Master's Program

Program Requirements

Students interested in pursuing a Master of Education (MEd) degree in Measurement, Evaluation, and Data Science (MEDS) have two options: course-based or thesis-based.

The purpose of the course-based program is to provide students with a solid foundation in measurement, evaluation, and data science through extensive coursework. The program requires 8 courses and a capping project. Capping projects are not independent research projects and thus they can be very diverse. For example, they can include a literature review, a short demonstration, or the development of an instructional module. This program is taken by students who do not plan to pursue a PhD degree in MEDS. Students in the course-based program can enroll in either a full-time or a part-time program.

By comparison, the purpose of the thesis-based program is to provide students with a solid foundation in measurement, evaluation, and data science through both coursework and independent research. Students in this program must complete 7 courses and conduct a thesis research. A Master's thesis involves conducting independent research which includes a literature review, methodology, data collection and analysis, and conclusions and implications. This program is taken by students who want the option of pursuing a PhD degree in MEDS. Students in the thesis-based program can only enroll full-time.

Please note that both the course-based and thesis-based MEDS programs are not online programs. If you have any questions regarding the differences between course-based and thesis-based programs, please contact the MEDS program coordinator. In addition, prospective students are advised to contact the faculty members they are interested in working with before applying for the MEDS program.

Students must complete the following courses depending on which option they choose:

Course-Based MEd:

Eight 3-credit courses, including the following three required courses:

• EDPY 500 Introduction to Data Analysis in Educational Research *3
• EDPY 501 Introduction to Research Methods *3
• EDPY 507 Measurement Theory *3

In addition to the three required courses listed above, students must complete at least five more 3-credit courses related to their area of specialization and a capping project (EDPY 903).

Thesis-Based MEd:

Seven 3-credit courses, including the following three required courses:

• EDPY 501 Introduction to Research Methods *3
• EDPY 505 Quantitative Methods I *3
• EDPY 507 Measurement Theory I *3

In addition to the three required courses listed above, students must complete at least four more 3-credit courses related to their area of specialization and a thesis.