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Quick Facts

  • Modality: In-person program

  • Credits: 15

  • Length of Program: Variable

  • Application Deadline: Rolling

Program Overview

The Applied Research Methods in the Human Sciences Certificate provides excellent methodological training for working professionals and graduate students seeking advanced study in quantitative or qualitative research techniques for the social or human sciences. The certificate is designed to equip you to perform basic and applied social research in education and other human science-related institutions. The completion of this certificate benefits you in your professional work, whether in public or private sectors, and in any current or future academic goals (e.g., doctoral programs) where social research is required. 

This certificate program responds to the growing need for administrators and researchers in education and related fields to produce, analyze, and report data that can inform institutional and organization decision-making (e.g., policy development). 

Applied research courses are offered in both face-to-face on-campus formats as well as online/distance education formats. The certificate consists of a total of 15 credits: 

  • 12 credits accrued from coursework 
  • 3 credits from associated fieldwork  

You will have the option of concentrating on either quantitative or qualitative research methods. 

Is this for you?

This is an excellent program for:

  • Current or future administrators in education, social service, and non-profit institutions and organizations who want to enhance their knowledge, skillsets, and employment possibilities by adding expertise in social science research methods, and 
  • Post-baccalaureate students in education and other broad social science fields (such as human development & family studies, sociology, women’s studies, and inter-departmental graduate students) who are required to produce original social research 

Curriculum

Students in the Applied Research Methods certificate program will complete a required core 15 credits (12 credits of coursework plus 3 credits in related fieldwork). A minimum of 9 credits must be earned at Iowa State University. Please work with faculty to establish a methodology course that would be best suited to you. 

  • RESEV 5520: Basic Educational Statistics
  • RESEV 5530: Intermediate Educational Statistics

Advanced Elective Course

  • RESEV 5910: Fieldwork. The field experience will consist of at least one semester of applied research. The student must have a minimum of 3 credits completed in RESEV 5910. The student will sign up for RESEV 5910 under the guidance of a RESEV faculty member. The RESEV faculty and the student will jointly determine the exact work.

One additional methodology course of at least three credits, as approved by a RESEV faculty member. Course may be either quantitative, qualitative, or related to evaluation/assessment.

  • RESEV 5800: Introduction to Qualitative Research Methodology
  • RESEV 6800: Critical Issues in Qualitative Inquiry

Advanced Elective Course

  • RESEV 5910: Fieldwork. The field experience will consist of at least one semester of applied research. The student must have a minimum of 3 credits completed in RESEV 5910. The student will sign up for RESEV 5910 under the guidance of a RESEV faculty member. The RESEV faculty and the student will jointly determine the exact work.

One additional methodology course of at least three credits, as approved by a RESEV faculty member. Course may be either quantitative, qualitative, or related to evaluation/assessment.

Note: A maximum of six semester credits may be transferred into ISU to meet the requirements of this certificate 

Full course descriptions can be found in the Iowa State University course catalog. 

Director of Certificate Studies

Rachel Smith

Associate Professor

Department: School of Education

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