Data Analysis, Assessment, & Research in Education MEd Course of Study

Course of Study 

Selected Core Courses in DAARE Course of Study:

EDUC 555 Introduction to Statistics and Computer Analysis I

The purpose of this course is to give students in the social sciences and, in particular, education, skills in statistical reasoning so that they will be critical readers of research literature in their fields and in a position to design research studies and analyze data on their own.

EDUC 661 Educational Research Methods I

Essential skills for conducting educational research.  Stating purposes and hypotheses, instrument development, research design, sampling, data analysis, interpreting results, and preparing research projects.

EDUC 753 Pro-seminar in Educational Assessment

This course gives students experience in significant practices in educational testing/evaluation. Topics covered include computer-based testing, assessment policy, new directions in evaluation and validation, and how to write research reports.

EDUC 632A Fundamentals of Test Construction

Enables students to construct educational assessments using a variety of item formats such as multiple-choice and performance-based items. The entire development process, including item writing and item review are covered.

EDUC 736 Item Response Theory

Introduction to modern test theory, often called item response theory. Topics include shortcomings of classical models and methods, basic concepts and item response theory models, parameter estimation, goodness of fit  procedures, and specific applications including test development, detection of biased test items, test score equating, large-scale assessment, score reporting, and computer-adaptive testing. Prerequisite: Educ 735.

EDUC 735 Classical Test Theory

Theory of mental tests beginning with the classical test theory model and including such topics as reliability, validity, item analysis and test development.

EDUC 633 Education and Public Policy

Introduction to the roles of federal, state, and local government in US K-12 education policy, the diverse ways of studying education policy, and to specific current policy issues including educational accountability, school finance, the controversy over school-district regionalization in Massachusetts, challenges facing urban schools, and how research affects education policy debates.

EDUC 690P (601P) Foundations of Program Evaluation

The purpose of this course is to provide general understanding and practical experience in program evaluation as applied to the area of education.  Various methods of program evaluation will be studied.