Syllabus - Summer 2009
GPPS 5347 - Program Evaluation
(Formerly GPPS 347)

Excluding textbooks, the information on this syllabus is subject to change.  For the most
up-to-date syllabus, check this site on the first day of classes. 

This is a three-credit graduate level course and is one of three required core courses in the online Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree. The MPS degree is offered through the University of Connecticut's Center for Continuing Studies and has four fields of study: Human Resource Management, Humanitarian Services Administration, Occupational Safety and Health Management, and Homeland Security Leadership.

The developer of this course is Teresa Boyd Cowles, Ph.D.

Course Title: Program Evaluation (GPPS 5347)

Credits: 3

Instructor:  Dr. Abdou Ndoye

Email:   Abdou.ndoye@uconn.edu

For special permission to register for this course, contact Donna.Campbell@uconn.edu. Include your Peoplesoft ID number and reason for taking the course.

This course is intended to provide students with skills and knowledge required to apply the methods of science to the assessment of social programs. Here a social program refers to organized, goal-directed activities designed to address a social, humanistic, or other human related problem. The goal of the course is to provide you, the student, with enough skill and knowledge that you are able to design and implement evaluations of programs. The extent to which you are able to do this without assistance reflects largely on your familiarity with scientific methods.

1. Design and construct a program evaluation plan using the standards, methodologies, and techniques presented in the course.
2. Examine the ethical and political concerns impacting the profession of program evaluation.
3. Analyze the methodologies, techniques, and assessment of a completed evaluation project performed by another professional or group.

Reflective Responses
These are weekly online discussions, where you respond briefly to posted discussion questions You can work in groups of two to provide an original response to the question of the week. You will be required to:

• post your response in the discussion area
• respond to at least one posting
• submit your posting to me via email

These responses will be graded. There will be 3 reflective responses, each worth 5 points. The instructor will review your postings before awarding points. You have one week to respond to the discussions by the due dates listed on the calendar. Responses are expected to be no more than two pages (references not included). When citing resources and readings, you must use APA format. Well researched responses with references to the literature are highly preferred and will be graded higher. Late discussion postings will not be accepted.

Evaluation Plan Projects
In this course you will be required to identify a program of your choice and develop an evaluation plan for it. This project will be broken into three different parts. You will be paired up with another classmate with whom you will work on this project. you will be also required to do a critique of another pair's submission. Specific requirements, details and guidelines for these projects will be provided in your course.

Evaluation of the Evaluation
Your papers should demonstrate completeness, clear writing, thoughtful consideration and originality; they should synthesize connections between readings, course discussions, and your own work.

ASSIGNMENT	POINTS
Reflective Responses	15 points
Project 1	20 points
Project 2	20 points
Project 3	25 points
Critiques (3 total)	10 points
Discussion Participation	10 points
TOTAL	100 points

 

Late Policy
Course due dates are listed in the Calendar Tool of HuskyCT. The deadline for all course work due dates is 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. You may post an assignment anytime prior to or after the specified due date; however, late Reflective Responses (discussion postings) will not be accepted past the due date. Papers will lose 2 points each day they are late until points are exhausted. The pre and post assessments are required to complete the course.

 

Final letter grades for this course will be determined based on the following scale:

You are responsible for acting in accordance with the Student Code, available at  http://www.dosa.uconn.edu/student_code.cfm.

This text may be purchased locally or through an online bookstore.

Required Text:

Rossi, P.H., Lipsey, M.W. & Freeman, H.E. (2004). Evaluation: A systematic approach (7th ed.). Sage Publications. ISBN: 0761908943.

*Additional articles and Web sites will be included in the online course.

• Word processor software
• Adobe Acrobat Reader

Your Internet browser and browser settings need to be HuskyCT compatible. See Settings.

Week 1: Program Evaluation, Definition and History

Module – Introduction

Module 1- What Is Program Evaluation?

Module 2- History of Evaluation Research and Guiding Principles

Week 2: Evaluation Models, Standards and Questions

Module 3- Foundational Models for Program Evaluation

Module 4- Program Evaluation Standards and Ethics

Week 3: Needs assessment, Program theory  and evaluation questions

Module 5- Needs Assessment and Program Theory

Module 6- Types of Evaluations and Evaluation Questions

Week 4: Implementation

Module 7- Program Process and Program Outcomes

Module 8- Evaluation Design and Data Collection Methods

Week 5: Analysis

Module 9- Program Impact

Module 10- Program Effects and Efficiency Analysis

Week 6: Utilization

Module 11- Evaluation Utilization, Policy and Politics

Module 12- Meta Evaluation

 

Students will be provided an opportunity to evaluate instruction in this course using the University's standard procedures, which are administered by the Office of Institutional Research.