The Program Evaluation graduate certificate provides students a set of interdisciplinary competencies to design, implement, and critique evaluation research. Master’s, doctoral and non-degree seeking students apply this information in a variety of settings. The information gained in the Program Evaluation certificate program benefits employees in education, social sciences, public administration and more. The program content also helps evaluators, policy analysts, health and social service administrators, and program managers in their careers.
The structure of the certificate coursework is based on the 2018 American Evaluation Association (AEA) Evaluator Competencies. During the program, you’ll gain a range of knowledge, skills, and dispositions important for conducting evaluations in different practice settings. These five competency domains cover content related to:
- Evaluation professional practice with knowledge of the AEA Guiding Principles(2018) and the Program Evaluation Standards (Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation, 2011)
- Systematic inquiry that incorporates qualitative, quantitative, and mixed designs
- Contextual knowledge and stakeholder agency
- Interpersonal communication and cultural competence
- Planning and management of evaluation projects
The Program Evaluation certificate consists of 15 credit hours (5 courses). Twelve required credit hours (4 courses) cover evaluation theoretical approaches and evaluation policy, ethics, evaluation designs in practice, and data collection methods. Three elective credit hour (1 course) provide students with additional knowledge about different research designs and analytical approaches.
Program evaluation skills apply to a number of different career paths and can greatly benefit most résumés. Graduates from our Program Evaluation certificate are highly sought after by companies, non-profits, government agencies and more.
You can complete the program either on a full-time or part-time basis within a seven-year time period as a non-degree seeking student or in conjunction with a graduate program at FSU. The courses are offered both online and on-campus.
For information on course offerings and other news, you can sign up for our student list-serv here.
Step 1: Apply for admissions to the University (select one) NOTE: If already enrolled in an FSU graduate program, skip to step 2:
Florida Residency Form: If you are a Florida resident, you must complete the Florida Residency Affidavit even if you were previously designated a Florida Resident by the University. If you do not complete this form, you will be classified as a non-Florida resident for tuition purposes.
IMPORTANT: In order to be eligible for admission to a graduate certificate program, an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution.
Step 2: Complete Admissions Form
Admission to the graduate certificate program is required. Students are not enrolled in a certificate program by virtue of being enrolled in related courses. Students must apply to and be admitted to the certificate program in order to be considered enrolled.
Admission to College of Education (COE) graduate certificate programs requires submission of the Certificate Admissions Form prior to the completion of two courses in the certificate program.
All students must submit an application before grades are posted for the second course that they wish to count towards the certificate. In other words, students may only count one previously completed course towards their certificate program.The Certificate Admissions Form must list the courses and anticipated semesters you intend to take to fulfill certificate requirements. Students can enroll in fall, spring or summer semesters and may take seven years to complete the required 15 credit hours.
Courses in the certificate program may be applicable to a graduate degree; however, you should consult with your major professor to determine which courses are applicable to specific graduate programs. If you are a non-degree-seeking student, you can consult with the coordinator of the Program Evaluation Certificate at progevalcert@coe.fsu.edu.
If you are ready to apply, complete the Certificate Admission Form here.
The graduate certificate program requires a minimum of 15 credit hours of coursework: two required courses (6 credit hours) in program evaluation theoretical approaches, policy, ethics, designs in practice and data collection; one required course (3 credit hours) in qualitative research methods; one required course in quantitative research methods (3 credit hours) and one elective course (3 credit hours) in research methods. Students are able to complete the program fully through online offerings.
Required Courses (15 credits) [Offered in Face-to-Face (F2F) or Online formats]
- EDF 5461: Introduction to Program Evaluation [F2F, Online]
- EDF 5462: Evaluation of New Educational Programs [Online]
- Qualitative Methods Course: See Approved List (below)
- Quantitative Methods Course: See Approved List (below)
- Elective Methods Course: See Approved List (below)
Qualitative Methods Course (3 credits) - Approved List
- EDF 5464 Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods [Online]
- EDF 6475 Qualitative Methods in Research [F2F]
- EDF 6476 Advanced Qualitative Methods in Research [F2F]
- EDF 6619 Advanced Qualitative Data Analysis [F2F]
- EDF 6479 Qualitative Data Analysis [Online]
Quantitative Methods Course (3 credits) - Approved List:
- EDF 5400 Introduction to Descriptive & Inferential Statistics [F2F, Online]
- EDF 6480 Applied Quantitative Methods (MS, EdD) [Online]
- EDF 5401 General Linear Model Applications (Prerequisite EDF 5400) [F2F]
- EDF 5414 Introduction to Large Data Sets [F2F]
- EDF 5649C Applied Educational Policy Analysis (multivariate analysis) [F2F]
Elective Course (3 credits) - Approved List (Choose One):
- Additional course from Qualitative Methods - Approved List
- Additional course from Quantitative Methods - Approved List
- EDF 6486 Applied Research Methods [F2F, Online]
- EDF 5449 Survey Research Methods [Online]
- EDF 5481 Introduction to Research Methods [F2F, Online]
- EDF 6455 Data Use in Education [Online]
- EDF 6471 Quasi-Experimental Data Analysis [F2F]
- EDF 6417 Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis [Online]
Once coursework has been completed, you will complete the Certificate Completion Form, identifying the five courses taken and during which semesters. The Completion Form is e-mailed to the Program Coordinator, who will confirm course and grade information, process the certificate, and notify the registrar of the certificate award for posting on the student’s transcript. You must complete and submit the Completion Form no later than two weeks after the end of your final semester of certificate coursework.
To satisfy the requirements of the certificate, you must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours, have a grade point average of 3.25, and earn at least a “B” or higher in core and elective courses.
Information about tuition and fees can be found here. Please note that students may incur costs associated with the purchase of books/materials for courses.
Once coursework has been completed, you must complete the Certificate Completion Form identifying the five courses taken and during which semesters. The Completion Form is e-mailed to the Program Coordinator, who will confirm course and grade information, process the certificate, and notify the registrar of the certificate award for posting on the student’s transcript. You must complete and submit the Completion Form no later than two weeks after the end of your final semester of certificate coursework.
To satisfy the requirements of the certificate, you must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours, have a grade point average of 3.25, and earn at least a “B” or higher in core and elective courses.
Once an application for the completion of the Program Evaluation Certificate has been approved by OASIS, we will send you the “exit survey.” Students are required to complete the survey in order to have the certificate added to their records and to receive a physical certificate in the mail.
If you completed certificate courses, click here.
Meet James Hernandez, an alumnus of our Program Evaluation Certificate program!
What is your current professional role/organization?
I am a doctoral student in the Educational Psychology Learning Systems, Learning and Cognition program. In a professional capacity, I serve as the president of the board of Mr. and Ms. Mentoring Inc., a non-profit program (https://mrandmsmentoring.org/).
Why did you choose the Program Evaluation Certificate program at FSU?
I was attracted to the Program Evaluation Certificate program because of the real-world skills I could gain in a reasonable number of courses.
In which ways does program evaluation come into play in your work? And/or, in which ways do you engage in evaluation of your programs?
I have used the knowledge gained from the Program Evaluation Certificate to help further improve and attract funding for the Mr. and Ms. Mentoring program. Additionally, earning a PhD in Educational Psychology is complimented with this Program Evaluation Certificate. I am using program evaluation skills to develop a new education system that address the knowledge life cycle. This Program Evaluation Certificate is also assisting me during my current phase of attracting funding for the new education system. For instance, funders are looking for practical programs with strong logic models and clear metrics of success and the certificate adds credibility to the requests for funding.
Are there any awards or notable accomplishments that you have earned in PE/education research?
After completing the two key Program Evaluation courses (e.g., Introduction to Program Evaluation and Evaluation of New Educational Programs and Practice) Mr. and Ms. Mentoring earned its first two grants allowing the program to support more adolescents and hire full-time staff. I played a small role in this process, and I know the guidance I provided was directly from the knowledge and skills gained in both Program Evaluation courses.
What PE coursework did you find most valuable in your studies?
Honestly, all the course work for the Program Evaluation Certificate was valuable. I enjoyed the statistics course, both the qualitative research methods, and the data analysis courses too. These courses helped me both in terms of program evaluation and my educational research. Notably, the Introduction to Program Evaluation taught by Dr. Iatarola was very useful. Dr. Iatarola has a wealth of knowledge that helped orient me to program evaluation and as a bonus she made us feel valued each class.
I also thoroughly enjoyed Evaluation of New Educational Programs and Practice. Dr. Grass has a large amount of experience in the field and included guest speakers whom she had completed program evaluations with in the past.
What advice or opinions about the PE Certificate would you want to give the program to a prospective student --- or for online EdD students?
If you have a similar mission where you want to see change in systems like these, getting the Program Evaluation Certificate is essential. Having a strong research background, I found program evaluation as a practical process for improving programs and implementing research. Lastly, the advice I have is contact the Program Evaluation faculty and staff. They are welcoming and helpful and will be your best guides through the process.
Meet Suzanne West, an alumnus of our Program Evaluation Certificate program!
What is your current professional role/organization?
I am currently a Content Specialist at Pinellas County Schools over Family & Consumer Sciences and Health Science Education. In this role, I serve as a district administrator over programs in Career & Technical Education.
Why did you choose the Program Evaluation Certificate program at FSU?
I felt that gaining a better understanding of program evaluation and its practices would not only strengthen my skills for my current position, but also provide a greater opportunity to excel my career prospects. This proved to be true, as I was quickly promoted into my current position upon completing the certificate.
In which ways does program evaluation come into play in your work? And/or, in which ways do you engage in evaluation of your programs?
Program evaluation practices are incorporated into my daily tasks to some capacity whether I am evaluating that the program is meeting its outcome goals, or I am determining equipment or curriculum needs. Additionally, it is my responsibility to report out to our stakeholders the impact of these programs to the greater community and our local economy.
What PE coursework did you find most valuable in your studies?
The Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods course. It was this course that really helped me to not only solidify the path of my dissertation, but to fully understand how to use qualitative methods in program evaluation. It is fulfilling to know that my dissertation not only served a purpose to allow me to obtain my terminal degree, but it also provided a blueprint for the program to make improvements. I’m grateful for this opportunity to have played a role to help strengthen a program that I am connected to personally.
What advice or opinions about the PE Certificate would you want to give the program to a prospective student --- or for online EdD students?
Program evaluation is a valuable tool for school districts and institutions to strengthen program quality and thus improve outcomes for the students that they serve. Regardless of what path you choose to take in the education sector, you will play a part in program evaluation at some point in your career. Obtaining the program evaluation certificate will be valuable, regardless of your career path, in any area of education.
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