Data Collection and Management Certificate

Whether you are taking a quiz on BuzzFeed or completing a questionnaire at the doctor’s office, data are being collected and analyzed to help those organizations make insightful, data-informed decisions. As organizations move toward data-rich collection processes, they look for employees, from all different disciplines, who possess quantitative and qualitative skills.

Data Collection and Management Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Data Collection and Management provides specialized training in the use of surveys, interviews and focus groups to collect new data. The certificate program is intended for college graduates who want to gain the ability to collect, analyze and present data on markets, programs, products, and consumers to better market themselves to employers in both the private and public sectors.

Coursework

The coursework is designed to teach the skills that are most sought after by employers in market research, evaluation and public policy analysis. In fact, the curriculum was developed in consultation with industry experts from Mathematica, ORC International, The Hastings Institute, Guttmacher Institute, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Azure Knowledge, Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations, Ensighten, and Bank of America.

The program provides students with a balance of conceptual coursework and professional preparation. Students in the program’s first two cohorts gained hands-on experience by working on real projects with organizations such as Perception Research Services, Sphere Technologies, Community Options, Classic Thyme and Beauteque. This exposure allowed students to learn cutting-edge methods and tools used by both private and nonprofits organizations to inform business decisions in this advanced stage of the information age.

Career Outcomes

Students pursue the Data Collection and Management Certificate for a variety of reasons. Some want to become survey researchers for market research companies. Others want to assess the effectiveness of social policies and projects for non-profit research firms. Additional career possibilities include working for a political polling institute or for a grant-funded research project. Some graduate students in other degree programs earn this certificate by using their elective courses. Other recent college graduates work on the certificate as a way of enhancing their qualifications for a full graduate degree program. And still other working professionals enroll to enhance their existing skill sets to advance in their careers.

Career-Related Resources:

• What skills will I gain from taking these courses?
• Who is hiring people with these skills?
• How much do people in these fields earn?
• Current job openings and internships
• Request a copy of the job market analysis for the program

Interested in learning more?

Interested students are encouraged to contact Dr. Christopher Donoghue.

• E-mail: donoghuec@montclair.edu

The Priority Deadline for Fall 2016 is June 1st.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact The Graduate School.

• E-mail: gradschool@montclair.edu
• Phone: 973-655-5147