# Introduction to Program Evaluation Course Canonical URL: ## Overview Evaluation identifies, discovers, generates, and displays information about an organization's program effectiveness. The information shows what the organization produces, how those products affect society, and how much the effect is worth. Budget hearings before Congress, as well as OMB, often require information generated by evaluations. Legislation commonly requires a formal evaluation of some type as a condition for a program's existence or funding. Learn to describe programs, identify information useful in evaluation, collect reliable data, and analyze it effectively. ## What you'll learn - Identify and apply critical elements of the evaluation process. - Identify the phases of research design. - Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different data-gathering techniques. - Interpret statistical data. - Identify the costs and benefits of a program. ## Curriculum #### Module 1: Introduction to Program Evaluation - Understand the definition, purpose, and scope of program evaluation. - Differentiate between formative, process, and summative evaluations. - Identify stakeholders, evaluation questions, and intended uses of evaluation results. - Review ethical considerations and professional standards in evaluation practice. #### Module 2: Data Collection - Explore various data sources, including qualitative and quantitative methods. - Understand the strengths and limitations of surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observation. - Plan data collection strategies that align with evaluation objectives. - Address issues of data quality, reliability, and validity. #### Module 3: Evaluation Design - Examine experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs. - Select designs appropriate for program context and resources. - Understand threats to internal and external validity. - Plan for feasible, rigorous, and ethical evaluation implementation. #### Module 4: Sampling - Understand probability and non-probability sampling methods. - Determine appropriate sample size for evaluation purposes. - Address representativeness, bias, and sampling error. - Apply sampling strategies to various evaluation scenarios. #### Module 5: Data Analysis - Apply descriptive statistics to summarize data (measures of central tendency and dispersion). - Use inferential statistics to test hypotheses and determine significance. - Interpret findings in the context of evaluation questions and program goals. - Communicate results effectively to stakeholders. #### Module 6: Cost-Benefit Analysis - Understand the principles and steps of cost-benefit analysis in program evaluation. - Identify and quantify program costs and benefits. - Calculate cost-benefit ratios and interpret results for decision-making. - Recognize the limitations and challenges of applying cost-benefit analysis. ## Schedule - Jun 8, 2026 – Jun 12, 2026 — Live Online - Jul 6, 2026 – Jul 10, 2026 — Live Online - Aug 10, 2026 – Aug 14, 2026 — Live Online - Dec 7, 2026 – Dec 11, 2026 — Live Online ## Instructors ### Bruce Gay — Instructor Bruce is an engaging trainers and program manager who brings 25+ years practical experience to deliver effective and experiential training to students. Able to engage adult learners with a range of backgrounds and professional experiences. Successful at building effective stakeholder relationships and coordinating multi-disciplinary teams for solution delivery. Bruce has over 25 years of project and program management experience across multiple industries. He has a Masters degree from The George Washington University and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Bruce currently runs his own freelance training and consulting business, helping project managers and team leaders improve their business skills, become better leaders, and achieve professional greatness. Bruce is a well-received speaker in the areas of design thinking, project management, cross-team collaboration, and AI tools for projects, and has presented at regional and international conferences. ### Steve Pesklo — Instructor Steve is an energetic trainer who focuses on applying technical concepts to everyday work practices. He is the founder and president of SoftLake Solutions, a company that specializes in providing data and AI applications to identify fraud for Internal Audit, Criminal Investigations, Forensic Accounting, Privacy, and Compliance. Steve brings a large amount of experience across multiple industries and government agencies. He is an expert in implementing large data analysis projects across the world, including Inland Revenue in the UK and Argentina, New Zealand, Africa and across Europe. Previously, he was the manager of Data Architecture and Data Services for a large mortgage company. He is a frequent speaker on data analytics and project management topics and speaks fluent German. He has been teaching at the Graduate School for over 10 years. Steve has an M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas and a B.S. in Computer Science from California Lutheran University and the Universität Salzburg in Austria. He is certified as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Project Management Professional (PMP), and a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM). ### Joe Mlakar — Instructor Joe has over 27 years of Federal Government and military service and has been a part-time instructor with Graduate School USA since 2023. He enjoys using his technical knowledge in Operations Research to teach his students to provide organization and structure to complex processes, and apply advanced analytical techniques to help leaders make better decisions. Joe is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. ## Pricing **Tuition:** $1629