Why Pursue a Certificate in Program Evaluation
The 15-hour PEAR Certificate provides a unique focus on program evaluation and advanced data analysis in educational and behavioral health settings. Students will develop skills in research methods and statistics to help organizations evaluate and improve their processes. Program graduates will be prepared for jobs in school districts, educational research and development organizations, and testing companies.
The PEAR program is especially useful for doctoral students seeking skills necessary to carry out dissertation projects and for working professionals interested in a career change.
Gain Real-World Experience
The Urban Education Institute (UEI) at UTSA has a mission to promote equity in education and workforce development through extensive research, evaluation, and training. UEI is committed to providing students and faculty with opportunities for collaborative activities in applied research and program evaluation.
Through these collaborative activities, students have the chance to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world situations, focusing on evaluating the effectiveness of various programs. This approach not only solidifies their understanding of the concepts learned in the classroom but also equips them with valuable program evaluation and applied research skills.
Learn from Expert Faculty
Students will learn from diverse program faculty with extensive expertise in the industry, program evaluation, and both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Learn more about PEAR program faculty!
Earn a Master's Degree
Are you ready to take your career and academic journey to the next level? Combine this program with another eligible certificate to earn a master’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies! Take advantage of the opportunity to customize your degree to align with your professional and educational goals.
Program Concentrations
The PEAR Certificate offers three unique concentrations, allowing students to customize their education based on their research interests and professional goals. Students can select from one of the following:
Admission & Application Requirements
Applications are submitted through the UTSA Graduate Application. Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UTSA Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UTSA by the appropriate application deadline.
For international students, please note that student visas are not issued at UTSA for non-degree-seeking students, including certificate programs. For more information, visit our international students admission page.
| Program Evaluation and Applied Research (CERT) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Required Degree | Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution. | |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) Departments may consider GPA of last 60 semester credit hours | |
| Transcripts* | Required from all institutions attended; international transcripts must be recorded/translated to English | |
| Credential Evaluation | Required if you have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions. Submit an evaluation of your transcripts from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) directly from the graduate admission application platform | |
| English Language Proficiency | 550 TOEFL Paper / 79 TOEFL Internet / 6.5 IELTS / Duolingo 100 | |
| Purpose Statement | Required | |
| Resume | Required | |
| Letters of Recommendation | 2 academic or professional reference(s) demonstrating your attributes for successful completion of this program (you will request these through the Graduate Admissions Application; let your recommenders know of your deadline to ensure submissions are on time) | |
| *Unofficial transcripts will be taken into consideration for admissions; however, if admitted into the program, you must submit official transcripts to the University. | ||
Application Deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.
| Program Evaluation and Applied Research (CERT) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing on Admission Decision: Completed applications will be reviewed for admission on a rolling basis. Decisions generally will be made and sent to applicants within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving the application. | |||
| Application Deadlines for: | Priority | International | Domestic |
| Fall 2024 | June 1 | August 1 | |
| Spring 2025 | October 1 | October 1 | |
| Summer 2025 | Not Available | Not Available | |
Courses are offered in the evenings to accommodate working professionals. Students coming from other programs may be able to substitute courses taken in their respective programs to facilitate quicker progression through the PEAR certificate.
