|
 Doctoral Program in Measurement and Quantitative Methods
The doctoral program in Measurement and Quantitative Methods (MQM) prepares students wishing to specialize in the methodology of educational research, the development of educational and psychological tests, and the methodology of statistics as applied to problems in educational research. Specifically, MQM students prepare for positions as faculty members in education, psychology, or applied statistics; in the testing industry; and in statelevel and national departments of education where program evaluation and the development, administration and analysis of tests and surveys are key activities.
Doctoral students in MQM choose between two specializations--measurement and statistics. Students interested in applications of quantitative methods to issues relating to classroom and large-scale assessment, instrument development, survey administration, and program evaluation adopt the measurement specialty (assessment, measurement, and evaluation). Students with a strong interest in the development of new statistical analyses, the examination of research designs, and inquiry into the statistical properties and behaviors of statistical analyses pursue the statistics specialty.
Students in the assessment, measurement, and evaluation specialization take courses from MQM as well as establishing a cognate in education or another field (such as psychology, sociology, economics, or epidemiology). Students who pursue a specialization in statistics typically take courses in MQM and the Department of Statistics. All MQM doctoral students take courses to fulfill breadth requirements in the field of education.
Students may be admitted during the fall or spring terms, but applicants are encouraged to apply for fall admission to increase their chances of receiving financial support, to provide students with a smoother transition into the MSU community (via orientation and becoming members of a cohort), and to synchronize the student's coursework with the existing MSU course sequencing.
Students in the program must satisfy the following requirements:
- Complete a plan of study that includes both required and elective courses. The plan of study is formulatedby the student and the student's guidance committee (typically completed during the first year of study).
- Complete preliminary examinations (at the end of the first year of study).
- Complete an apprenticeship project under the supervision of an apprenticeship committee (typically completed during the second or third year of study).
- Complete comprehensive examinations (typically completed after at least 80% of the coursework on the plan of study is completed - after about four to five years of study).
- Conduct dissertation research, write a dissertation, and orally defend that dissertation (typically completed during the fourth or fifth year of study).
Any applicant wishing to be considered for financial support must submit a complete application by January 1 of the calendar year for which that student applies for admission. Only students who apply for admission to the fall semester are given full consideration for financial support. For more information, see http://ed-web3.educ.msu.edu/CEPSE/mqm/
|
