Advanced Quantitative Methods in Psychology (Certificate) – STEM Designated Degree Program
The Department of Psychology is offering a new Graduate Certificate in Advanced Quantitative Methods in Psychology in response to a growing need from the job market for a STEM-educated work force and the emerging guidelines from the American Psychological Association that emphasize the scientific nature of behavioral studies.
The ideal candidate for the Graduate Certificate in the Advanced Quantitative Methods in Psychology would be a student already enrolled in a graduate program who is interested in strengthening their knowledge in advanced statistics, modern data analytic techniques, and quantitative methodology in the social sciences. Most students enrolled in this certificate program will be graduate students enrolled in other psychology programs, but the Certificate program welcomes graduate students in other departments who wish to improve their quantitative skills and career prospects as well.
The objective of this Graduate Certificate is to train individuals in the interpretation, application, and design of advanced statistical methods and their applications in the behavioral and social sciences. Four learning objectives will enable students to:
- Demonstrate a depth of knowledge in quantitative research methods and advanced statistical techniques.
- Competently plan research projects and perform empirical data analysis.
- Gain training in data science and programming languages that are in high demand in the labor market (e.g., R, Python).
- Write and present original research reports based on data-analytic findings OR teach statistical material to undergraduate students.
The demand for quantitative methods and data-analytic skills are evident in private industry by the proliferation of jobs in these areas over the past decade. According to LinkedIn, there was 650% job growth in data science and statistics jobs from 2012 to 2017. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a further 11.5 million new jobs by 2026. Trained behavioral graduate students who have skills in both research methodology as well as quantitative techniques are particularly qualified for research and data science positions.
Advanced training in quantitative methodology in psychology is in high demand in academia as well. Advanced quantitative methods training often signals that a scholar is equipped to carry out a research program that is cutting edge and advancing scientific theory and knowledge, which increases the probability of securing external funding. Furthermore, literacy in advanced quantitative methods increases the attractiveness of a CV/resume because it means that job candidates can handle teaching advanced statistical courses. Taken together, our graduate students will have stronger job applications and will be able to further distinguish themselves from other job applicants with an accompanying graduate certificate in advanced quantitative methods in psychology.
Please refer to our programs of study page for a comprehensive list of all of the graduate programs offered within the university.
The Office of Graduate Admissions requires the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible to apply for a graduate program. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the U.S. degree equivalency information.
In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have
created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the
application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps
needed to apply, as well as all corresponding supplemental materials for your specific
program of interest.
- Application Deadline: Rolling Admission.
- Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.
The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the Advanced Quantitative Methods in Psychology (Certificate) program:
- Transcript: One from each college attended
- Letters of Recommendation: Two
- Resume: Required
- Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.
The 15-credit certificate will entail completing quantitative courses and participating in a capstone experience that can be either teaching an undergraduate statistics class or performing data-analytic research. Students must earn a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on the completed certificate courses in order to graduate.
Learn more about the Advanced Quantitative Methods in Psychology (Certificate) curriculum.
If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please email or call us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Email: graduate@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-5147
Fax: 973-655-7869
If you have specific inquiries regarding your program of interest, please contact the Advanced Quantitative Methods in Psychology (Certificate) Program Coordinator:
*During the summer months, there will be a rotating department chair available to answer your inquiry. Find the updated summer chair for this program.*
Program Coordinator: Michael Bixter
Office: Dickson Hall 257
Email: bixterm@montclair.edu