COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Learn more about the Professional Science Master's in Applied Research and Evaluation.
About the Program
Growing awareness of the importance of data-informed planning and decision-making, increased availability and ease of collection of data, and rising emphasis on accountability in a wide array of educational and organizational settings have served to increase demand for personnel with applied research knowledge, skills and abilities across educational, nonprofit, for-profit and governmental organizations. The Professional Science Master's degree in Applied Research and Evaluation offers a graduate curriculum that enables students to study advanced conceptual and theoretical principles and methodological and statistical procedures while simultaneously developing expertise and experience with applied research and program evaluation studies in educational and organizational settings.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 5 years
Campus Location: Main
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Full-time students complete the degree program by taking classes during the day and in the evening. Part-time students take classes that start after 4:00 p.m.
Areas of Specialization: The program offers two areas of concentration:
- Applied Educational Psychology focuses on the development of research and evaluation skills for PreK-16 educational settings.
- Organizational Research and Development focuses on the development of research and evaluation skills for use in nonprofit, for-profit and governmental institutions.
Job Prospects: The PSM degree in Applied Research and Evaluation is designed to prepare students for applied positions focusing on research and development within educational and organizational settings. Academic settings may include research centers, institution evaluation units, and research and planning units within institutions of higher learning. Other organizational settings may include applied research and development units within the public and private sectors, as well as units within nonprofit and for-profit entities.
Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Students may take up to, but not more than, 9 credits of graduate study in the program before being admitted to the program. The credits transfer into the program, if the student is admitted. Students completing non-matriculated courses before being admitted to the program are NOT guaranteed admission.
Financing Opportunities: Financial support opportunities may include scholarships, tuition remission, and other financial aid such as grants, loans and federal work study.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: March 1
Spring: November 1
Applicants should submit all required admissions documents by the application deadline to receive priority consideration for admission and financial support.
APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained to provide insight regarding the applicant's academic competence. References from college/university faculty are recommended.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A bachelor's degree is required. A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is expected.
Transcripts: Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all accredited institutions attended and/or from which credit was earned must be submitted.
International applicants must also submit an official document, including a course-by-course evaluation conducted by a NACES-accredited organization, that validates completion and conferral of a degree, diploma and/or certificate. While not required, international applicants are encouraged to submit transcript(s) to World Education Services (WES) for evaluation.
Statement of Goals: In 500 to 1,000 words, outline your interest in seeking a master’s degree with a specific focus on the career to which you aspire, your interests, and your academic and job-related experiences that are relevant to the program.
Standardized Test Scores: Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:
- TOEFL iBT: 79
- IELTS Academic: 6.5
- PTE Academic: 53
Resume: Current resume required.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| EDUC 5262 | Introduction to Qualitative Research | 3 |
| EDUC 8401 | Philosophical Foundations of Educational Research | 3 |
| or EDUC 8403 | Understanding Social Science | |
| EDUC 8404 | Quantitative Analysis, Part I | 3 |
| EPSY 8627 | Introduction to Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| Advanced Methods Course 1 | 3 | |
| Select one from the following: | ||
| Class Discourse | ||
| Ethnographic Research Methods | ||
| Quantitative Analysis, Part II | ||
| Advanced Data Analysis 2 | ||
| Concentration Courses 3 | 9 | |
| Culminating Courses 4 | 6 | |
| Applied Research and Evaluation Internship | ||
| Research Apprenticeship | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Students may select an alternate advanced methods course with approval from the program advisor.
- 2
EPSY 8825 Advanced Data Analysis requires completion of EDUC 8405 Quantitative Analysis, Part II.
- 3
Three courses are taken. The approved courses are delineated in the concentration grids below.
- 4
Over two academic terms, 6 credits of EDUC 9185 and/or EDUC 9991 are taken in any of the following iterations: 6 credits of EDUC 9185, 6 credits of EDUC 9991, or 3 credits of EDUC 9185 and 3 credits of EDUC 9991.
PSM with No Concentration
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three College of Education courses at the 5000 level or higher 1 | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
- 1
Students select their courses in consultation with their academic advisor.
OR PSM with Optional Concentration in Applied Educational Psychology
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 8501 | Motivation in Education | 3 |
| EPSY 5551 | Introduction to Program Evaluation | 3 |
| or AOD 5535 | Organizational Assessment, Design and Strategy | |
| EPSY 5561 | Development and Learning Over the Lifespan | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
OR PSM with Optional Concentration in Organizational Research and Development
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AOD 5404 | Organizational Development | 3 |
| Select two from the following: | 6 | |
| Sociocultural Dynamics | ||
| Organizational Assessment, Design and Strategy | ||
| Tests and Measurements | ||
| Introduction to Program Evaluation | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Culminating Event: Students complete coursework to earn the degree, including internship and/or apprenticeship credits taken across two academic terms. Students elect to take:
- EDUC 9185 Applied Research and Evaluation Internship, which allows for engagement in a supervised work experience in an applied research and evaluation capacity in schools, business or government; and/or
- EDUC 9991 Research Apprenticeship, which actively engages the student in faculty-mentored research and production of a scholarly product such as a submission to an academic conference, an article or chapter, or a grant proposal.
Contacts
Program Web Address:
https://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/applied-research-and-evaluation-psm-ed-arev-psm
Department Information:
Dept. of Psychological Studies in Education
College of Education and Human Development
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6091
215-204-0999