Our courses, led by experienced Ph.D. level evaluators, are delivered entirely online, giving students the flexibility to fit school into their already busy life. Our curriculum was thoughtfully designed to provide general evaluation training aligned with the American Evaluation Association Competencies for Evaluators.
As shown the figure below, the suite of courses offered cover each of the main aspects of a typical evaluation process. Also, our evaluation courses are highly skill-based and provides students with opportunities to learn with and from diverse classmates and instructors.
To read more about the courses, click on the + to the right of the course name. Here you will find a description of the course, the semesters in which it is offered, and a list of the American Evaluation Association Evaluator Competencies (PDF 210KB) to which the course is aligned.
This 3-credit course is designed to introduce students to the history, professional standards, and leading theories of program evaluation practice. Students will explore professional evaluators’ roles and the contexts in which program evaluation occurs. By the end of the semester, it is expected that students will be able to:
Offered Summer and Fall Semesters; No Prerequisites
Click here to view the full list of AEA Evaluator Competencies.
In this 3-credit course, students will be introduced to the evaluation design process; learn how to engage stakeholders in crafting evaluation designs; study the fundamentals of designing exploratory, process, and outcome evaluations; and learn how to select an evaluation design that best meets a client’s information needs.
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
Offered Spring and Fall Semesters; No Prerequisites
Click here to view the full list of AEA Evaluator Competencies.
This 3-credit course will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to use various data collection tools commonly used in evaluation. In the data collection phase of an evaluation, evaluators gather credible evidence to answer the evaluation questions within practical, time, and resource constraints. By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
Offered Fall Semester Only; No Prerequisites
Click here to view the full list of AEA Evaluator Competencies.
Students in this 3-credit course will learn about quantitative statistics, data management, and data analysis in an evaluation context. This course will focus specifically on foundational descriptive statistics and their applications and limitations in program evaluation. Students will also receive an introduction to the logic of inferential statistics, and their applications in evaluation. Student will build practical skills in conducting, interpreting, and reporting corresponding quantitative data analyses, in a widely used statistical software program (SPSS).
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
Offered Spring Semester Only; No Prerequisites
Click here to view the full list of AEA Evaluator Competencies.
In this 3-credit course students will be familiarized with qualitative and mixed method designs that are commonly used in program evaluation. Qualitative and mixed-method designs and data analytic approaches are essential for process and outcome evaluation. Students will learn basic approaches to qualitative and mixed method data analysis. By the end of the semester students will be expected to:
Offered Spring and Summer Semesters; No Prerequisites
Click here to view the full list of AEA Evaluator Competencies.
In this 3-credit course we will cover principles of effective communication and reporting. For evaluations to meet their aim of improving social programming and informing program and policy decisions, evaluators have to communicate findings effectively and promote their appropriate use. Students will learn how to develop a dissemination plan, facilitate stakeholder meetings and workshops, generate actionable recommendations, display data, and present findings using multiple modalities. By the end of the semester students will be expected to:
Offered Spring Semester Only; No Prerequisites
Click here to view the full list of AEA Evaluator Competencies.
To fulfill the requirements for the Master's Degree in Program Evaluation, students must complete 12 credit hours of practicum (PSY 889) over the course of two semesters. Practicum involves working alongside evaluation practitioners in a professional evaluation setting, applying the theory, methods, and practice skills learned in the classroom. This 1-credit course prepares students for the practicum in two ways. First, the course is designed to guide students through the process of securing a practicum placement, and second, it teaches students to think critically about ethical challenges and action when working in the evaluation profession.
By the end of the semester students will have:
Offered Spring Semester Only; No Prerequisites
In this 3-credit course students will learn about inferential statistics and quantitative data analysis in an evaluation context. This course will build upon material from Evaluation Statistics I. The course will cover additional inferential statistics and will introduce students to other statistical tools and data analysis issues, such as handling missing data, using statistics to determine sample size and match comparison groups, and non-parametric statistics. Student will build practical skills in conducting, interpreting and reporting corresponding quantitative data analyses, in SPSS.
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
Offered Summer Semester Only; Prerequisite PSY 883
Click here to view the full list of AEA Evaluator Competencies.
It’s one thing to do an evaluation by yourself, or to have a role on an evaluation team. It takes a very different set of skills to direct or manage an evaluation from start to finish. This 3-credit course puts students in the driver’s seat and engages them in thinking about what it takes to lead an evaluation, from soup (preparing the evaluation plan and budget) to nuts (orchestrating the pieces; facilitating use along the way; and delivering the results and promised products within a budget, timeline and certain expectations for quality). Students will learn the business aspects of evaluation management, such as writing evaluation proposals, negotiating and managing contracts, estimating and managing costs, and delivering results on time and within a budget. Students will learn the technical aspects of management, such as assuring quality of data collection and processing, facilitating use of evaluation processes and products for learning, obtaining IRB approval, and working with advisory groups. Students will learn relationship management such as leading an evaluation team, managing client relationships, verbal and nonverbal communications, and running effective meetings. The course focuses on the application of basic project management strategies to the management of program evaluations. Course content is divided into the four phases of project management: (1) planning, (2) executing, (3) controlling, and (4) closing.
By the end of the semester students will be expected to be able to:
Offered Fall Semester Only; No Prerequisites
Click here to view the full list of AEA Evaluator Competencies.
Program Evaluation Practicum is a two-semester, 6-credit, supervised practical application course in which students work alongside evaluation practitioners in a professional evaluation setting to gain first-hand understanding of how to apply the theory, methods, and skills learned in prior classes. This course provides students with the opportunity to further develop their evaluation skills by immersion in a real-world setting in which evaluations are currently being conducted. Settings might include government agencies, human service organizations, educational settings, healthcare organizations, and for-profit and nonprofit evaluation firms. Placements may be with internal or external evaluation entities.
Part 1 - Summer Semester Only
Part 2 - Fall Semester Only
Click here to view the full list of AEA Evaluator Competencies.
To earn the program evaluation masters, students must complete the full suite of courses offered. This includes eight core content courses (24 credits) and a three-semester practicum sequence (13 credits).
To earn the program evaluation certificate, students must complete four of the eight core content courses (12 credits) as follows: 1) PSY 880: Foundations of Evaluation; 2) either PSY 881: Evaluation Design or PSY 884: Qualitative and Mixed Method Evaluation; and 3) any two of the other core content courses not already completed.
All of our courses except the practicum (PSY 886 & 889) can be taken for professional development through the MSU Lifelong Education program. Contact us to find out if there is space available.
Find more information about the requirements on the Programs page.