The graduate certificate program in institutional research is an 15-credit program designed to provide students with the skills that support institutional planning and policy formation. Enrolling in this program can greatly benefit in-career professionals, institutional researchers, graduate students, and persons employed in related fields. You can choose to take the courses for the certificate entirely online or take by traditional means at Penn State University Park. In addition, individual online courses will be open on a space-available basis to those who are seeking to upgrade their skills but do not wish to complete the entire certificate program.
Course List - Graduate Certificate in Institutional Research
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Institutional Research | HI ED 801 | Explores concepts, methodologies and research practices that support campus decision making: national datasets, planning and budgeting, enrollment management and enrollment forecasting, faculty studies and instructional analysis, institutional effectiveness and accreditation, educational effectiveness and student outcomes assessment. | 3 credits |
| Designing Institutional Research Studies | HI ED 830 | Teaches best practices and necessary skills in quantitative and qualitative research design, including sampling and basic measurement issues, research methods, survey research, interviews, focus groups, and selecting appropriate statistical tools. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration in Higher Education | HI ED 552 | Philosophy of administration; principles of scientific management and their application in colleges and universities; case studies of administrative problems. | 3 credits |
| Higher Education Students and Clientele | HI ED 556 | Characteristics of higher postsecondary education students and other clientele; changes during postsecondary education years and during college; educational challenges and responses. | 3 credits |
| Internship in Higher Education | HI ED 595 | Supervised experience in administrative offices, in research, on instructional teams, and in college teaching. | 3 credits |
| Planning and Resource Management in Higher Education | HI ED 810 | Provides a working knowledge of strategic planning and resource management in higher education, especially in terms of pragmatic skills and decision-support tools relevant to institutional researchers. | 3 credits |
| Assessing Student Outcomes and Evaluating Academic Programs | HI ED 840 | Examines institutional effectiveness: evaluating academic programs, assessing student learning outcomes, coping with accountability and accreditation demands. Assessment topics include studies of students' basic skills, general education, knowledge in the major, personal growth, and alumni studies. | 3 credits |
| Analyzing Faculty Workload, Performance, and Compensation | HI ED 850 | Topics include measuring faculty workload, evaluating faculty research productivity, the uses and misuses of student ratings, assessment for promotion and tenure, and methodologies for conducting salary studies. | 3 credits |
| Conducting Enrollment Management Studies | HI ED 860 | Studies the three stages of enrollment management: (1) Pre-admission (attracting, admitting, and enrolling students), (2) The Initial Student Experience (orientation, advisement, curricular access, and student support services), (3) Student Success (persistence, academic achievement, graduation, and employment). | 3 credits |
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.