IR Certificate

With support from AIR and NCES, the Higher Education Program at Penn State offers course work leading to a Graduate Certificate in Institutional Research. The 18-credit program, designed to provide students with the skills that support institutional planning and policy formation, has been created for: 

• in-career professionals, graduate students, institutional researchers, and
• persons employed in related fields.

The courses that make up the certificate can be either taken exclusively online, or students may choose to enroll in some of the courses that are offered by traditional means at the Penn State University Park campus. The program provides considerable flexibility in the choice of courses as well as in the time taken to complete the certificate program. In addition, individual online courses will be open to those seeking to upgrade their skills without wishing to complete the certificate.

In addition to offering three-credit instructional experiences delivered online by Penn State, as well as traditional classroom instruction, the Higher Education Program will award some certificate credits for participation in AIR Summer Institutes as well as the AIR, NSF, and NCES Summer Data Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. Advisement will be provided via distance by program faculty based upon a program profile completed by the student.

For registration and billing payment information about IR courses at Penn State see Registration Process.

Upcoming Courses

Fall 2011, September 12 through December 16:

HI ED 801, Foundations of Institutional Research - Instructor: Dr. Fred Volkwein

HI ED 810, Planning and Resource Management in Higher Education - Instructors: Dr. Mike Dooris and Dr. John Cheslock

Spring 2012, January 16 through April 27:

HI ED 830, Designing Institutional Research Studies - Instructor: Dr. John Cheslock

HI ED 840, Assessing Student Outcomes and Evaluating Academic Programs - Instructors: Dr. Fred Volkwein and Dr. Ying Zhou