Certificate in Institutional Research
Certificate in Institutional Research:Officer Analyst
The听Certificate in Institutional Research听prepares professionals for higher education careers as institutional research officers and analysts. Our geographic proximity to the concentration of academic and nonprofit institutions in the Greater Boston and Northeast region鈥攁nd our extraordinary alumni network鈥攑rovide significant opportunities to enhance your professional career.
Curriculum
The curriculum for the Certificate in Institutional Research听prepares professionals for higher education careers as institutional research officers and analysts.
Requirements
- Courses: 4
- Credits: 12
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| Course | Course Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| MESA6830 | Interpretation and Evaluation of Research This course will improve a students' understanding of the empirical research literature in education and psychology. It concentrates on developing the conceptual foundations of empirical research and the practical analytic skills needed by a competent reader and user of research articles. Topics address purpose statements, hypotheses, sampling techniques, sample sizes and power, instrument development, internal and external validity, and typical quantitative research designs. Exercises emphasize the critical evaluation of published research. Each student will develop a research proposal. | 3 |
MESA6410 OR MESA6420 | Introductory Statistics听 An introduction to descriptive statistics. Topics include methods of data summarization and presentation; measures of central tendency and variability, correlation and linear regression; the normal distribution; probability; and an introduction to hypothesis testing. Provides computer instruction on PC and Mac platforms and in the SPSS statistical package. OR Intermediate Statistics听 Topics and computer exercises address tests of means, partial and part correlations, multiple regression, analysis of variance with planned and post hoc comparisons, analysis of covariance, repeated measures analysis, elements of experimental design, and power analysis. | 3 |
MESA6820 OR MESA6210 | Foundations in Research Methodology This course explores foundational concepts that influence the methodologies and methods employed by social science researchers. Core topics explored include: the Enlightenments influence on scientific inquiry; the influence of empiricism, positivism, and universalism on social science research; objectivity and subjectivity; verification and falsification; quantification and standardization; the construction of mental ability and intelligence. OR Instrument Design and Development This course explores principles and techniques applied to develop cognitive tests and survey instruments. Topics covered include: validity and reliability; construct definition and representation; item writing principles; bias, sensitivity, and accessibility; cross-cultural considerations; scaling methods; and techniques for examining item and scale properties.听 | 3 |
| MESA6310 | Evaluation Practice and Methods This course introduces the process of conducting evaluations from beginning to end. Evaluation is a form of applied social science research focused on systematically assessing the value--merit, worth, or significance--of interventions. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to evaluation, this course draws on scholarly articles and examples from multiple fields including education, public health, social services, and international development and addressing evaluation at various scales including program, organizational, and systems-level evaluations. By the end of the course, students will gain knowledge of how to carry out evaluations; apply this knowledge to develop evaluation plans for real-world interventions; and gain skills to critique existing evaluations supporting their development as informed, critical consumers of evaluations. | 3 |
Deadlines
- Rolling Admissions
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A non-refundable application fee of $75 is required, however, this fee is waived for select applicants.
Resume
In addition to your academic history and relevant work experience, please include:
- Any teaching or counseling experience (including any licenses already held);
- Any social justice related experience;听
- Any language skills other than English (especially Spanish language skills) and;
- Any research experience or publications
Personal Statement
To be uploaded to your online Application Form.
In 1,000-1,500 words, describe your academic and professional goals, any experience relevant to this program, and your future plans, expectations, and aspirations.
Transcripts
All official undergraduate and graduate transcripts must be sent to our office before the application deadline. Please note the following:
Only official sealed (unopened) transcripts are acceptable. An official postsecondary transcript must be printed on official institutional paper and include at least one of the following: an institutional watermark, the registrar鈥檚 signature, or the registrar's seal.
Copies and unofficial transcripts sent directly from applicants are not acceptable, the transcript must come directly from the institution.
If you are a current student and have not completed your undergraduate and/or graduate degree, the most updated version of your transcript is acceptable.
Official electronic transcripts are accepted when sent directly to gsoe@bc.edu from the institution. When requesting electronic transcripts, you must manually type in gsoe@bc.edu to ensure it is received by our office.听
Mailed transcript(s) should be sent to the following address:
Lynch Office of Graduate Admissions, Boston College
Campion Hall 135
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Quick Links
Contact Us
听gsoe@bc.edu
听617-552-4214