Educational Research Methods and Policy Studies, MS

The M.S. in Educational Research Methods and Policy Studies is designed for students who are interested in jointly developing their training in research methods and educational policy studies. In the program, students will examine current educational policy issues through social, historical, philosophical, cultural, and political lenses. Concurrently, the program is designed to provide students with a core suite of research and policy analysis tools, including courses in quantitative, qualitative, evaluation, and survey research methods. Students completing the degree program will be well prepared for a variety of professional and academic placements, including K-12 or postsecondary institutions, testing organizations, state and federal agencies, or further doctoral study. All students have the option to complete their degreee entirely online. 

Admission Requirements  

• UK Graduate School Application 

• Official transcripts for all previous coursework completed at any institution of higher education

• A 250-word statement of purpose describing the student’s intellectual and professional goals for completing the program 

• Two letters of reference with at least one from a referee familiar with the students’ academic work 

• Resume or Curriculum Vitae 

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; apply anytime

Degree Requirements 

• The program requires 37 hours of coursework, all of which is available online.  
• All EPE students are required to take EPE601 Proseminar (1 credit hour) during their first semester of study in the department. 

Core Classes (21 credit hours) include: 

• EPE 557 GATHERING, ANALYZING, AND USING EDUCATIONAL DATA  or EPE 558 GATHERING, ANALYZING & USING EDUCATIONAL DATA II   

• EPE 571 WRITING SEMINAR IN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH  

• EPE 602 SOCIAL POLICY ISSUES AND EDUCATION    

• EPE 619 SURVEY RESEARCH METHODS IN EDUCATION (SUBTITLE REQUIRED)   

• EPE 620 TOPICS AND METHODS OF EVALUATION  or EPE 520 PROGRAM EVALUATION    

• EPE 663 FIELD STUDIES IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS  or EPE 797 HISTORICAL RESEARCH ON EDUCATION   

• 3 credit hour Contextual Studies Course

Choice of Concentration (6 credit hours) 

• Evaluation (EPE 522 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS   and EPE 621 ADVANCED TOPICS AND METHODS OF EVALUATION ) 
• Policy Analysis (EPE 628 ETHICS AND EDUCATIONAL DECISION MAKING  and EPE 661 SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION )

• Quantitative Methods (EPE 558 GATHERING, ANALYZING & USING EDUCATIONAL DATA II  and EPE 660 RESEARCH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS IN EDUCATION ) 

• Research Design (EDP 656 METHODOLOGY OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH  and EPE 797 HISTORICAL RESEARCH ON EDUCATION ) 

• Guided Electives (9 credit hours chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor) 

• A student’s program of study may vary from this structure if they receive approval from their major advisor. 

• Masters Exam: At the end of the program, Educational Research Methods and Policy Studies students are required to complete and pass a written exam assessing their course content in key areas of evaluation, research methods, and policy studies. This exam will be evaluated by department faculty.