Educational Research Methods and Policy Studies

Transform Your Career with Research Skills

Research Methods in Education (RMinE) is a flexible online program designed to expand your research skills and prepare you for a career change, expanded responsibilities in your current position, or doctoral studies. The coursework is interdisciplinary where you will be exposed to research methods coursework that draws from perspectives in policy, psychology, pedagogy, and history. Graduates of our program have the expertise to work in certification, licensing, and testing in a wide variety of fields. After completing our program you will be able to:

• Identify and develop theoretically-sound, empirically-based research plans.
• Apply research skills and data analysis to real-world problems in education and other settings.
• Use statistical software programs, including SPSS, to analyze data and produce meaningful results.
• Communicate research findings to expert and non-expert audiences.
   

Admissions Application overview

GRE scores are not required.  
Your completed application will contain the following documents:

1. Personal Statement
   In less than 500 words explain how your personal goals align with what the program offers.
    
2. CV
   Please include work history, any certifications/license, publications and research, and hobbies or special interests.
    
3. Letters of Recommendation
   Two letters to help us determine the likelihood of your success in graduate school and confirm your description of your goals for study.  At least half of your letters should come from people who know your academic work (or at least your writing and analysis skills). You will be asked for your recommender’s email address as a step in the application portal. If email is not an option, you may ask your recommenders to send written letters directly to the department via postal mail.
    
4. Transcript(s)
   These will come directly from your prior institutions to UK Graduate School. Do not have them sent to the department. You may upload non-certified copies as placeholder for review, but official copies must be received for admission.

Additional details for Admissions Review Process can be viewed here.

course of study

The masters degree combines 21 hours of core courses (12 of which come from the Graduate Certificate in RMinE and are applicable towards the masters degree) and 15 hours in one area of concentration (quantitative methods, evaluation, or research design) for a total of 37 hours.

Core Courses (19 credits). 

• EPE/EDP 557: Gathering, Using, and Analyzing Educational Data I, OR
• EPE/EDP 558: Gathering, Using, and Analyzing Educational Data II
• EPE 571: Writing Seminar in Ed Research
• EPE 601: Proseminar (1 credit)
• EPE 602: Social Policy Issues in Education
• EPE 619: Survey Research
• EPE/EDP 620: Introduction to Evaluation
• EPE 663: Field Studies in Educational Settings
• One contextual studies (i.e. non-research methods) course

​Please refer to the MS in Research Methods program planning sheet for more information.
Course description and syllabi can be accessed here.

Concentration Areas (18 credits).
Each ERMPS student will choose one concentration on which to focus. The four areas of concentration are 
(1) Quantitative Methods          (2) Evaluation/Assessment
(3) Research Design                   (4) Policy Studies

All suggested electives are available in an online format and details can be viewed here.  

*THIS PROGRAM OPERATES UNDER ROLLING ADMISSIONS.  Apply anytime.