The Doctor of Evaluation Practice (D.Eval) program is designed to meet the critical demand for skilled evaluators who can address pressing societal issues in industries like education, public health, healthcare, human services, philanthropic foundations, community-based non-profits, technology, organizational development, international development, and government. Created for working professionals, the D.Eval program integrates evaluation theory and practice with data analytics, communication, leadership, and project management to prepare you for high level roles in evaluation firms, evaluation departments in foundations and other large organizations, state/local governments, and non-profit or for-profit organizations. 

This program is offered in-person with some coursework offered in an hybrid/online modality and can be completed in six semesters of full-time attendance (twelve units/semester).

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 72 units is required for the degree. Additionally, all students must submit an Applied Portfolio. 

Coursework

All graduate students must meet the following course requirements and pass these courses with a grade of B- or better.

Evaluation Core (16 units)

• EVAL 310A - Evaluation Principles I (2 units)  
• EVAL 310B - Evaluation Principles II (2 units)  
• PSYCH 315Z - Comparative Evaluation Theory (4 units)  
• PSYCH 315EE - Evaluation Procedures (4 units)  
• PSYCH 354T - Evaluation for Social Good In a Digital Age (4 units)  

Research Methods (14 units)

• PSYCH 302B - Research Methods: PsyD & DEval (2 units)  
• PSYCH 315Q - Qualitative Research Methods (4 units)  
• PSYCH 315C - Mixed Methods in Evaluation & Applied Research (4 units)  
• PSYCH 315BB - Effective Data Presentation and Visualization (2 units)  

Statistics (8 units)

• PSYCH 308A - Intermediate Statistics (2 units)  
• PSYCH 308B - ANOVA (2 units)  
• PSYCH 308C - Applied Multiple Regression (2 units)  
• PSYCH 308D - Categorical Data Analysis (2 units)  

Students who have taken comparable graduate level courses should consult with the instructors about a waiver examination. Students who pass the waiver examination will take additional electives in place of the waived course. Courses from other institutions cannot be considered for transfer credit unless the waiver examination is passed and grades in the comparable course(s) were B- or better.

Transdisciplinary Course (4 units)

Students will select four units from the following courses. Additional courses may be approved in consultation with an academic advisor.

• CAFE 430 - Inclusive Excellence Changemakers: Justice Centered Frameworks for Education (0-4 units)  
• TNDY 315 - Principles of Project Management for a Complex World (2 units)  
• TNDY 403E - Working Across Cultures (4 units)  
• TNDY 408V - Community Organizing for Social Change (4 units)  

Practicum (2 units)

PSYCH 352L - Professional Development in Evaluation & Applied Research Methods  

Students will take four to five days of TEI workshops in total to earn 2 units in this course.

Capstone (8 units)

Students will complete the following three courses:

• PSYCH 416 - Professional Doctorate Portfolio Capstone and Directed Practice  (2 units)
• PSYCH 416B - Professional Doctorate Portfolio Completion (2 units)  
• PSYCH 416C - Capstone Proposal and Completion (4 units)  

Electives (20 units)

Students will select an additional twenty units in consultation with their academic advisor. 

Applied Portfolio

All students must assemble a portfolio to provide evidence of professional development within their area of specialization. The applied portfolio consists of six items designed to equip students with the applied and translational skills essential to that area.

The portfolio items are expected to be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor and the second faculty member on their committee. The portfolio plan is recommended for approval in each student’s second semester in the program.

Each student’s portfolio must contain at least six items, each relevant to the student’s area of evaluation specialization. Each item is expected to approximate the work effort required in 4- 8 units of graduate coursework. The following list illustrates, but does not exhaustively define, appropriate types of items*:

I. Mastery Area: Technical Expertise (minimum 1)

a. Strategic evaluation plan unifying subprograms within a program

b. Comprehensive technical evaluation report

c. Evaluation practice guide on one specialized approach or tool

d. Evidence-based systematic literature review on program area (e.g., SEL in education, homelessness interventions, international aid)

II. Mastery Area: Use & Influence Expertise (minimum 1)

a. Evaluation use-focused training or workshop facilitation (strongly recommended)

b. Evaluation data and results workshop facilitation (slide development and presentation)

c. Original evaluation practice guide on one specialized approach or tool

c. Reflective/conceptual/practical theory article submitted for publication

III. Mastery Area: Dissemination Expertise (minimum 1)

a. Disseminate evaluation results beyond traditional reporting mechanisms (e.g., infographic, slide presentation, webinar, AI-based sharing) (required item)

b. AEA 365 or similar public-facing evaluation blog accepted for posting

c. Formal oral presentation at an evaluation professional meeting

IV. Other

a. 8 or more units of non-required methodology

b. Website development for independent consulting practice, including professional development statement, evaluation approach(es), and evaluation specialization

c. 320 hours of documented field experience

Requirement: Field placement agreement form for each placement and hours log totaling 320 hours

V. Mastery Area: Collaborative Expertise (minimum 1)

Any item from I-IV that is done in collaboration with another CGU student where the student obtaining portfolio credit is the project lead.

Time to Degree Limits

University policies on time to degree apply.  For doctoral students, no more than 7 years from the time a student begins graduate study will be allowed for the fulfillment of all degree requirements (6 years if 13-24 units of transfer credit are accepted toward degree; 6.5 years if 1-12 units are transferred in).  The Doctorate of Evaluation program imposes the following additional specifications for its students regarding extensions of time to degree.

• Extensions of time are granted for only one year at a time.
• Only students who are making satisfactory progress on their capstone project will be considered for a second extension.
• The Doctorate of Evaluation program does not authorize more than three extensions.

Master’s Degree Along the Way

Students are eligible to earn either the Master of Arts in Psychology or the Master of Science in Evaluation & Applied Research along the way. Students may qualify for a master’s degree, received along the way to the doctoral degree, provided all of the following conditions are met:

• A minimum of 48 units of coursework must be completed.
• Students must complete all required courses required by the specific MA program they aim to obtain.
• Completed coursework must not have been used toward conferral of a master’s degree from CGU in another discipline.

To receive the master’s degree, students must follow degree completion procedures and comply with the deadlines applicable for the semester in which the degree is requested.  Degree completion deadlines are published in the University’s Academic Calendar.