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Quantitative Analytics in Education and the Social Sciences: M.Ed. - Master of Education

Preparing students for research roles as applied data scientists in settings that involve working with large data sets to address questions of substantive importance.

At a Glance

Program Results

M.Ed. - Master of Education

Quantitative Analytics in Education and the Social Sciences

Career Objective

Work in school systems, state education departments, testing companies, state and federal governments, private companies, and other organizations in which data analytics play a role. 

Best Suited To

  • Current undergraduates looking to pursue more advanced training through completion of a doctorate degree in research methodology.
  • Existing professionals looking to complement their existing work. 

Program Type

  • Full Time
  • Part Time

Location

  • In-Person

Application Deadline

Fall entry:

  • January 15 (priority deadline)
  • July 1 (final deadline, depending upon availability)

Spring entry (part-time only): November 1

Credits

30

About This Program

  • The M.Ed. in Quantitative Analytics and the Social Sciences program prepares students for research roles as applied data scientists in settings that involve working with large data sets to address questions of substantive importance.
  • Graduates have been employed in school systems, state education departments, testing companies, research centers, and community colleges; and have been accepted into competitive doctoral programs.
  • Components of the M.Ed. program include courses that focus on the fundamentals of research design and data analytics. The program also includes elective courses that allow students to acquire a deeper understanding of, and expertise in, specialized methods of inquiry and analytic tools.

Students in the program will gain proficiency in:

  • managing and analyzing data,
  • constructing and interpreting research reports,
  • developing an understanding of measurement, survey, and research design, and
  • communicating analytic results and interpretations to broad audiences.

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

This program accepts the submission of Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores as part of the application process OR the applicant can choose an alternative procedure in place of GRE scores. GRE scores must be less than five years old. Visit our Graduate Admission page for the full graduate admission process.

Additional admission requirements that apply specifically to this program (including alternative materials accepted in place of GRE scores) are listed below:

Prerequisites: The Master of Education in Quantitative Analytics in Education and the Social Sciences curriculum is designed to provide students with prior statistics experience with a core foundation in advanced quantitative research and analysis in education and the social sciences. Students who need to acquire prerequisite statistical knowledge will complete the foundational course EDLF 5330 – Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis I or similar, before beginning the program.

In addition, applicants must:

  • Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university;
  • Have a “B” average or better for the last two years of undergraduate study;
  • Submit an application for admission and unofficial transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work;
  • Submit at least two letters of recommendation from professionals who can attest to his/her promise as a graduate student and professional educator;
  • Submit a statement of professional goals (1-2 pages);
  • A writing sample is not required.
  • GRE scores are optional. Applicants who elect to submit scores will not receive an advantage over those who do not submit GRE test scores.

Direct Admission for Current UVA Students
Current UVA students are eligible for the Direct Admission option if they have a minimum GPA of 3.3 and have completed one or more of the required courses. Review the Direct Admission page for more information.

Graduate Admission

Application for admission is made to the School of Education and Human Development Office of Admission & Enrollment. For more information about the graduate admission process, please visit our Graduate Admission page.

Coursework

To learn more about specific courses taken as part of the completion of this degree, visit the Graduate Record website. These webpages represent the official repository for academic program requirements. A link to these publications can be found in the Curriculum Information section at the bottom of this page.

The M.Ed. in Quantitative Analytics in Education and the Social Sciences is a 30-credit hour degree program, of which 3 credit hours must be a capstone project.

Required courses fit into the following categories:

  • Core courses 
  • Advanced modeling courses
  • Methodological electives
  • Capstone Experience / Research Internship

    Internship Option 1: The student will work closely with a research mentor on original research or comprehensive literature review. This option is similar to writing a thesis, but on a smaller scale. The final paper should be about the same length as a manuscript written for a scholarly journal. If conducting original research, the student must make a significant contribution to the work, as determined by their research mentor, though the student need not be the sole contributor (i.e., lead author).

    Internship Option 2: The student will obtain an internship with an organization in which they can obtain practical experience in data analytics. A written agreement between the student, the advisor, and the sponsoring organization must be in place prior to beginning the internship experience. This agreement will document the relevance of the experience to data analytics and must be approved by all parties.

Additional Program Details & Resources

Program Faculty

Bethany A Bell

Bethany A. Bell

  • Chair, Department of Education Leadership, Foundations and Policy
  • Associate Professor
Michael Hull

Michael F. Hull

  • Assistant Professor
Timothy R. Konold

Timothy R. Konold

  • Professor
  • Research, Statistics, & Evaluation Program Director
Jim Soland

Jim Soland

  • Assistant Professor
Vivian Wong

Vivian Wong

  • Associate Professor

Contact Us

Disclosures

The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Graduate Record represents the official repository for academic program requirements. These publications may be found at http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=55&poid=7427.