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Assess and Evaluate for Continuous Improvement
In this era of data-informed decision-making in education, there is an increasing need for individuals well versed in creating and managing educational programs that allow systematic gathering, analysis, and interpretation of high quality evidence. The graduate certificate in educational assessment, evaluation, and data literacy provides individuals in educational settings knowledge and skills to effectively use data to support learning and instruction as well as monitor and measure program success. Courses are tailored to meet the aims and scope of two concentrations: data literacy and program evaluation.
Concentration in Data Literacy
Students in the data literacy concentration take four carefully sequenced courses offered online in an asynchronous format (i.e., 12 credits), including a culminating capstone project under the supervision of a faculty member. The data literacy concentration prepares individuals with knowledge and skills to think critically about data in educational assessment, research, and evaluation. Therefore, the concentration is uniquely relevant for individuals interested in educational data-driven decision making including teachers, educational specialists, school leaders, and higher education staff. Graduates of the certificate will be knowledgeable about the landscape of educational data, critical issues in educational data use, equity and ethical use of data, data analyses, and effective communication of data to aid decision-making in educational contexts. Students enrolled in the data literacy concentration are eligible to transfer up to 12 credits toward the Master’s degree in Educational Psychology.
Concentration in Data Literacy
The Data Literacy Concentration is offered fully online and offers skill development in:
• Understanding the landscape of educational data used to make decisions about students and educational programs
• Becoming a better consumer of data and educational research
• Using data to answer questions about student academic achievement, behavior, and development
• Knowing when and how to use different measurement strategies to elicit meaningful evidence about educational phenomena
• Adopting the ethical principles and professional standards pertinent to educational data use in practice
• Using data to ensure fairness and equity in educational research and practices
• Applying appropriate strategies for data collection, analysis, interpretation, and use of results for decision making
• Reporting of data-based evidence to pertinent stakeholders
• Use of appropriate evaluation methods for making decisions about individuals and programs
Concentration in Data Literacy
Total: 12 credits
Fall Semester
(classes starting in August) |
Spring Semester
(classes starting in January) |
Summer Semester
(classes starting in May, June, or July) |
Priority*: April 1
Space Available: August 19 |
Priority*: November 1
Space Available: January 5 |
Applications not accepted for this term |
For more information and to apply, visit the admissions website.
* Priority deadline ensures consideration for the intended semester as well as financial aid options for students. Programs will continue to review applications until at capacity. Some programs do not review applications past the priority deadline.
Current George Mason University students interested in adding this certificate to a current degree plan should contact edpsych@gmu.edu to complete the Secondary Certificate form and provide the needed documentation.
For individuals not currently enrolled in a graduate program at George Mason University:
All application materials must be submitted through Mason’s online graduate application. In addition to meeting general university admissions requirements, applicants will need to provide the requirements below.
To be considered for graduate studies, the following items are evaluated during the admission review process:
- Graduate application and fee
- 750- to 1,000-word written statement of your goals and interest in the program
- Current resume
- Two letters of recommendation: Applicants should follow the instructions included in the online application to submit the recommendation forms directly to their recommenders. Mason does not accept paper recommendations. Recommendations should be professional or academic in nature.
- Transcripts from all previous institutions attended in the United States. Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admissions information page for specific requirements regarding uploading unofficial transcripts.
- Applicants with transcripts from institutions outside of the United States could have additional requirements. Please refer to the How To Apply page for specific requirements about submitting international transcripts, evaluations, and English language proficiency.
Admission to graduate programs at George Mason University is competitive. Applicants are evaluated on the strength of their academic backgrounds, results of standardized exams (if required by the program), work experience, and any additional evidence of potential success in the program. Faculty admissions review is a holistic review of requirements as well as the applicant’s potential academic and professional success upon completion of the program.
At a minimum all admitted students must have:
- An earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, or international equivalent, verified from official transcripts. Expectation of an earned baccalaureate prior to the first day of classes for the term for which the student is applying will also meet this requirement. See the graduate admissions policy for more information.
- A minimum 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale in baccalaureate study. Students with less than a 3.0 GPA are encouraged to apply, addressing previous academic challenges and highlighting evidence for future success in their goal statement.
- International students should reference Admission of International Students for additional requirements.
| TUITION CLASSIFICATION |
COST PER CREDIT |
| Virginia Resident |
$727.00
(includes MSF*) |
| Non-Virginia Resident |
$927.00
(includes MSF*; discounted from $1,641.50) |
| VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program** |
$617.95
(includes MSF*) |
| CEHD Course Fee |
$25.00 - $84.00 |
| Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit |
$752.00 - $811.00 |
| Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit |
$952.00 - $1,011.00 |
| Total cost for VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program* |
$642.95 - $701.95 |
Graduate New Student Fee
(non-refundable, one-time fee) |
$60 |
Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Internship courses will incur a higher course fee to fund on-site assistance involving intensive clinical training/supervision.
*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $155.00
**VA state residents who are eligible must apply for the 15% PreK-16 VA Educators Discount in order to take advantage of the lower tuition. Eligible students receive 15% off the total tuition and mandatory student fee.
For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers, and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Also, many school districts offer tuition reimbursement options. Speak to your employer for more information.
Contact the Educational Psychology program at edpsych@gmu.edu for advising information. Faculty and staff will answer any questions that you may have about your program or degree.
Forms
Current students should visit MyMason for important forms and documents.
Michelle Buehl
Academic Program Coordinator
Anthony Eamonn Kelly
Anastasia Kitsantas
Holly Klee
Angela Miller
Alexandra Patzak
Kimberly Sheridan
Divya Varier