Graduate Certificates

Many problems and challenges faced in communities are multilevel, long term and complicated. Often, information defining the problem and used for evidence to respond to the problem are incomplete or distrusted by key partners engaged in the problem. This course provides a chance to understand complex problems, what we will call wicked problems. We will learn how to define them (know them when we see them), identify the key partners engaged, understand the framing of the problem and the evidence used to inform problem definition as well as solution identification. We will talk about key wicked problems of our time and we will interrogate applied research approaches to these issues.

This course will focus on models of decision science and solution identification in applied settings. It is a foundational course of the MA in Program Design & Evaluation provides online graduate-level education for students and community partners across sectors who seek to advance and study solutions related to the 'grand challenges' of our time through interdisciplinary, community-focused and evidence-based approaches to problem solving and solution identification, monitoring, and evaluation. The fully online program is a community focused problem solving and evaluation research degree equipping students with knowledge and skills to design and implement community-focused and research-based solutions to problems situated in social systems, and to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of those solutions.

This course will focus on various approaches to planning, scale up and measurement of projects or interventions. These topics and skills address important questions in the intervention or program context by answering questions such as: How do I plan a program and its implementation? What if I want to make my program bigger and serve a wider audience (scale)? This course will address these questions and provide opportunities to apply frameworks and methods of planning, implementation science and project scale up to improve programs and their outcomes.

This course will focus on the methods and tools of monitoring and evaluation used to address identified challenges or problems.

This course will focus on theories and practice of culturally responsive engagement with focus on instructor-selected diverse populations who have historically faced group-based social inequities (historically referred to as vulnerable such as Indigenous populations, women in prison, people who misuse drugs, transgender populations, refugee, and immigrant populations. Students will discuss approaches and issues related to engaging diverse populations in research, program evaluation, coalitions, and translation of evaluation findings.

This course will focus on models and methods of disseminating research findings to inform movement to address a challenge or problem. Students will learn about audience, audience- and goal-specific messaging framing, data analytics, and findings presentation. Stakeholder audiences such as funders, consumers, community-based organizations, government officials, and community members will be considered. Students will develop and apply skills to disseminate research through program and policy briefs using multimedia platforms.

This course will focus on models of decision science and solution identification in applied settings. It is a foundational course of the MA in Program Design & Evaluation provides online graduate-level education for students and community partners across sectors who seek to advance and study solutions related to the 'grand challenges' of our time through interdisciplinary, community-focused and evidence-based approaches to problem solving and solution identification, monitoring, and evaluation. The fully online program is a community focused problem solving and evaluation research degree equipping students with knowledge and skills to design and implement community-focused and research-based solutions to problems situated in social systems, and to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of those solutions.

This course will introduce students to the history and practice of community-based participatory and action research (CBP-AR). Students will explore the range of options for power sharing, translating research into action, and elements of community partner support and development while considering research within the CBP-AR framework.

This course will focus on theories and practice of culturally responsive engagement with focus on instructor-selected diverse populations who have historically faced group-based social inequities (historically referred to as vulnerable such as Indigenous populations, women in prison, people who misuse drugs, transgender populations, refugee, and immigrant populations. Students will discuss approaches and issues related to engaging diverse populations in research, program evaluation, coalitions, and translation of evaluation findings.

Building and sustaining partnerships and coalitions is a key dimension of enacting positive social change. This course will introduce students to the basic concepts, theories, and strategies surrounding partnership and coalition development, maintenance, and evaluation. Students will utilize an applied learning and case study approach to assess the way in which underlying concepts, theories, and strategies are put into practice by community-based organizations engaging in social change efforts. In doing so, students will actively work to understand how to develop coalitions and partnerships and successfully navigate the inevitable challenges that arise when working in collaboration and community. Throughout the course we will pay particular attention to the role evaluators play as members of partnerships and coalitions.

This course will focus on the methods and tools of monitoring and evaluation used to address identified challenges or problems.

This elective course will expose students to the suite of approaches and tools used to plan and conduct applied research in community settings. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method approaches will be discussed.

This course will introduce students to the history and practice of community-based participatory and action research (CBP-AR). Students will explore the range of options for power sharing, translating research into action, and elements of community partner support and development while considering research within the CBP-AR framework.

This course will focus on models and methods of disseminating research findings to inform movement to address a challenge or problem. Students will learn about audience, audience- and goal-specific messaging framing, data analytics, and findings presentation. Stakeholder audiences such as funders, consumers, community-based organizations, government officials, and community members will be considered. Students will develop and apply skills to disseminate research through program and policy briefs using multimedia platforms.