The 18-hour Quantitative Research Certificate (QRC) is designed to prepare researchers and scholars to be users and critical consumers of quantitative research. Certificate holders are trained in various methods in order to conduct rigorous, scientific quantitative research.

Students completing the QRC (depending on the chosen track) will be able to:

• • Design effective experimental and quasi-experimental studies

• • Manage and use large scale datasets

• • Analyze various types of datasets (e.g., nested data, longitudinal data) with the appropriate modeling techniques

• • Apply advanced statistical methods (e.g., structural equation modeling, multilevel modeling) in their own research

• • Critically review studies that make use of a diverse set of statistical methods
  • Conduct measurement related studies using techniques such as factor analysis or item response theory

Requirements

Earning the Quantitative Research Certificate (QRC) requires students to complete 18 hours of approved coursework, as outlined below, with a grade of at least a B in all courses. A typical plan of study, which must be approved by the QRC committee, includes the following courses:

• • ESCP 7170 Introduction to Applied Statistics*

• • ESCP 8082 Foundations of Educational & Psychological Measurement

• • ESCP 8850 Quantitative Foundations In Educational Research
  • Two courses from: ESCP 8087 Generalized Linear Models, ESCP 9710 Structural Equation Modeling, or ESCP 9720 Hierarchical Linear Modeling
  • Two Elective Courses (see QRC Initial Plan of Study form for suggested courses)

*ESCP 7170 Introduction to Applied Statistics is a prerequisite and does not count toward the 18 hour certificate

Apply

The QRC is a stand-alone graduate certificate program and is available to all current and prospective graduate students. To apply, see either the below process for current or prospective MU graduate students:

Current Graduate Students

For current MU graduate students, “good standing” in the current academic degree program is required and the following documents should be submitted to quantcertificate@missouri.edu:

• • Two letters of recommendation (one of which should be a letter of support from the current degree advisor)

• • CV/resume

• • The QRC Application/Initial Plan of Study Form

• • Unofficial academic transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work

• Upon acceptance, an Application for Graduate Change of Program, Degree, Emphasis, or Adviser form must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies with:
  • • A new program/department should be added to current degree program
  • The new “Academic Program” should be Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology and the “Emphasis” area should be Quantitative Research Certificate

Prospective Graduate Students

Individuals not currently an MU graduate student will need to meet the minimum requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies and apply for the QRC by submitting the following documents using the MU Office of Graduate Studies application:

• • Two letters of recommendation

• • CV/resume
  • The QRC Application/Initial Plan of Study Form

• • Unofficial academic transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work

• • Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
  • Tests taken within the last 5 years with a preferred quantitative score of 152.
    • Institution code: 6875

• Non-native English speakers must score at least a 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL or 6.5 on the Academic IELTS. In addition, it is expected that applicants will achieve subsection minimums of no less than 17 on IBT, 52 on PBT or 6.0 on IELTS (subsections: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing).

Deadlines and Completion

Applications for the QRC are reviewed twice a year:

• Spring applications are due by March 15th
• Fall applications are due by October 15th

To receive the QRC, all Office of Graduate Studies Certificate Completion Requirements must be met, and the QRC requires at least a B in all applicable course work.

Contact

For more information about the quantitative research certificate, email quantcertificate@missouri.edu.