Program Evaluation Minor

Program evaluation is an area of inquiry that uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to address questions of concern to policy makers, administrators, managers, and, in some cases, program participants. In this era of competing developments—increased accountability and the democratization of research activity—knowledge of program evaluation is a useful and valuable commodity. The program evaluation minor is an interdisciplinary effort providing intensive study of the techniques and process of evaluation and policy research, in addition to the social and political context within which program evaluation occurs. The graduate minor in program evaluation offers a coordinated set of courses designed for students who wish to have the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct evaluations combined with their graduate majors or professional fields of study. Courses include readings, discussions, and assignments designed to develop the skills essential to professionals intending to use or conduct evaluation in non-profit and for-profit organizations.

Any student in any University of Minnesota graduate or professional program, regardless of college or enrollment, is encouraged to apply for this minor. Students must be admitted to the Graduate School and to a master's, doctoral, or professional degree program at the University of Minnesota. As with all graduate minors, a student must identify a minor adviser for the program evaluation minor. The minor adviser must be included in the student committee and attend the final oral examination.

Curriculum

The minimum number of graduate-level credits for doctoral minor is 15 semester hours, and the minimum number of graduate-level credits for master's level is 9 semester hours.

Master's minor in program evaluation

The minor program for master's students is a minimum of 9 graduate-level semester credits. The following courses (or equivalents approved by Steering Committee) are required:

EDPA 5501 or EPSY 5243—Foundations of Evaluation (3 credits)

EDPA 8502—Evaluation Theory (3 credits)

EDPA 8596 or EPSY 8296—Internship in Evaluation (3 credits)

Additional credits may be taken in courses selected from the list of elective courses (see below). The program for an individual student will be developed by the student, the major adviser, and the director of graduate studies (DGS) of the program evaluation minor. With permission of the DGS, students with sufficient background and previous course experience equivalent to one or more courses within the curriculum may apply for waiver of appropriate requirements and replace waived courses with additional electives to meet the 9 credit minimum.

Doctoral minor in program evaluation

The minor program for doctoral students requires a minimum of 15 graduate-level semester credits. Credits from courses in the student's major department or, for Department of Educational Policy and Administration (EdPA) students in any of the non-evaluation concentrations, courses from their concentration do not count toward the minor. The following courses (or equivalents approved by Steering Committee) are required:

EDPA 5501 or EPSY 5243—Foundations of Evaluation (3 credits)

EDPA 8502—Evaluation Theory (3 credits)

EDPA 8596 or EPSY 8296—Internship in Evaluation (3 credits)

EDPA 5521—Economic Analysis in Evaluation (3 credits)

Additional credits must be taken in courses selected from the list of elective courses (see below). The program for an individual student will be developed in consultation among the student, the major adviser, and the director of graduate studies (DGS) of the program evaluation minor. With the permission from the DGS, students with sufficient background and previous course experience equivalent to one or more courses within the curriculum may apply for waiver of appropriate requirements and replace waived courses with additional electives to meet the 15 credit minimum.

Illustrative elective courses

An illustrative set of elective courses acceptable for the minor follows (additional courses may be by the Steering Committee):

CI 8913—Interpretive Research (3 credits)

EDPA 5056—Case Studies for Policy Research (3 credits)

EDPA 5061—Ethnographic Research (3 credit)

EPSY 5221—Basic Principles of Educational Measurement (3 credits)

EDPA 5524/EPSY 5246—Evaluation Colloquium (1-6 credit(s))

EDPA 8595/EPSY 8295—Evaluation Problems (1-6 credit(s))

PA 5311—Program Evaluation (3 credits)

WHRE 5141—Evaluation of Work and Human Resource Education (3 credits)

WHRE 8914—Critical Science Research (3 credits)

PUBH 5631—Research Methods in the Health Assessment of Women and Children (2 credits)

PUBH 5852—Program Evaluation in Health and Mental Health Settings (3 credits)

SW 8602—Direct Practice Evaluation (2 credits)

Admissions

Prior admission into an established M.A. or Ph.D. is required. Students in the existing evaluation-related concentrations in education policy and administration or educational psychology are not allowed into the minor. Admission to the minor program will therefore be contingent upon enrollment in good standing within a recognized degree-granting program of the University of Minnesota Graduate School. Admission to the minor will be through application to the director of graduate studies and faculty for the evaluation minor. Students must demonstrate relevant academic background and experience. Competitive standards are expected to limit enrollment to 15 students a year.

To apply, contact:

Jean King, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Studies for the Program Evaluation Minor
Department of Educational Policy and Administration
330 Wulling Hall
86 Pleasant Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: 612-626-1614
E-mail: kingx004@umn.edu