Needs Assessment and Program Evaluation

Catalog description

This course covers research methods and analytic tools that are used in communities and organizations to plan, monitor and evaluate programs, projects and initiatives. It builds upon the research methods course in the foundation curriculum and deepens and expands this content at the advanced level. The content prepares students to use quantitative and qualitative research methods to plan and evaluate programs, policies and practices. The class covers the conceptual and technical aspects of conducting needs assessment in and applying the tools and findings to the community, program and organizational development process. The course employs a circle perspective with the goal that students will be able to judge the strengths and weaknesses of various tools and approaches and the degree to which ethical standards have been met. Students are introduced to a variety of methods for community and needs assessment, demographic, statistical and geographic analysis, qualitative and quantitative data gathering methods, and program and policy evaluation designs. The importance of conducting research in ways that respect cultural diversity and are valid across diverse populations is emphasized. The practical aspects of using data to drive decision making, quality improvement, outcomes management and the engagement of partners and stakeholders are also covered in the course. This course is structured to have a strong emphasis on skill development in data gathering, analysis and application. Prereq: SASS 426 or MSW Advanced Standing or enrolled in Master of Nonprofit Organizations program or enrolled in Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management program.