Posted November 20, 2018 – Students interested in conducting cutting-edge research to help solve society’s greatest challenges should apply now to a specialized Ph.D. program at the University of Houston College of Education.
The deadline to apply for the Measurement, Quantitative Methods and Learning Sciences program is Dec. 1.
In the program, called MQMLS, students learn how to design, conduct and use research to improve lives, particularly in traditionally underserved communities. For example, research projects may focus on boosting science and math skills among students with disabilities or students with limited-English skills.
Associate Professor Weihua Fan, who directs the program, said students shouldn’t hesitate to apply, even if they have felt intimated by math in the past.
“Students in our program receive training on quantitative methods and gain knowledge on various educational and psychological theories,” Fan said.
Graduates of the Ph.D. in MQMLS program can work in a variety of settings, including higher education institutions and research and policy organizations, or serve as independent consultants.
Students can complete the program in as few as four years if they are enrolled full time. While most students who apply have a master’s degree, one is not required. Students with a bachelor’s, satisfactory GRE results and a high GPA also may apply.
Julie Neisler, an MQMLS major set to graduate in December, said the program helped make her research stronger. She recently defended her dissertation, focused on sexual-assault reporting on college campuses, to a packed classroom.
“People who have a degree in MQMLS have the ability to make change on a greater level, providing support for data-driven decisions at large-scale opportunities in the state and national levels,” Neisler said. “When I reflect on how much I’ve learned throughout my whole program and how much work went into it, it’s an amazing feeling to celebrate wrapping it up.”
After graduation, Neisler plans to look for jobs as a quantitative research analyst for a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization or policy research group in education or women’s rights.
“My goal is to find a position where I can apply what I’ve learned in my program and have a positive impact on the world,” Neisler said.
–By Alberto Huichapha