610: Advanced Seminar in Measurement
- EMR 6620: Advanced Seminar in Evaluation
Total: 3 credits
Professional field experience (Must register for a three-hour and a six-hour block)
- EMR 7120: Professional Field Experience, 3 credits
- EMR 7120: Professional Field Experience, 6 credits
Total: 9 credits
Dissertation research
- EMR 7300: Doctoral Dissertation
Total: 15 credits
Electives
Quantitative Inquiry Methods:
- EMR 6750 Applied Multivariate Statistics
- EMR 6850 Hierarchical Linear Modeling
- EMR 6970 Special Topics: Computer Applications for Educational Research
Qualitative Inquiry Methods:
- EMR 6770 Ethnographic Research Methods
- EMR 6970 Special Topics: Mixed Methods
- EMR 6970 Special Topics: Qualitative Analysis Tools
Measurement:
- EMR 6710 Structural Equation Modeling
- Outside of EMR as approved by advisor
Total: minimum of 9 credits
Cognate
- 18 hours of coursework approved by advisor
Program total: 93 credits