FAQs about AQM
1. What is AQM?
Advanced Quantitative Methods (AQM) is a new program of interdisciplinary doctoral training offered jointly by the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies and the Department of Psychology at UCLA. The program is intended for graduate students who want to become expert methodologists with a thorough understanding of substantive education areas and educational policy issues.
This new Ph.D degree program is housed in the Social Research Methodology division in Moore Hall and in the Department of Psychology in Franz Hall.
AQM is a federally funded grant supported by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) in the U.S. Department of Education.
2. Why study here?
The program is dedicated to producing world-class quantitative educational researchers. We draw upon faculty Education, Psychology, Biostatistics, Social Welfare, Public Policy and Sociology in order to offer advanced training in research design, statistics, and educational policy issues, and to provide practical research experience with complex, real-world educational issues and problems.
Some example areas of research include:
- Achievement gaps between students of different ethnicities
- high school dropouts and their access to college
- the validity of standardized tests for measuring achievement among students with limited English proficiency
- the impact of new instructional approaches for teaching mathematics
- the effects of tracking on student science attainment
Some students will specialize in using existing advanced statistical tools to answer policy questions; others will work on developing new or improved statistical methods.
The AQM program includes special opportunities in research related to teaching, learning, and testing in mathematics.
3. Who are our faculty?
Core and affiliated faculty are renowed experts in their respective fields and come from the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, the Department of Psychology and other departments at UCLA. Peruse their Curriculum Vitae (CVs) and web pages. You can contact them directly to ask specific program/academic questions and to see if you might be a great fit to this new program.
4. Where is AQM?
AQM is located in the UCLA Department of Education (in the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies) Moore Hall, room 2005. The Psychology division is located in Franz Hall. Before visiting us, please contact Program Coordinator, Matthew Palmer, in the Department of Education at 310/825-5166 or email him at: palmer@gseis.ucla.edu. See map link for building locations and directions.
5. When does theory become practice?
The program includes special opportunities in research related to teaching, learning and testing in mathematics. Click here for Professor Li's testimonial about the AQM program.
6. What about financial support?
The AQM program is made possible by a 4 million dollar grant from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). Participating students receive a guaranteed stipend starting at $30,000/year for multiple years, plus coverage of tuition and fees, health insurance, travel funds to conferences, and support for research expenses. You'll have access to specialized resources and leading researchers. Once admitted, you become part of a national network of students, faculty and practitioners conducting cutting edge interdisciplinary research in the education sciences. If you apply to AQM, you cannot receive any additional outside funding.
7. Is there a minimum GRE score?
The AQM Ph.D program is an intensive statistics and quantitative driven curriculum. Many of the courses involve advanced treatments of mathematical models and statistical analysis. It is very strongly recommended to score in a high percentile on the quantitative part of the GRE exam to be considered a viable candidate to the AQM program. We recommend a quantitative score about/above 600.
We only accept applications once a year in Fall.
For Fall 2010 applicants, it is hightly advisable to take the GRE by 11/15/09 to avoid delay in reviewing your application.
We give careful consideration to the candidates self-statement, GPA, education, skills, work experience and letters of recommendation.In regards to letters of recommendation and statement of purpose, the committee looks at three strong letters especially one from someone (like a professor) who knows your research experience plus a very strong statement specifically addressing what you want to research as a potential PhD student in the AQM program and how that fits in with your overall research / career goals.
When applying to the AQM program, you'll need to indicated in the Statement of Purpose, you are interested in being a doctoral fellow in the program on Advanced Quantitative Methods in Education Research.
You cannot apply to AQM and SRM programs together. If you are unsure if AQM or SRM is the best fit for your academic needs, please send the program coordinator your current CV and questions and concerns.
Please mail all your letters and statement of purpose in one envelope and place your social security number on your documentation. See this link for details.
If you have questions about your suitability to the program, feel free to contact one of the faculty members, or the Program Coordinator.
To get a feel of the scope of work that is done by our Ph.D Fellows in the program, please visit this link to see their examples. Click to view our blog.
8. Who are our Ph.D fellows in AQM?
As of September 22, 2009 we have eleven Ph.D fellows in the program. Three from Psychology and eight from Education. They are diverse in their backgrounds and skill sets and lead productive lives inside and outside the program. You can peruse their Curriculum Vitae (CVs) and web pages/blogs:
http://aqm.gseis.ucla.edu/fellows.html
UCLA's AQM blog and Jordan Rickle's blog
Feel free to contact them with your questions about the program.
9. I am a foreign student, can I get my tuition paid for by the AQM program?
Sorry, you must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident to receive financial support from this specific program.
International students can be admitted to the general Masters or Ph.D programs in SRM -- in essence following the same coursework and obtaining the same degree as AQM Fellows. Well qualified international students are encouraged to apply; please note that financial support for foreign students is extremely limited and very competitive.
The Social Research Methodology Division offers both a Masters and a Ph.D degree but AQM is specifically funded by the IES grant. This was repeated before, but in case you missed it, when applying to the AQM program, you'll need to indicated in the Statement of Purpose, you are interested in being a doctoral fellow in the program on Advanced Quantitative Methods in Education Research.
10. Where do I apply to the program?
Follow this link for admission info. Then, be sure to read this information first before applying. Interested students may apply to either the Social Research Methodology Division (Department of Education in the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies—for the field of emphasis, select the Advanced Quantitative Methods option) or to the Psychology Department.
Important: In the Statement of Purpose, indicate that you are interested in being a doctoral fellow in the program on Advanced Quantitative Methods in Education Research. If you have any difficulty with the application, please contact us.
11. What can I do with a Ph.D?
Advanced Quantitative Methods is an area of tremendous growth and the job market for our graduates is hot! Graduates can place quickly in top tier academic institutions, research organizations, think tanks, foundations and non-profits, testing organizations, state and federal research offices, etc. See a large sample of jobs and careers that are in need of this specific skill set. See link
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