Build Graduate-Level Research and Data Skills Before You Graduate
Organizations rely on data to make informed decisions. Ball State's Accelerated Graduate Certificate in Institutional Research allows current undergraduate students to begin developing graduate-level research, assessment, and data analysis skills before completing their bachelor's degree.
You'll complete five graduate courses (15 credits) while still an undergraduate student, gaining practical experience in collecting, interpreting, and communicating data that supports strategic planning and organizational improvement. Those credits may then be applied toward one of the following accelerated master's degrees:
- M.S. in Educational Psychology
- M.A. in Psychological Science
- M.S. in Quantitative Psychology
This accelerated pathway helps you save time and tuition while earning both a graduate certificate and master's degree.
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Why Study Institutional Research?
Data helps organizations answer important questions, improve outcomes, and make strategic decisions.
Through this graduate certificate, you'll learn how to collect, analyze, interpret, and communicate data that informs decision-making in higher education and other organizations. Coursework emphasizes research methods, assessment, evaluation, and data-driven problem solving—skills that are increasingly valuable across industries.
Career Opportunities
Graduates pursuing an accelerated master's degree may prepare for careers in:
- Institutional research
- Assessment and evaluation
- Data analytics
- Higher education administration
- Program evaluation
- Research and planning