Advanced courses in the online MESA program

Experience the forefront of research with the University of Illinois Chicago’s online Master of Education in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment (MESA) program. This online program stands out by offering graduate students access to advanced courses typically reserved for PhD programs.

The online MESA program empowers students with rigorous training in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research methodologies, statistical analysis, and evaluation methods. Designed to prepare leaders across education, government, healthcare, and beyond, the online MEd in MESA degree ensures graduates are equipped with high-level skills applicable to complex research settings.

According to the Program Director Dr. Everett Smith, similar programs cover fundamental topics such as research design, introductory and intermediate statistics, and Classical Test Theory. However, UIC’s online MESA program goes beyond these basics. “We have yet to find another fully online graduate program that also includes the advanced courses we offer.”

Advanced Quantitative and Qualitative Skillsets

All courses in the online MEd in MESA program were originally designed for UIC’s PhD program in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in MESA. These advanced courses, offered to both PhD and MEd students, provide graduate students with a rigorous and comprehensive education. As a result, online MESA students gain high-level skills and knowledge typically reserved for doctoral programs, which include:

• Large Scale Testing
• Item Response Theory (IRT)
• Rasch Measurement
• Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM)
• Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)

“Mastering these advanced courses and acquiring these skills is valuable across various professions that demand methodological expertise,” said Dr. Everett Smith. “These methods offer profound insights essential for navigating complex research challenges in diverse professional domains.”

Advanced Course Offerings

The online MESA program gives graduate students access to advanced coursework that significantly enhances their expertise and career readiness. Here are some of the advanced courses that distinguish this program:

EPSY 562: Large-Scale Testing

The EPSY 562 course introduces graduate students to large-scale testing which can be applied to roles in testing organizations, city-wide bureaus, professional boards, educational programs, and state assessment systems. It focuses on key processes: design, administration, scoring, reporting, and validating. Emphasis is on understanding these tasks conceptually rather than developing specific technical skills.

“The resources provided in this class are invaluable,” said Adjunct Assistant Professor Sarah Schnabel. “It provides extensive guidance on best practices and offers multiple considerations to approach a problem. If faced with a limitation, you can refer to standards and advocate for necessary changes. The course also prepares individuals to explain complex psychometric concepts to non-experts.”

EPSY 551: Item Response Theory (IRT)

The EPSY 551 course covers IRT for analyzing test data and improving test development. Focus areas include unidimensional IRT models for dichotomous data, polytomous IRT models, computerized adaptive testing, item bias, and test equating. Emphasizing practical application, students will use IRT software with real data sets. By course end, students will be proficient in applying IRT concepts.

EPSY 584: Hierarchical Linear Models (HLM)

Hierarchical Linear Models is an advanced statistical method for analyzing longitudinal and nested data, such as students within classrooms over time. This course develops students’ understanding and skills in HLM, reviewing regression models, model setting, assumption testing, parameter estimation, and hypothesis testing. Students will explore various HLM examples, including two and three-level models, growth models, and hierarchical generalized linear models.

EPSY 587: Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)

Graduate students and new PhDs benefit from staying updated on advanced statistical methods. This course focuses on SEM, which analyzes various types of data—cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental. Students will learn to select suitable models, prepare data files, code variables, interpret results, and effectively communicate findings.

“SEM analyzes multiple variables simultaneously, revealing complex relationships and interactions which is essential for studying diverse factors influencing outcomes like student academic performance,” said Assistant Professor Ting Dai. “Structural Equation Models enhance a graduate student’s understanding of research problems by integrating theory with empirical data effectively.”

EPSY 550: Rating Scale and Questionnaire Design and Analysis

This course teaches students to create rating scales for measuring latent traits like achievement, motivation, quality of life, and social and emotional intelligence and factual surveys. Topics cover Messick’s unified view of validity, assessing reliability and validity, evaluating rating scales, analyzing dimensionality, and presenting findings using Rasch measurement. Students will analyze and summarize rating scale data, drawing examples from education, psychology, and physical rehabilitation fields.

“The Rasch model is a psychometric tool designed to analyze ordered data and address a range of measurement challenges,” said Dr. Everett Smith. “The Rasch model empowers students with a powerful tool for evaluating the quality of their data, making them more effective researchers and practitioners in their respective fields.”

EPSY 594: Introduction to R Language in Education

R is a popular programming language for statistical and graphical analysis in social sciences. This course covers R basics and its application in educational data analysis. You’ll learn terminology, functions, data manipulation, and how to generate plots and tables. The course also includes hands-on coding with datasets and skills to implement ANOVA and linear regression models.

Professionals looking to advance their careers and deepen their skillsets in data collection, analysis, interpretation, and communication should consider the online MESA program. Offering advanced courses originally designed for our PhD in MESA, this graduate program equips learners with the expertise needed to navigate complex research challenges across various sectors. Talk to an enrollment specialist today to learn more.