Proposal for Changes
Master of Science in Survey Methodology
Degree Requirements
September 2003
For further information contact:
Professor Katharine G. Abraham
JPSM
1218 LeFrak Hall
301-405-1004
kabraham@survey.umd.edu
Administrative Structure of the Joint Program in Survey Methodology (JPSM)
The Joint Program in Survey Methodology (JPSM) is a consortium undertaking of the University
of Maryland, the University of Michigan, and Westat. Primary funding for the JPSM is provided
by the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy, a group made up of the principal federal
statistical agencies.
In September 1991, a National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council (NAS/NRC)
workshop focused on the development of a “Center for Survey Methods” that would offer an
advanced degree in survey methodology. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the subject
matter, no existing department was deemed to be a suitable home for such a center. The JPSM
was created to educate the next generation of professional staff of the federal statistical system.
The JPSM is housed physically at the University of Maryland and has all the curricular rights
and responsibilities of a conventional department. The Director, the chief JPSM administrative
officer, is appointed for a three-year term by the Dean of the University of Maryland College of
Behavioral and Social Sciences, with the advice and consent of the Director of the University of
Michigan Survey Research Center, and in consultation with the Chairman of the Board of
Westat. JPSM faculty appointments are tailored to the consortium structure noted above. There
is a core faculty (instructors with ongoing appointments for the teaching of required courses in
the curriculum) and an affiliate faculty (instructors with duties of a more transient nature). The
core faculty is drawn from the University of Maryland, the University of Michigan, and Westat.
Teaching some courses from remote locations, using state-of-the-art videoconferencing facilities,
allows students to learn from faculty with expertise in the whole range of subject matter relevant
to the field of survey methodology.
An Executive Committee has oversight of all JPSM administrative matters and policies. It
consists of the Director (chair), the Associate Director, and two members who are elected by the
faculty for two-year terms. At least one member of the committee has a primary appointment at
the University of Maryland, one a joint appointment at the University of Michigan, and one a
joint appointment with Westat.
The program has a Curriculum Committee consisting of four faculty, who are appointed by the
Executive Committee, and two students, who are elected by JPSM degree candidates. It is
concerned with all matters relating to courses and instruction. Finally, an Admissions
Committee consisting of at least four members appointed by the Executive Committee is
concerned with all matters related to student selection and support.
To date, there have been 90 graduates from the JPSM Masters program. Current enrollment is
66 Masters students and 5 PhD students. The majority of JPSM students are current federal
government employees working on their Masters degree on a part-time basis. There are
currently 17 full-time students in the program.
Current Program Degree Requirements
Students enrolled in the Master of Science in Survey Methodology degree program may choose
between two areas of concentration. Below is the current curriculum for each area.
Statistical Science
Social Science
SURV 410: Introduction to Probability
Theory
SURV 420: Introduction to Statistics
SURV 440: Sampling Theory
SURV 615: Statistical Methods I
SURV 616: Statistical Methods II
SURV 620: Survey Practicum I
SURV 621: Survey Practicum II
SURV 623: Data Collection Methods in
Survey Research
SURV 625: Applied Sampling
SURV 670: Introduction to the Federal
Statistical System I
SURV 671: Introduction to the Federal
Statistical System II
SURV 722: Random and Nonrandomized
Research Design
SURV 723: Total Survey Error
SURV 742: Inference from Complex
Surveys
SURV 744: Topics in Sampling
SURV 770: Survey Design Seminar I
SURV 771: Survey Design Seminar II
Elective
SURV 601: Social Statistics I
SURV 602: Social Statistics II
SURV 620: Survey Practicum I
SURV 621: Survey Practicum II
SURV 623: Data Collection Methods in
Survey Research
SURV 625: Applied Sampling
SURV 630: Questionnaire Design
SURV 632: Social and Cognitive
Foundations of Survey Measurement
SURV 670: Introduction to the Federal
Statistical System I
SURV 671: Introduction to the Federal
Statistical System II
SURV 701: Analysis of Complex Sample
Data
SURV 722: Random and Nonrandomized
Research Design
SURV 723: Total Survey Error
SURV 760: Survey Management
SURV 770: Survey Design Seminar I
SURV 771: Survey Design Seminar II
Elective
Elective
In addition to taking the courses listed above, students in both concentration areas must complete
an internship that gives them hands-on experience doing survey work. Many of the students
enrolled in the program have jobs that fulfill this requirement; internship placements are
arranged for those who do not.
Rationale for Proposed Changes to Degree Requirements
Based on the experience with the program over its first ten years in existence, a review of the
requirements for the Master of Science in Survey Methodology was initiated by the Director. A
faculty committee was formed for that purpose. The committee members talked with other
faculty, current and past students and potential employers of program graduates. The committee
developed a recommended set of program changes that then were voted upon (and approved
unanimously) by the JPSM faculty. Taken as a whole, these changes would achieve several
objectives.
•
Ensure that all students take a statistical methods course that is sufficiently
rigorous to prepare them well for later required coursework;
•
Increase the number of electives students may take in pursuit of their particular
interests ( depending on their track, students currently have either one or two
electives);
•
Better support students in writing the independent research paper required for the
Total Survey Error capstone course;
•
Better align course credits with course workloads.
Highlights of Proposed Changes to Degree Requirements
The specific changes proposed for the Masters of Science in Survey Methodology curriculum are
as follows:
1.
Randomized and Nonrandomized Research Design (SURV 722) no longer a required
course for students on the statistical science track. Will be offered as an elective.
2.
Survey Management (SURV 760) no longer a required course for students on the social
science track. Offered as an elective.
3.
Introduction to the Federal Statistical System (SURV 670/671) reduced to a 1-semester,
1-credit class (SURV 670). Material in the second semester of the existing sequence
deemed not to be critical.
4.
Survey Design Seminar (SURV 770/771) changed from a 2-semester, 1-credit-per-term
sequence to a 1-semester, 3-credit class (SURV 772). In its current form, the course
carried too few credits for the workload involved. More concentrated exposure to a
somewhat smaller number of design units will better meet program goals.
5.
SURV 615 and SURV 616 (Stat Methods I and II) become the basic intro stat sequence
for both concentrations, replacing SURV 601 and SURV 602 on the social science track.
Experience shows that all students need the more rigorous treatment offered by SURV
615 and SURV 616.
6.
Total Survey Error (currently taught as SURV 723) offered as a 2-semester, 2-credit per
term class in which students cover relevant literature and choose a research paper topic in
the first semester (SURV 720) and write an original research paper in the second
semester (SURV 721). The two semester format will provide a more realistic time frame
for preparing the required research paper and the increase in allotted total credits from
three to four will align more closely with the actual workload.
7.
Survey Practicum (SURV 620/621) offered as a 2-semester, 2-credit-per-term class
(SURV 640/641). This change is intended to better align course credits with course
workload.
These changes result in statistical science track students having two electives, one more than at
present, and social science track students having three electives rather than two. The total
number of credits required for receipt of a M.S. degree is reduced from 46 to 45.
Proposed Course Schedule for Full Time Students in the Revised Master of Science in Survey Methodology program
Term
Statistical Science
Social Science
Fall, Year 1
410:
615:
623:
670:
615:
623:
632:
670:
Intro Probability (3)
Stat Methods I (3)
Data Collection (3)
Fed Stat (1)
10 credits
Spring, Year 1
420:
616:
640:
625:
Stat Methods I (3)
Data Collection (3)
Social and Cognitive Founds. (3)
Fed Stat (1)
11 credits
Intro to Stat (3)
Stat Methods II (3)
Practicum I (2)
Applied Sampling (3)
616:
640:
625:
630:
Stat Methods II (3)
Practicum I (2)
Applied Sampling (3)
Questionnaire Design (3)
11 credits
11 credits
Summer, Year 1
Internship
Internship
Fall, Year 2
440: Sampling Theory (3)
621: Practicum II (2)
720: Total Survey Error I (2)
772: Design Seminar (3)
Elective (3)
621:
701:
720:
772:
722:
13 credits
13 credits
721:
Total Survey Error II (2)
742:
Inference (3)
744:
Topics in Sampling (3)
Elective (3)
721:
Total Survey Error II (2)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
11 credits
11 credits
Spring, Year 2
Practicum II (2)
Analysis of Complex Data (3)
Total Survey Error I (2)
Design Seminar (3)
Random/Nonrandom (3)
Proposed Course Schedule for Half-Time Students the Master of Science in Survey Methodology program
Term
Statistical Science
Social Science
Fall, Year 1
410:
615:
670:
615:
632:
670:
Intro Probability (3)
Stat Methods I (3)
Fed Stat (1)
7 credits
Spring, Year 1
420:
616:
640:
7 credits
Intro to Stat (3)
Stat Methods II (3)
Practicum I (2)
8 credits
Summer, Year 1
Fall, Year 2
Spring, Year 2
Summer, Year 2
625:
Stat Methods I (3)
Social and Cognitive Founds. (3)
Fed Stat (1)
616:
630:
640:
Stat Methods II (3)
Questionnaire Design (3)
Practicum I (2)
8 credits
Applied Sampling (3)
625:
Applied Sampling (3)
3 credits
3 credits
440:
623:
641:
623:
722:
641:
Sampling Theory (3)
Data Collection (3)
Practicum II (2)
Data Collection (3)
Random/Nonrandom (3)
Practicum II (2)
8 credits
8 credits
744:
Topics in Sampling (3)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
6 credits
6 credits
Internship
Internship
Term
Statistical Science
Social Science
Fall, Year 3
772:
720:
701:
772:
720:
Spring, Year 3
Design Seminar (3)
Total Survey Error I (2)
Analysis of Complex Data (3)
Design Seminar (3)
Total Survey Error I (2)
5 credits
8 credits
721:
Total Survey Error II (2)
742:
Inference (3)
Elective (3)
721:
Total Survey Error II (2)
Elective (3)
8 credits
5 credits
Transition Plan for New M.S. Curriculum
The new M.S. curriculum requirements are to be introduced for students who enter the
program in the fall of 2004. During the 2004-2005 academic year, only the courses
typically taken by full-time students in their first year will be modified; remaining course
changes will be introduced during the 2005-2006 academic year. This phasing means
that full-time students entering the program in the fall of 2003 will be able to complete
the current program; full-time students entering the program in the fall of 2004 or later
will operate under the new requirements. The only transition issues involve part-time
students. This document addresses explicitly the transition issues for half-time students.
There are relatively few students enrolled in the program on less than a half-time basis
and schedules for those affected by the transition wil be worked out on an individual
basis.
Half-time Students – Fall 2002 Entering Cohort
Half-time students who entered the program in the fall of 2002 are scheduled to complete
their coursework in the spring of 2005. They will be able to complete their program
under the old curriculum. These students will be allowed to substitute an elective for the
previously required courses that have been made optional under the new curriculum
(Survey Management for social science students Random/Nonrandom for statistical
science students).
Half-time Students – Fall 2003 Entering Cohort
Changes in the M.S. curriculum include changes in the number of credits associated with
the Survey Practicum (from 3 credits per semester to 2 credits per semester); Total
Survey Error (from 3 credits in one semester to 4 credits over two semesters); and the
Survey Design Seminar (from 2 credits spread over two semesters to 3 credits in one
semester). Schedules for half-time students on the statistical science track who enroll in
the fall of 2003 can be arranged so that they take only the new versions of these courses.
Half-time students on the social science track who enroll in the fall of 2003 will need to
take the old version of Total Survey Error, offered in the spring of their second year, in
order to complete their degree in the spring of their third year without carrying an
overload in any semester. Proposed transition schedules for students on both tracks are
shown on the attached pages.
In addition, half-time social science students who enter the program in fall 2003 may be
encouraged to take SURV 615/616 rather than SURV 601/602, if their backgrounds
adequately prepare them to do so.
Half-time Students – Fall 2004 Entering Cohort
Half-time students who enter the program in the fall of 2004 will fall strictly under the
new program requirements.
TRANSITION COURSE SCHEDULE FOR HALF TIME STUDENTS ENTERING FALL 2003
Term
Fall 2003
Statistical Science
Social Science
410:
615:
670:
615:
632:
670:
Intro Probability (3)
Stat Methods I (3)
Fed Stat I (1)
7 credits
Spring 2004
420:
616:
671:
7 credits
Intro to Stat (3)
Stat Methods II (3)
Fed Stat II (1)
7 credits
Summer 2004
Fall 2004
Spring 2005
Summer 2005
625:
Stat Methods I (3)
Social and Cognitive Founds. (3)
Fed Stat I (1)
616:
630:
671:
Stat Methods II (3)
Questionnaire Design (3)
Fed Stat II (1)
7 credits
Applied Sampling (3)
625:
Applied Sampling (3)
3 credits
3 credits
440:
623:
623:
722:
Sampling Theory (3)
Data Collection (3)
Data Collection (3)
Random/Nonrandom (3)
6 credits
6 credits
640:
Practicum I (2)
744:
Topics in Sampling (3)
Elective (3)
640:
Practicum I (2)
723:
Total Survey Error (3)
Elective (3)
8 credits
8 credits
Internship
Internship
Term
Fall 2005
Spring 2006
Statistical Science
Social Science
641:
720:
772:
641:
701:
772:
Practicum II (2)
Total Survey Error I (2)
Design Seminar (3)
Practicum II (2)
Analysis of Complex Data (3)
Design Seminar (3)
7 credits
8 credits
721:
Total Survey Error II (2)
742:
Inference (3)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
8 credits
6 credits