Quantitative Research, Evaluation, and Measurement
Degrees Offered
M.A. Degree
Overview
Students may pursue a thesis option requiring a minimum of 45 credit hours, or a non-thesis option requiring a minimum of 50 credit hours and a comprehensive examination. In each option, students are required to take at least 30 hours of courses in QREM, or related methodology courses in other program areas with a minimum of 21 of those hours at the 800 level. For example, students have taken courses in departments such as statistics, psychology, agricultural education, and social work. All students are also required to take a 3-hour course in multicultural issues in education, and 6 hours (2 courses) in educational foundations.
Students electing the thesis option will have 11 of their credit hours in independent study to assist them in completing the thesis. Students electing the 50-hour option will design the remainder of their program with their advisor. Typically they take courses in a cognate area and/or some of the remaining hours may be taken as independent study in an area of interest. Courses taken by master degree students usually cut across the three interrelated areas of the section. Examples of the master's thesis and non-thesis options are provided in the credit requirements section below.
| Credit Requirements | |
| Master's Degree (Non-Thesis Option) |
Master's Degree (Thesis Option) |
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Ph.D. Degree
Overview
Students will be required to take at least 75 hours beyond the Master's Degree for a Doctorate. The Ph.D. program in QREM consists of approximately 69 hours of coursework with additional hours in independent study and dissertation research credits. While many of the 69 hours are QREM courses, a portion of the student's program is devoted to a minor or cognate area of interest. The program is designed in accord with these guidelines by the advisor and the student. The student will also be required to take a 3-hour course in multicultural issues in education, and 6 hours (2 courses) in educational foundations.
Credit Requirements:
- 24 credits of basic QREM courses
- 24 or more credits of advanced QREM courses
- 3 credits in a multicultural course
- 6 credits in two educational foundations courses
- a minimum of 6 credits of dissertation study
- Successful completion of general exam ination and dissertation
Doctoral courses may also be selected from the other offerings of the College of Education and Human Ecology, and departments such as Psychology, Statistics, Sociology, Management and Administrative Sciences, and others. In addition to the 24 credits of basic QREM courses, the Ph.D. students generally enroll in coursework in the following areas.
- Apprenticeship Experiences
Teaching. When possible, we will provide teaching assistantships for doctoral students by involving them in the teaching of courses. All such teaching will be done under the aegis of a faculty member who will be the instructor of record for the course. Some teaching will be part of a supervised internship in lab-based demonstration experiences using computer technology and software.
Research. Doctoral students will be expected to participate in a number of research experiences culminating in a dissertation, the results of which may be published in an appropriate scholarly journal.
- Candidacy Examination
The Comprehensive Examination for the QREM program consists of two primary components. The first is the development of a portfolio that will demonstrate each student's specific training and coursework within QREM as well as their professional development as a researcher. The second component of the comprehensives is an oral defense. Contents of the portfolio will be negotiated with the student's advisor. The portfolio is submitted and defended orally to the student's advisory committee (4 members, at least two of whom must be from QREM), who are responsible for overseeing the comprehensive examination and evaluating the student. Preparation of the portfolio should begin during or following the second year of graduate study.
- Dissertation Study (minimum of 6 credits)
Doctoral students complete a minimum of 6 credits of dissertation research. It is expected that the results of the dissertation will be submitted for presentation at a national conference and for publication in an appropriate scholarly journal.