Institutional Research & Assessment in Higher Education

Nationally, every postsecondary institution employs trained institutional research and assessment professionals. These positions range from research data analysts to directors of institutional assessment to vice-presidents of institutional effectiveness. SDSU's graduate certificate in Institutional Research and Assessment in Higher Education enables students to explore fundamental concepts in institutional research and assessment. Students are introduced to knowledge and skills needed to access, manage, analyze, and use data in today's complex higher education contexts. Data use for decision-making in higher education is critical for improving student success and institutional effectiveness. IR and assessment professionals support academic planning, decision making, accreditation, and assessment for academic institutions, while also maintaining reporting requirements for external agencies and organizations.

• Are an analytical, logical thinker
• Are curious and enjoy solving problems
• Enjoy validating, organizing, and analyzing data
• Want to make a positive difference at a postsecondary institution
• Enjoy creating data visualizations and communicating results

• A minimum GPA of 3.0 to receive unconditional admission. 
• A professional academic transcript evaluation for degrees earned outside the United States (This requirement cannot be waived unless your highest degree was earned or will be earned in the U.S. prior to enrollment at SDSU).
  • If you are completing your bachelor's degree at the time of application, you may submit an incomplete evaluation. If you are accepted, a complete transcript and/or evaluation with completed degree will be required by the end of your first semester of coursework.
• Official U.S. transcripts where a degree is earned (or will be earned), and official U.S. transcripts where graduate level coursework has been taken.
• A minimum TOEFL score of 71, TOEFL Essentials score of 7.5, IELTS score of 6 or Duolingo score of 100.
  • SDSU accepts MyBest TOFEL scores. 
  • Some programs have higher minimum requirements. Find program specific requirements by selecting your program of interest in the Graduate Catalog.

• Research data analysts
• Data visualization developer
• Senior Statistician
• Business Intelligence analyst
• Assessment coordinator
• Survey specialist
• Reporting and Data Management Specialist
• Director of institutional assessment
• Director of institutional research
• Director of strategic analytics