Students enrolled in ES are the future leaders, university faculty members, and evaluators in the field of evaluation studies. Students in the program will gain expertise in both quantitative and qualitative methods and practical experience in the conduct of program evaluation and policy studies. The program is selective and is limited to 10 students per year.
All new students begin the program in the fall semester.
The Ph.D. requires that students enrolled under the semester system take at least 52 credits of coursework. Typically, a course that meets once a week throughout the semester is three credits. Attending full time, including summers, students often can complete the required coursework in 2 to 2 years, at which time they complete preliminary written and oral examinations. Many are able to complete their dissertation in another 1 to 2 years. Upon completion of their dissertation, students take a final oral examination.