The eight course minimum requirement for the M.S. degree makes it practicable to complete all degree requirements for SMART in one academic year of full-time study. Studies leading to this M.S. degree include coursework, a research apprenticeship, and a written general examination in the content of SMART. The program provides understanding and skills in data collection, management and processing, measurement theory and test construction, survey design, statistical analysis, and reporting assessment strategies.

See PREM/SMART Overview for detailed information.


The M.S. degree curriculum is designed to:

• prepare graduates for mid-level research, testing, and evaluation positions in education, the social sciences, and other professional fields
• prepare students to pursue advanced graduate studies

Graduates will be prepared to:

• plan, generate, and manage sophisticated quantitative databases
• import and merge data from diverse media; to transform data for subsequent statistical treatment
• to conduct and interpret univariate and multivariate statistical analyses
• to design and interpret surveys and measures of performance and ability
• to evaluate programs and policies through quantitative studies
• to report results for dissemination and policy development

Relevant positions are found in testing and research units of public school districts and state departments of education, public and private research organizations, medical and pharmaceutical organizations, and state and federal criminal justice systems.

Master of Science (M.S.)

The program requires a minimum of eight course units and is possible to complete in one year of full-time study. The coursework includes statistical methods, measurement, evaluation, research technology, and policy research. Seven course units constitute the core and one elective satisfies the GSE distributional requirement. The program also requires a research apprenticeship and a general examination.

Required Courses (7)

• EDUC 547.007 Data Processing and Analysis
• EDUC 767   Regression and Analysis of Variance
• EDUC 684   Measurement and Psychological Assessment
• EDUC 768   Measurement Theory and Test Construction
• EDUC 680   Evaluation of Policies, Programs and Projects
• EDUC 683   Survey Methods and Design
• EDUC 829   Policy Research Seminar

  In addition, EDUC 667 Introduction to Statistics or the equivalent is required upon degree matriculation, or must be taken during the first term of study as a ninth course unit for the M.S. degree. The M.S. degree then will require more than two full terms of course registration since a maximum of 4 CUs per term is permitted.

Distribution requirement (1)

All GSE masters students must satisfy a distributional requirement that demonstrates breadth within the field of education.  This requirement is fulfilled by enrolling in one course unit in the Graduate School of Education but outside of the Policy, Management and Evaluation Division.

Research Apprenticeship

In as much as M.S. degree students are preparing for careers in empirical research, primarily using quantitative methods, an integral part of the learning experience is completion of an individually tailored research apprenticeship arranged in consultation with the student’s advisor. The purpose is to provide the student with practical research experience on an ongoing basis during the course of master’s studies. This arrangement will be by mutual agreement of the student, the student’s advisor, and perhaps an alternate faculty sponsor. Typically, the student will participate in significant aspects of faculty research in progress. The nature of the research apprenticeship will vary with the student’s preparation, the characteristics of the research, and the stage of the research. This experience involves a commitment of six hours per week for an academic year. Performance in the research apprenticeship must be satisfactory, as certified by a student’s Academic Advisor, as a condition for admission to General Examination for the M.S. degree.

Advising

Upon admission, each student will be assigned an academic advisor who will aid in the planning of the course of study and professional development.

Comprehensive Examination

Toward the end of completion of course requirements, M.S. degree students are required to pass a written general examination in the core content of SMART. Details of this examination requirement and procedures are stated in the current edition of the Penn GSE Student Handbook.

• Penn GSE Application
• Application fee
• Score report from the Graduate Records Examination (as reported by ETS)
• Statement of purpose
• Three letters of recommendation
• Academic transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions
• International applicants must also supply the score report from the TOEFL or IELTS examinations

Application Deadline

Applications for the masters programs are reviewed on a rolling basis until the degree program is full. Both full-time and part-time study may be accommodated. Full-time students are advised to matriculate in the fall.

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