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PSYC 810

PSYC 810
Rural Program Evaluation

Prerequisites: Admission into Psy.D. program or permission of instructor

Credit hours (3)

This course will include a didactic and an experiential aspect. Students will explore current rural cultural issues and learn how to conduct program evaluations. Developing and writing a grant proposal in collaboration with a community agency/organization is a required part of the course.

2. Detailed Description of Course

This course may include the following topics:
• Types of program evaluation
• Description of the ethical and legal issues associated with program evaluation especially in rural areas
• Identification of current cultural issues for rural areas
• Understanding the importance and impact of cultural issues in program evaluation especially rural considerations.
• Description of major approaches to providing program evaluation and their application in rural areas.
• How to know one’s limits of competence in conducting program evaluation
• How to write appropriate program evaluation reports
• How to write a collaborative grant with a community agency/project.

3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

This course will include a didactic and an experiential aspect. Students will learn about various approaches to consultation with community agencies and individuals as well as how to conduct program evaluations especially in rural areas. A grant writing project is a required part of the course. Students will read and discuss articles about current rural issues, will read a book about how to conduct program evaluations, will practice outreaching to the community in class, will find an organization with which to partner for an applied project, and will plan a collaborative grant writing project.

4. Goals and Objectives of the Course

At the end of this course the student should be able to:
• Define program evaluation and differentiate it from supervision and from consultation.
• Describe the ethical and legal issues associated with program evaluation; especially in rural areas.
• Identify the importance and impact of cultural issues in program evaluation; especially rural considerations.
• Describe major approaches to providing program evaluation and their application in rural areas.
• Know one’s limits of competence in conducting program evaluation.
• Be able to write an appropriate program evaluation report.
• Be able to develop a grant proposal.

5. Assessment Measures

Students will be assessed using several measures which may include grades on written assignments, for participation in group discussion and experiential activities, and performance in applied aspects.

6. Other Course Information

None

Review and Approval
May 7, 2014