Program: Qualitative Studies in Education Graduate Certificate - University of Memphis

Apr 06, 2025

UofM 2021-2022 Graduate Catalog

Graduate Certificate

Program Objectives:

The certificate will provide students with an understanding of the epistemological and theoretical groundings associated with qualitative research.
The certificate is intended to provide students with knowledge and experience in various qualitative methodologies and methods.
The certificate will assist students in constructing their own qualitative research projects following from epistemology -> theory -> methodology -> method -> analysis/interpretation -> representations -> conclusions.
The certificate will increase critical thinking skills in relation to general qualitative scholarship, including prevailing theories, ethical considerations, and emerging perspectives.
The certificate will provide space for students to practice different methodologies, methods, and types of representation, including both traditional and creative analytic practices.
The certificate program will prepare students to be effective reviewers and critical consumers of qualitative presentations, papers, and journals.
The certificate program will provide students with opportunities to practice graduate level instruction so that they will enter the job market with concrete teaching experience.

Program Admissions

Students who are currently enrolled in a Doctoral program at the University of Memphis or other universities will be eligible for rolling admission application.

To apply to the Graduate Certificate Program in Qualitative Studies in Educational Research, students must fill out the University of Memphis online application. They must also submit the following documents to the qualitative certificate coordinator:

a 2-3 page personal essay about their research interests, prior preparation and experience related to the objectives of the program, and their long-‐range career/professional plans
a letter of recommendation from their major professor/committee member supporting the certificate’s requirements of a fully qualitative dissertation

Doctoral* students in good standing will be admitted to the Qualitative Studies in Educational Research Certificate Program on the recommendation of the student’s major professor/committee member and subject to a successful review of application materials by the qualitative methodologists in the Educational Research program in the School of Education, Health and Human Sciences. The qualitative methodologists, with consideration of all materials, will make final decisions regarding student acceptance to the program.

*Qualified Master’s students are eligible based on advisor’s recommendation.

Program Requirements

The certificate requires 12 semester hours of credit. All students must complete 9 hours of core courses and 3 hours of an elective. For students with substantial proof of scheduling issues, there is the option to make up credits through a 1-‐3 hour directed readings with the qualitative methodologists or approved qualitative faculty.

Required core courses (9 credits):

Example Electives (3 credits unless otherwise noted):

We recognize that there are many courses across campus that can enrich our elective selection. However, due to extensive possibilities we cannot list all current and future “potential” electives. Therefore, if a student feels that a course outside of EDPR is appropriate as an elective, we ask that the student fill out the petition for elective form to be reviewed and approved by the qualitative coordinator.

EDPR 7563 - Theoretical Frameworks in Qual **
EDPR 8563 - Theoretical Frameworks in Qual **
EDPR 7566 - Writing Qualitative Research (Week-‐long Summer Retreat)
EDPR 8566 - Writing Qualitative Research (Week-‐long Summer Retreat)
EDPR 8008 - Directed Readings
EDPR 8081 - Supervised Research
ANTH 7075 - Methods In Anthropology
ANTH 8075 - Methods In Anthropology
ANTH 7076 - Anthropology Writing/Analysis
ANTH 8076 - Anth Data Analysis
SOCI 7320 - Sem Meth Soc Res
SOCI 8320 - Sem Meth Soc Res
SOCI 7325 - Sem Qualitative Resrch
SOCI 8325 - Sem Qualitative Resrch
COMM 7332 - Topics in Comm Methods : Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
COMM 8332 - Topics in Comm Methods : Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
COMM 7434 - Qual Research Methods
COMM 8434 - Qual Research Methods
PSYC 7312 - Qualitative Resrch/Psyc
PSYC 8312 - Qualitative Resrch/Psyc

Graduate Requirements

In order to graduate with the certificate, students must:

complete all Certificate Program course requirements with a B or above average
complete a fully qualitative dissertation
have a qualitative methodologist sit on their dissertation committee
submit the Certificate in Qualitative Studies in Educational Research Completion Form online
submit appropriate certificate completion form from the University of Memphis graduate school for program coordinator’s signature