Program Evaluation Graduate Certificate Course of Study

To complete the Program Evaluation Graduate Certificate, students must earn 15 credits from our required and elective offerings. This program is available to graduate students and non-degree graduate students; its 15 credits are transitional, Should you subsequently apply and be accepted to a degree-granting program, up to 15 credits earned as a UMass Amherst graduate certificate student may be applied to satisfy graduate degree requirements. Any application of such credit must be approved by the program/department and must be appropriate to the program. 

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Required Courses (12 credits)

  • Foundations of Program Evaluation, EDUC 601P 
  • Program Evaluation Methods, EDUC 615M 
  • Data Visualization and Facilitating Use in Program Evaluation, EDUC 686V 
  • Capstone in Program Evaluation Practice, EDUC 682C 

Elective Course (3 credits)

Students can take nearly any appropriate graduate level course as an elective. The elective course should enable the student to acquire knowledge and skill in an area related to program evaluation. The student chooses the course in coordination with the Program Evaluation Graduate Certificate instructional team. 

Sample Elective Courses 

  • EDUC 696C - Independent Study in Educational Leadership (developed in conjunction with your Advisor)
  • EDUC 641 - Assessment, Evaluation & Research in Higher Education
  • EDUC 555 - Introduction to Educational Statistics
  • EDUC 615X - Designing Digital Media for Teaching & Learning
  • EDUC 643 - Foundations of Higher Education
  • EDUC 644 - Critical Perspectives on Equity & Justice in Higher Education
  • EDUC 678 - Cultural Studies and Education in a Socially Just World
  • EDUC 682 - Supporting Student Success
  • EDUC 691E - Confronting Oppression in Education
  • EDUC 723 - Organizing Higher Education
  • EDUC 785 - Social Network Analysis
  • EDUC 787 - Im/migration, Development, and Education
  • EDUC 624 - Critical Histories, Ideas, and Praxis in Social Justice Education
  • EDUC 622J  Education for SJE Self-Awareness
  • PSYCH 891A Prejudice, Stereotyping, and Social Identity
  • EDUC 671 Survey Research Methods (Q)
  • EDUC 871 Design & Evaluation of Educational Programs

Aren't currently a UMass student, but want to take a course?

​​You can enroll yourself in our courses through SPIRE, the student information system for the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

1.  Create a student account. Go to spire.umass.edu. On the right hand menu, under “Apply/References” click on “Non-Degree Enrollment Application” and fill out the form there. Please note that although there is a field for Social Security Number, you do NOT need a Social Security Number to apply – just leave that field blank.You will receive an email with your NetID and password (this may take up to 3 days.)

2.  Get an enrollment appointment. Once you have received your NetID and password, activate your account and log in to SPIRE (spire.umass.edu) with your new NetID and password.

·    Go to Main Menu > Enrollment > Summer/Wntr/Non-degr Enroll Appt and follow the instructions.

·    (NOTE: It can take 1-2 days for SPIRE to recognize your NetID, so if you do not see these screens, try again the next day.)

3.  Register for the class. The enrollment appointment should be available immediately.

·    Go to Main Menu > Enrollment > Add Classes.

·    Search for the class (ex, EDUC 690P). If you are a current student enrolled in a UMass Amherst degree program, select the University section. If you are a non-degree Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) student, select the CPE section.

·    Add the class to your Shopping Cart, then select the class from the Cart to enroll.

View example step-by-step screenshots for Step 2: Get an enrollment appointment.

View example step-by-step screenshots for Step 3: Register for class.

If you are having trouble with registration, please contact the Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) Registrar’s Office at regoff [at] oe [dot] umass [dot] edu or (413) 545-3653.

For more information, please email evaluation [at] umass [dot] edu

Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation
College of Education, University of Massachusetts Amherst
813 North Pleasant St
Amherst, MA 01003