Skip top navigation
School of Education - George Mason University

The Research Methods graduate certificate with a concentration in Qualitative Research offers a program of study to develop well-trained qualitative researchers in higher education and policy organizations. Courses blend theory and application, contributing to a comprehensive grounding in qualitative inquiry. The certificate is appropriate for those seeking faculty, research, and administrative positions in higher education, as well as those who work in federal, state, and local positions that require a diverse set of research skills for program development, assessment, and evaluation.

Why a certificate in qualitative research?

Qualitative methodology offers the opportunity to explore the many facets of human experience and perspective. As the only graduate certificate in qualitative methodology in this region, our program is flexible enough to enable you to delve deeply into the areas of qualitative inquiry that are most meaningful and useful to you as a researcher or faculty member. The certificate will document your professional attention to qualitative methods and methodologies in particular and to quality research in general.

How does this certificate work?

Our faculty members, trained in some of the most prestigious qualitative programs in the United States, are dedicated to an interdisciplinary approach to qualitative inquiry that focuses on learning through theory and practice. Our program encourages diverse theoretical, methodological, ethical, and practical principles across research in the social sciences. The program is structured around two core courses, three advanced applied courses (students choose based on interest and goals), and a capstone experience.

The graduate certificate may be pursued only on a part-time basis. However, students who are pursuing degrees on a full-time basis may still pursue the graduate certificate in qualitative research.