Program Quickview
These programs in program evaluation focus on preparing students to collect, analyze, and use information to answer questions about projects, policies, and programs, with particular attention to program implementation, effectiveness, and efficiency in education and other institutional settings.
- A bachelor's degree.
- Combining Theory and Practice: Includes a two-course sequence in program evaluation theories and practices, along with mini-courses focusing on research strategies to conduct surveys, interviews and focus groups, and using quantitative data analysis software.
- Career-Related Experiences: Includes a group and an individual supervised practicum experience to enable students to gain real-life experiences in conducting program evaluations.
- Flexible: Program can be completed full time or part time, starting in any semester, allowing you to go at your own pace.
- Online Courses: Enjoy the convenience of taking some courses online.
- Supportive Environment: Engage with faculty and peers at the master’s and doctoral levels - both inside and outside the classroom.
- Faculty Mentorship: Work with a dedicated faculty advisor to tailor the program to suit your academic and career goals.
Warner Programs in Program Evaluation
MS in Program Evaluation (EV2): 33 credits; for individuals in any profession interested in pursuing an advanced degree in the theory, methods, and practice of program evaluation; includes the opportunity to select electives specific to your career interests and needs.
Advanced Certificate in Program Evaluation (EV1): 15 credits or less; for individuals in any profession interested in developing foundational research and program evaluation skills, and for students seeking to support their current degree program with the knowledge and expertise in theory, methods, and practice of program evaluation.

Opportunities to Complement/Combine with Another Program
While an Advanced Certificate in Program Evaluation is great on its own, it is also a helpful and marketable complement to an existing Warner program, especially the program choices below:
By choosing your electives strategically, you can earn an advanced certificate with as little as three additional credit hours (counseling doctoral students may require more).
To learn more, check your chosen Program of Study, or visit:
Warner offers a flexible master’s degree to prepare educational leaders who are not interested in New York State school certification (only required for administrative positions in K-12 public schools). This master’s program requires only one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study. By choosing your electives strategically you can also earn an Advanced Certificate in Program Evaluation with as little as three additional credit hours.
To learn more, visit Master’s in Educational Leadership.
Our master’s in education policy is designed for students interested in impacting preschool, K-12, and/or higher education at a systems level. In addition, this degree program is ideal for students already working in education or an education-related setting who want to understand better how policies impact their work and, more importantly, how their work can impact policy. This master’s program requires just three semesters of full-time study or two years of part-time study. By choosing your electives strategically, you can also earn an Advanced Certificate in Program Evaluation with as little as three additional credit hours.
To learn more, visit Master’s in Educational Policy.
Our master’s in higher education successfully prepares students for leadership, administrative, and support positions within higher education institutions. This master’s program requires only three semesters of full-time study or two years of part-time study. By choosing your electives strategically, you can also earn an Advanced Certificate in Program Evaluation with as little as three additional credit hours.
To learn more, visit Master’s in Higher Education.
If you are pursuing a master’s program preparing for New York State Certification as a School Building Leader (SBL) and/or School District Leader (SDL) – or simply need a few additional courses to meet your SDL requirements of 60 credits of graduate coursework – we encourage you to use your electives so that they can also count toward an additional Advanced Certificate in Program Evaluation.
To learn more, visit Programs Preparing K-12 School Leaders.
Developing knowledge and skills in program evaluation could be especially useful to individuals interested in designing and developing new programs and initiatives within their educational organizations.
To learn more, visit Master’s in Teaching (Without Certification).
Contact admissions to speak with a faculty member that can help you better understand the program option that will best meet your career goals.
Our Approach
Preparing You to be a Program Evaluation Specialist.
A distinguishing feature of our programs is the culminating master’s capstone project based on an independent program evaluation experience. This culminating experience enables students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-life settings. Past students have completed independent evaluations in Rochester-area school districts, higher education institutions, and not-for-profit organizations.

The advanced certificate is appropriate for individuals in all professions who are interested in program evaluation. The program consists of a three-credit introductory research methods course; three three-credit courses in evaluation methods and theories, one of which is an independent practicum; and three one-credit courses on data collection and analysis. The practicum is an opportunity for students to design, implement, and report the results of an independent program evaluation in a real-life setting. Past certificate students have completed independent evaluations in their workplace or in Rochester-area school districts, higher education institutions, and not-for-profit organizations.
The Warner Advantage
Preparing Graduates to Innovate, Advocate, and Elevate.
- Be challenged to become an innovator and a thought leader by learning the necessary skills and competencies to be an effective evaluator.
- Leverage the reputation of a leading research university to give your degree even more recognition.
- Utilize the supervised practicum experiences to develop and demonstrate your skills to prospective employers and/or doctoral-level programs.
- Network with the best and the brightest peers at the master’s and doctoral levels.
- Learn from an accessible, supportive faculty of researchers and accomplished practitioners who will prepare you to think critically and utilize theory and research skills to help organizations improve their programs and practices.
- Leverage Warner’s relationships with a rich array of organizations in the Rochester region to find opportunities for practicum experiences and career opportunities upon graduation.
- Our master’s degree program can be completed in only one year of full-time study, or longer if pursuing part time; completing an advanced certificate can require even less time.
- Start the program in any semester and go at your own pace.
- Take advantage of online and hybrid-online course offerings to reduce your trips to campus.
- Customize your master’s program by choosing elective courses that align with your academic and career goals.
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Are you a University of Rochester employee? Make sure you make full use of your tuition benefits.
All About Experience

Program Evaluation Services
The Warner Center for Professional Development and Education Reform serves as a valuable resource to support the program evaluation needs of K-12, higher education, and community organizations. Faculty and staff from the Center also teach courses in the program.

Evaluation of the Hillside Work-Scholarship Program
Program director and faculty member Karen DeAngelis led a rigorous and in-depth cost-benefit evaluation of this landmark Rochester initiative. Results of the evaluation were provided to numerous stakeholder groups – including for profit, not-for-profit, as well as private and public entities from across the Rochester region.
Career Opportunities
Advancing Education and Your Career to the Next Level.
Recent graduates of our degree and certificate programs in program evaluation have secured opportunities as directors of evaluation and directors of research, analytics, and evaluation at not-for-profit organizations. Several regional K-12 school administrators have used the program to support their district leadership roles and better inform their decision making.

Faculty
An Accessible, Supportive Faculty of Researchers and Accomplished Practitioners.

Program Director
LeChase Hall 354
(585) 270-0924
Nahoko@warner.rochester.edu
Scholarships
Making it Affordable to Make Warner Possible.
The Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester is pleased to offer a number of merit-based scholarships to eligible students who enroll in a graduate program on program evaluation.
Are You a UR Employee? Inquire about your tuition benefits. If eligible, up to 95% of your tuition costs can be covered depending on your position. Contact the UR benefits office at benefitoffice@rochester.edu.

Try Us Out
Get a Taste of What Warner Has to Offer.
Contact admissions to arrange for a visit or learn more about opportunities for non-matriculated students.
