The Department of Education offers a Certificate in Advanced Quantitative Methodology in Educational Research open to all UCLA graduate students. Through focused quantitative coursework, along with participation in relevant seminars and talks, AQM certificate fellows pursue the in-depth study and applications of statistics (e.g. multilevel data analysis, latent variable modeling), measurement (e.g. item response theory, factor analysis, generalizability theory), or research design (e.g. causal inference, missing data, survey methods).

Coursework will be individually determined, and focus on one or more of these areas of quantitative methodology, as relevant to the research interests of the student.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Submission of an application form, including a statement of interest.
• Successful completion of six courses from a list of approved courses in advanced quantitative methodology offered by the Department of Education — one course offered by other departments on campus (e.g. statistics, psychology, political science, biostatistics, sociology) may be substituted for an Education class. Only one class may be taken Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

COURSEWORK:

Candidates for the certificate may choose six courses from the following courses in the Department of Education:

• 211A. Educational and Psychological Measurement: Underlying Theory and Practice
• 211B. Educational and Psychological Measurement: Generalizability Theory
• 211C. Advanced Item Response Theory
• 231A. Toolkit for Quantitative Methods Research
• M231B. Factor Analysis
• 231C. Analysis of Categorical and Other Nonnormal Data
• 231D. Advanced Quantitative Models in Nonexperimental Research: Multilevel Analysis
• M231E. Statistical Analysis with Latent Variables
• 255 [A, B, C] Special Topics in Advanced Quantitative Methods

Candidates may also choose one advanced quantitative methods course from other departments on campus, such as psychology, statistics, biostatistics, sociology, political science, and others. Above-listed Education classes taken prior to application will count toward certificate.

PRESENTATION:

A presentation of original research conducted by the student applying advanced quantitative methods to any area of or problem in education. This research should be presented in an advanced quantitative methods course in Education taught by Professors Cai, Jeon, Rickles, or Martinez, or a related methods seminar as deemed appropriate by the faculty. Advanced coordination of the presentation should be initiated by the student at the beginning of the term in which the course is being taken. 

PROCESS: 

Interested candidates should fill out a short application form providing their biographical information, a brief statement of interest and a tentative plan of six courses. Admission to the certificate program will be granted based on an assessment of the student’s statement of interest and proposed course plan. 

AWARD OF CERTIFICATE: 

Upon completion of course work, a presentation, and attendance to two or more talks and seminar sessions, students submit transcripts (and a document of the presentation) to Amy Gershon, Director of the Office of Student Services, to process the award of the certificate.  

For questions on the certificate, please contact Amy Gershon at gershon@gseis.ucla.edu. Click here to submit an application form.