Quantitative methods in education
Solve problems in education through research
Discover solutions to issues in educational research, assessment, and program evaluation through measurement, evaluation, and statistics. Upon graduation, you'll be equipped to help inform educational policy, practice, and curriculum and—most importantly—help schools and students succeed.
Careers
- Test publishing firms
- Teaching and research at colleges and universities (PhD only)
- Research and evaluation centers
- Public school systems
- State departments of instruction
- Private industry
Quote from José Palma, PhD '21
It is the combination of psychometric research and applied focus, in addition to knowledge gained from my academic journey, that makes me a competitive and atypical educational measurement researcher today.
Areas of emphasis and minor
Quantitative methods in education engages in the science and practice of educational measurement and evaluation, primarily through the development and application of statistical methods, informed by the study of teaching and learning statistics. In this program, you’ll study quantitative and qualitative research on the methods and uses of educational measurement, evaluation, and statistics to address practical problems. Our students and faculty explore new ways to improve teaching and learning and to meet the demands of practice, policy, and accountability.
Statistics concentration
The statistics concentration includes a wide range of statistical methods and their underlying theories and applications; principles of statistical reasoning; and research design in educational settings. Students focusing in statistics will learn and examine the usefulness of methods, such as: multivariate regression, hierarchical linear modeling, longitudinal data modeling, and structural equation modeling. They’ll also explore a range of multivariate methods for analyzing realistic educational, psychological, and more generally, social and behavioral sciences data. In addition, students will research the development of new methods, modification of existing methods, and test the properties of statistical models.
Educational measurement concentration
The statistics concentration includes a wide range of statistical methods and their underlying theories and applications; principles of statistical reasoning; and research design in educational settings. Students focusing in statistics will learn and examine the usefulness of methods, such as: multivariate regression, hierarchical linear modeling, longitudinal data modeling, and structural equation modeling. They’ll also explore a range of multivariate methods for analyzing realistic educational, psychological, and more generally, social and behavioral sciences data. In addition, students will research the development of new methods, modification of existing methods, and test the properties of statistical models.
Educational psychology minor: emphasis in quantitative methods in education
The Department of Educational Psychology offers a minor in educational psychology with an emphasis in quantitative methods in education.
Tuition and funding
The QME program strives to provide at least partial funding opportunities to all incoming and current PhD students.
Visit the College of Education and Human Development's Finance and Funding page for information on tuition.
Submit your application materials by the December 1 deadline, and you’ll automatically be considered for Graduate School fellowships and departmental awards based on scholastic achievement. Notification of awards will be sent in March.
Note: Spring, summer, and fall (March deadline) applicants will not qualify for fellowships.
Get paid to work as a teaching assistant, graduate instructor or research assistant. Graduate assistantships are available through the department, College of Education and Human Development, and the University.
- John P. Yackel/Pearson Graduate Internship
- Jack Merwin Graduate Assistantship
- All University of Minnesota graduate assistantships
Note: Applicants who complete their applications by the March 1 deadline will be less likely to receive graduate assistantships than students who meet the December 1 deadline.
Visit the College of Education and Human Development's Finance and Funding page for more information on funding.
Visit OneStop Student Services for more information on available financial aid.
Faculty and staff
Chia-Yi Chiu
Yackel Professor of Educational Measurement and Assessment
Nana Kim
Assistant professor
Nidhi Kohli
Royal and Virginia Anderson Professor of Quantitative Methods in Education; Program Coordinator
Chelsey Legacy
Teaching assistant professor
Haoran Li
Assistant Professor
Suzanne Loch
Senior teaching specialist
Michael Rodriguez
CEHD Dean; Campbell Leadership Chair in Education and Human Development; co-founding director of Educational Equity Resource Center
Andrew Zieffler
Teaching professor
Adjunct faculty and program affiliates
Adjunct faculty
Claudio Violato
Assistant dean, Medical School
Program affiliates
Adam Rothman
Associate professor, School of Statistics