University of Illinois at Chicago

The University of Illinois at Chicago will offer a new online certificate program in the basics of survey research, beginning in January. Five required courses totaling 11 credit hours will address survey design, data collection, sources of error, quality control, methodology evaluation, and data analysis and interpretation. All instructors are faculty in the UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, including the Survey Research Laboratory, or the UIC School of Public Health. "Survey research is the predominant method of studying large populations. Despite this, few online training programs address it," said Tim Johnson, director of the Survey Research Laboratory. Survey research skills can benefit a wide range of professionals as well as research faculty and graduate students, Johnson said. Tuition for the certificate program is $725 per credit hour. Students can complete the program in three semesters and will earn graduate credit toward a master's degree in public administration at UIC.