Program Overview
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Chair: Randy Larkins, Ph.D.
Location: McKee 520
Telephone: 970-351-2807
Website: www.unco.edu/cebs/applied-statistics-research-methods/about-us.aspx
The Doctor of Philosophy degree program focus is on the application of statistical concepts, research design, and general research methodology to the solution of practical problems in a variety of disciplines including: education, mental health, business, and public health.
This program prepares students to teach courses at the university level in applied statistics and research methodology, to provide leadership in the conduct of research studies, and to serve as consultants in research methodology and data analysis in education, industry, or government.
Master’s en route to the Ph.D.
A student may apply for admission to the Ph.D. program in Applied Statistics and Research Methods and obtain the M.S. in Applied Statistics and Research Methods on the way to completion of the doctoral degree. The application process and admission criteria are the same as for the Ph.D. program. The student must complete all program requirements for the M.S. degree in addition to the minimum 64 hours required for the Ph.D. The student must be conferred with the M.S. degree prior to admission to doctoral candidacy.
Admission
Location: Greeley
Start Term: Fall and Spring
General Doctoral Degree Admission Requirements
Applied Statistics and Research Methods PH.D.
Admission Deadline
-
Fall Admissions: March 1
- Spring Admissions: Oct. 1
Admission Requirements
Applicants must apply to the Graduate School at the University of Northern Colorado before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. Failure to submit all required materials will delay the evaluation and screening of your application.
Each applicant must:
- Possess a baccalaureate degree or a master’s degree from an Institutionally Accredited college or university or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 scale) for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are still completing your bachelor's or master's* degree at the time you apply, admission will be based on your current cumulative GPA and you will need to re-submit your official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain enrolled at UNC.
*The cumulative GPA of your master's degree will be used if 18 or more credit hours towards this degree has been completed.
Take the following steps to be considered for admission:
Step 1: Complete the Application
Complete the online application.
- Answer the application questions.
- Send your requests for letters of recommendation.
- Request three (3) academic or professional letters of recommendation from those who can attest to your academic potential and abilities. You will be asked to supply information for your recommenders in the application.
- Submit the application and pay the non-refundable application fee.
- Domestic Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- International Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- The Graduate School is waiving application fees for all current UNC students and alumni! (The waiver applies only to the UNC Graduate School application.) Click for details.
Once you submit your application you will be assigned an Admissions Portal, allowing you to upload supplemental items, as listed below, and track your application through the admissions process.
Step 2: Request Transcripts
Request one official transcript from any Institutionally Accredited college or university where a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned or is in progress (if you have earned multiple degrees, bachelor’s level or higher, an official transcript is required from each college or university where a degree was conferred). If you received a degree from UNC, you do not need to request a transcript from UNC. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request that applicants provide official transcripts from other colleges or universities as needed. Applicants who have earned or are directly pursuing a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution without receiving a bachelor’s degree (e.g., PharmD) may be eligible to apply to the Graduate School without the conferral of a bachelor’s degree.
Exceptions: If an applicant intends to use Veteran’s Education Benefits, an official transcript from all colleges or universities attended will be required in order to maintain compliance with Veteran’s Affairs policies.
Official transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent via mail directly from the educational institution in an unopened, sealed envelope or through an electronically secure digital program from the issuing institution.
Mailed transcripts should be sent to:
University of Northern Colorado
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 10
501 20th St
Greeley, CO 80639
Electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent directly from the educational institution to: grad.admissions@unco.edu.
The Office of Admissions does not accept email, scanned or PDF transcripts directly from applicants. All official transcripts, submitted as part of the application process, are retained by UNC and not returned to applicants or admitted students.
UNC retains submitted transcripts, from institutions other than UNC, for admitted students for up to five years after graduation or date of last attendance at UNC. Transcripts provided by applicants who were not admitted, denied admissions or did not complete their application are destroyed after one (1) year. The Office of Admissions will make every attempt to use previously submitted transcripts if they are within these timeframes. However, if the Office of Admissions cannot locate previously submitted transcripts, the transcripts fall outside the timeframes listed above or they are considered illegible, applicants must provide new transcripts.
Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow the requirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.
Step 3: Note About the GRE
This program does not require GRE scores.
Step 4: Supplemental Items
Log back into the Admissions Portal to submit the following:
- Statement of Career Goals
Once you apply to the UNC Graduate School and your application packet is complete, your application will be reviewed by the Graduate School and then sent to the faculty/program for an admission recommendation. The timing of the admission decision depends on each individual program’s deadline and review process.
International Applicants
International applicants (non-U.S. citizen/non-U.S. Permanent Resident) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.
For More Information
For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.
STEM Designation
This STEM-designated degree program meets the qualifications of students on an F-1 visa to apply for a 24-month extension of post-completion optional practical training (OPT). For more information regarding OPT, please visit the Department of Homeland Security’s Optional Practical Training for F-1 Students.
Please note: This designation does not apply to degree programs that are offered online.
Degree Requirements — 64 Credits
Required Major Credits — 3 credits
| SRM 689 | Internship in Applied Statistics | 1-10 |
Complete one of the following Concentration Areas:
Applied Statistics Concentration — 33 credits
Research Methods Concentration — 33 credits
Required Research Methods Core (all students in the PhD Research Methods Concentration) — 11 credits
Research Methods Area of Specialization (Choose one)
Quantitative Research Methods — 22 credits
| SRM 610 | Statistical Methods III | 3 |
| SRM 625 | Applied Multiple Regression Analysis | 3 |
| SRM 626 | Applied Multilevel Modeling | 3 |
| SRM 629 | Structural Equation Modeling | 3 |
| Choose 3 credits from one of the following: | |
| SRM 685 | Educational Ethnography | 3 |
| or | |
| SRM 686 | Qualitative Case Study Research | 3 |
| or | |
| SRM 687 | Narrative Inquiry | 3 |
| | |
| Elective Credits | 7 |
Qualitative Research Methods Specialization — 22 credits
| SRM 685 | Educational Ethnography | 3 |
| SRM 686 | Qualitative Case Study Research | 3 |
| SRM 687 | Narrative Inquiry | 3 |
| SRM 688 | Writing Qualitative Research | 3 |
| Elective Credits | 10 |
*Note: it is assumed students entering the research methods Ph.D. would have previously completed at least an introductory level qualitative methods course (equivalent to SRM 680), an introductory level program evaluation course (equivalent to SRM 670), an introductory level measurement course (equivalent to PSY 674), and basic training in SAS (equivalent to SRM 520).
Cognate Option
A student in the research methods concentration may elect to complete 15 credits within a cognate area in lieu of the elective credits requirement. These credits must be at the graduate level and approved by the student’s advisor. The intent of the cognate is to equip the student in a substantive discipline within which the dissertation may be written.
Approved electives may be substituted for required courses completed during a Master’s program.
Research Core — 12 credits
| SRM 611 | Advanced Statistical Data Analysis | 3 |
| SRM 620 | Advanced Statistical Programming | 3 |
| SRM 684 | Research Ethics | 1 |
| SRM 700 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| SRM 732 | Research and Statistical Consulting II | 2 |
Research Proposal/Dissertation — 16 hours
| SRM 797 | Doctoral Proposal Research | 1- 4 |
| SRM 799 | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-12 |
Research Tools
All Ph.D. students must demonstrate competency in two acceptable research tools.
Deficiencies
Students who enter the doctoral program without a working knowledge of SAS programming must take SRM 520 early in their doctoral program.