Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics and Assessment (MESA): Advantages of pursuing a degree or certificate

Are you looking to strengthen your quantitative and qualitative research credentials to advance your career? The Online Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics and Assessment (MESA) programs at the University of Illinois Chicago will make you proficient in developing research results that are highly valued by academic institutions, government and regulatory agencies, school districts, research agencies and private companies.

UIC offers two online programs for individuals interested in becoming stronger, more successful evidence-based decision makers, the Master of Education in MESA and the MESA Graduate Certificate. Learn about the advantages of the online programs and what you can look forward to as a MESA graduate.

Reap the benefits of an online learning format for a graduate degree or certificate.

There are “several benefits” to delivering courses online, explains MESA Professor, Dr. Yue Yin, PhD. One of the benefits is convenience. Online courses are helpful for lifelong learners who may have other obligations that prevent them from attending traditional classrooms.

“The MESA program is built for working professionals in an online environment,” said MESA Certificate alum, Mary Elizabeth Stephens. “The program had a level of polish I hadn’t expected and truly enjoyed.”

A second benefit would be learning from peers with diverse backgrounds. “The online nature of our program attracts students from all over the world,” said Dr. Yin. “Our MESA students come from educational settings, industries, research firms, and medical fields. They share the same passion for quantitative methodology and create an ideal learning environment where students can inspire each other and learn.”

The third benefit of online, asynchronous courses is that it provides more flexibility. Students can learn at their own pace, replay lectures, and finish their schoolwork in multiple sittings.

“Without the constraints of a three-hour weekly schedule, I can delve deeper into topics and provide students with more comprehensive learning experiences,” said Dr. Yin. “I can cover more material in the same amount of time, making online courses a more efficient way to learn.”

Expand your career potential in measurement, evaluation, statistics, and assessment.

MESA professor and program director, Dr. Everett V. Smith, PhD, says there has always been a strong career demand for MESA students in his 25+ years in the field.

“The main drivers of the demand for our graduates are industries needing people with methodological skills to understand existing data, conduct research, run testing programs, and more,” said Dr. Smith. “They can secure jobs that can be found in a wide array of fields that cover educational, healthcare, behavioral, medical, and social science research settings.”

MESA alum, Neven Holland, says the program strengthened his Ph.D. application which led him to an acceptance at a top-ranked program in education.

“I gained mostly quantitative skills through the MESA program, but also took advantage of the qualitative course it offered which made my skillset more well-rounded,” said Holland. “These skills were helpful in building my confidence and competence to succeed.”

Advance your career with a data-driven future.

Many industries have begun to see the importance of data and the increasing need to hire individuals with strong evaluation and data analysis skills.

“In the digital age, data is ubiquitous,” said Dr. Yin. “Data is generated at an unprecedented scale in a variety of fields. Analyzing and making sense of this data is crucial for informed decision-making in organizations and is taught in the online MESA programs.”

Understanding statistics is essential in understanding the general trends and patterns in each data set. High-school science teacher, David Schwoebel, earned his Master of Education in MESA to gain a better understanding of statistics to take more analytical approaches to assessments.

“We may understand how decisions are made, but we don’t always understand how statistics really work,” said Schwoebel. “This impacts high-school teachers, because we need to understand where statistics we’re presented with come from and how we need to measure it.”

“Analyzing and making sense of data is crucial for informed decision-making in organizations and individuals with strong data analysis skills are highly needed,” said Dr. Yin. “Keep working hard in every class you take, and success will follow.”

MESA online graduates are in high demand. Receiving this graduate degree or certificate, students are ready to succeed in a variety of research settings and environments. Choose from two online programs, a Master of Education Degree or a Graduate Certificate in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics and Assessment, and begin your journey today. Talk to an enrollment specialist to learn more about these online programs.