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.

International applicants should also submit an official document that validates completion and conferral of a degree, diploma and/or certificate. While not required, international applicants are encouraged to submit transcript(s) to the World Education Services (WES) for evaluation.

Statement of Goals: In 500 to 1,000 words, outline your interest in seeking the Professional Science 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.

Other Requirement: Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all accredited institutions attended and/or from which credit was earned must be submitted.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30

Required Courses:

Core Courses
EDUC 5262Introduction to Qualitative Research3
EDUC 8401Philosophical Foundations of Educational Research3
or EDUC 8403 Understanding Social Science
EDUC 8404Quantitative Analysis, Part I3
EPSY 8627Introduction to Research Design and Methods3
Advanced Methods Course 13
Select one from the following:
Class Discourse
Ethnographic Research Methods
Quantitative Analysis, Part II
Advanced Data Analysis 2
Concentration Courses 39
Culminating Courses 46
Applied Research and Evaluation Internship
Research Apprenticeship
Total Credit Hours30
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

Select three College of Education courses at the 5000 level or higher 19
Total Credit Hours9
1

Students select their courses in consultation with their academic advisor.

OR PSM with Optional Concentration in Applied Educational Psychology

EDUC 8501Motivation in Education3
EPSY 5551Introduction to Program Evaluation3
or AOD 5535 Organizational Assessment, Design and Strategy
EPSY 5561Development and Learning Over the Lifespan3
Total Credit Hours9

OR PSM with Optional Concentration in Organizational Research and Development

AOD 5404Organizational Development3
Select two from the following:6
Sociocultural Dynamics
Organizational Assessment, Design and Strategy
Tests and Measurements
Introduction to Program Evaluation
Total Credit Hours9

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

educate@temple.edu

215-204-0999

Submission Address for Application Materials:

https://apply.temple.edu/CEHD

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Office of Enrollment Management

educate@temple.edu

215-204-0999

Graduate Advising:

College of Education and Human Development

gradcehd@temple.edu

Program Coordinator:

Dr. Joseph Ducette

joseph.ducette@temple.edu

Psychological Studies in Education Department Chair:

Dr. Shanta Hattikudur

shanta@temple.edu