MPA-716 Program Evaluation for Public & Nonprofit Organizations

Course Overview

Prepares students to design, conduct, and use program evaluations in public and nonprofit settings. Topics include evaluation purposes and users; logic models and theories of change; evaluation designs (experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental); indicator development and measurement; mixed-methods data collection (surveys, interviews, focus groups, administrative data); performance measurement and management; cost and impact analyses (e.g., cost-effectiveness/benefit); equity-aware evaluation and culturally responsive approaches; data quality, ethics/IRB, and reporting; and utilization-focused communication (including accessible, ASL-informed visuals and dashboards). Students produce an evaluation plan with measures, data sources, analysis approach, and a practitioner-ready reporting template.

Program: Master of Public Administration

Credit: 3