The Graduate Certificate in Qualitative Studies is designed so that you can develop qualitative research skills through increasing levels of understanding, but also develop a specific approach in some detail. Courses are taught by faculty in the School of Education, School of Nursing, Department of Sociology, Department of Anthropology, and Department of American Studies (Folklore).
A program advisor will work with you to determine how to best structure your certificate based on your research and career goals. A maximum of 4 credit hours may be drawn from required coursework in your graduate program.
The curriculum requires 4 courses, selected across three levels. You are also required to participate in at least one culminating experience through the Interpretive Research Suite and Carter Qualitative Thought Lab (QuaLab).
Level 1 Courses
Select One
- EDUC 830: Field Techniques in Educational Research, 3 hrs
- SOCI 720: Participant Observation & In-Depth Interviewing, 3 hrs
- NURS 977: Qualitative Approaches to Knowledge Development, 3 hrs
Level 2 Courses
Select One
- EDUC 868: Advanced Qualitative Analysis and Interpretation, 3 hrs
- EDUC 883: Case Study Methods, 3 hrs
- ANTH 860: (FOLK 860) Art of Ethnography, 3 hrs
- NURS 979: Qualitative Analysis, 3 hrs
Level 3 Courses
Select Two
- ANTH 808: Researching and Writing Lives, 3 hrs
- ANTH 809: Ethnographic Methods, 3 hrs
- EDUC 905: Discourse Analysis
- FOLK 841: Performance Ethnography, 3 hrs
- EDUC 977: Autoethnography Educational Research, 3 hrs
- EDUC 974: Critical Social Theory Explored Through Media, 3 hrs
- EDUC 878: Seminar in Educational Studies (Meta-Ethnography), 3 hrs
- ANTH 897: Seminar in Selected Topics (Ethnographic Research Design), 1-4 hrs
QuaLab Requirements
In addition to completing course work, you are required to participate in activities sponsored by the Interpretive Research Suite and Carter Qualitative Thought Lab (QuaLab). You will also have the opportunity to attend any guest lectures, workshops, and discussion groups facilitated by the QuaLab (attendance is not required, but highly encouraged).
You must participate in one of the following types of activities in order to complete all requirements for the certificate:
- a research-oriented activity related to the I-SEEC Change project (Innovative Studies for Engaging Educational Community Change), the overarching signature research project of the QuaLab;
- a teaching-oriented activity during which you would develop mastery of specific software and then teach that software in workshops, within courses and/or to small groups;
- and a service-oriented activity where you would contribute to the on-line repository of teaching ideas, practices, units, exercises, etc. of qualitative research methods maintained by the QuaLab.