Recognition of a Sub-specialization in MERM

Background: Some students in ECPS or the Faculty of Education have a strong interest in methodological issues, in addition to their content area specialization. Typically they want to expand their breadth of expertise in a career position. Students may feel they have an advantage in obtaining an academic position if they are not only able to teach courses in their field of specialization, but also to teach some courses in methodology. Other students may wish to obtain a research position in their area of specialization and feel that demonstration of competence in methodology would enhance their qualifications for employment.

In response to this interest, the MERM Program has arranged for a sub-specialization in MERM for Faculty of Education doctoral students. The sub-specialization involves a series of 6 MERM courses. Upon completion of these course requirements, the MERM Coordinator will write a letter to the student stating that they have met the requirements for a sub-specialization in MERM.

Note that because the University of British Columbia does not recognize sub-specialization areas on graduate transcripts, the sub-specialization is not a formal degree or certificate. Rather, it is a formal recognition by the MERM area that the student has completed a set of courses that we agree represents an appropriate level of MERM knowledge for a student outside of MERM. Students would be able to indicate this sub-specialization in MERM on their resumes. The MERM area considers this sub-specialization equivalent to what is called a Minor area of concentration at some other universities.

Process: Doctoral students in the Faculty of Education interested in the MERM sub-specialization should meet with their advisor to discuss the option of taking the appropriate courses to earn this distinction. Any questions about the sub-specialization in MERM, courses, or the process to follow, should be directed to the MERM Coordinator. Cases involving decisions about equivalent course work (see below) should be submitted to the MERM Coordinator in advance for consideration by the MERM Program Committee.

Once the student has completed the required course work, he/she should write a letter to the MERM Coordinator outlining how the requirements were met, accompanied by a copy of his/her transcript(s) showing grades in all courses taken for the sub-specialization. Once all materials have been submitted, the MERM Coordinator will endeavor to provide a letter certifying that the requirements have been met for a sub-specialization in MERM within 60 days.

While most cases will be dealt with directly by the MERM Coordinator, any cases involving decisions about equivalent course work or other considerations require review by the MERM Program Committee.

Courses: The following requirements are for a sub-specialization in MERM. Many of these courses are already required by some program areas. There are two parts to the sub-specialization requirements: (a) a required list of courses, and (b) an elective list. Six MERM courses in total are required.

Required Core:

EPSE 528 Measurement,
EPSE 592 Analysis of Variance
EPSE 596 Multiple Regression
EPSE 595 Qualitative Methodologies

Two from the following list
(at least one must be a 600-level course):

EPSE 529 Test Construction
EPSE 581 (various sections): Special Topics
EPSE 593 Small N and Single Subject Research
EPSE 594 Meta-Analysis
EPSE 597 Factor Analysis
EPSE 591 Program Evaluation
EPSE 681 Advanced Topics in MERM
EPSE 682 Multivariate Analysis
EPSE 683 Hierarchical Linear Modeling, Growth and Change
EPSE 684 Item Response Theory

Although the sub-specialization in MERM is only available to doctoral students, the course requirements can be met using courses taken during either the masters or doctoral degrees.

80% Minimum: It is necessary to obtain 80% or higher in a course for it to be counted toward the sub-specialization in MERM. If a student receives 75%-79% on a core or elective course, the student may petition the MERM program committee about this course, after all other courses are completed. If performance has been excellent on all other courses, the committee may, on a case-by-case basis, award the sub-specialization in MERM. If a student receives a mark lower than 75% in a core course or has not been successful with a petition for a mark of 75%-79%, the student must repeat the core course at a level of 80% or higher. If the course is an elective course, the student can choose to re-take the course or to take another elective course at a level of 80% or higher. An audited course does not count toward the sub-specialization.

Equivalent Course Work: Six MERM courses are typically required. A student may have completed a course or courses equivalent to one or more of the required core MERM courses or the elective MERM courses in another Faculty at UBC or at another university. In that case, the student may petition the MERM group to substitute one course for a MERM course. A maximum of one course is allowed as a substitution. If the student has two courses that are judged by the MERM committee to be equivalent to two core MERM courses, one of these courses can be substituted for a core MERM course, and the student may take a MERM elective in lieu of the other required core MERM course.

Students should note that the criteria for judging equivalency of courses is considerably more stringent for the purposes of the sub-specialization in MERM than for a student’s Program of Graduate Studies (PGS). Thus, decisions made in conjunction with a student’s Advisory Committee about equivalencies with MERM courses for a student’s PGS may not match decisions made about course equivalency when considering a submission for the sub-specialization in MERM.

The course that is being proposed as equivalent to a MERM course must (a) have been completed no longer than five years before the start of the doctoral program, and (b) must have been awarded a grade of at least 80% or A-, whichever is higher.

Sample Cases:

Case 1: Student has taken the following courses: EPSE 528, EPSE 592, EPSE 596, EPSE 595, EPSE 581, and EPSE 682. All grades exceeded 80%.

Case 2: Student took graduate statistics courses elsewhere that the student considered equivalent to EPSE 592 and 596. The MERM committee agreed to substitute one proposed course for EPSE 592 and to allow a MERM elective in lieu of EPSE 596. Since entering the doctoral program at UBC, the student has completed EPSE 528, EPSE 529, EPSE 597, EPSE 682, and EPSE 683. All grades in the six courses, including the previous course substituted for EPSE 592, exceeded 80%.

Case 3: Student took the following MERM courses with grades over 80%: EPSE 528, EPSE 592, EPSE 596, and EPSE 594. The student took a qualitative course elsewhere that the MERM program committee did not view as an equivalent course to EPSE 595. To meet the requirements of the MERM sub-specialization, this student needs to complete EPSE 595 and a 600 level MERM course, each with grades at 80% or higher.

Case 4: Student took the following five courses with grades over 80%: EPSE 528, EPSE 592, EPSE 595, EPSE 596 and EPSE 681. The student took the elective course EPSE 682 but received a mark of 71%. The student can choose to re-take EPSE 682 or complete another MERM course from the electives list, in either case with a grade of 80% or higher.

Case 5: Student took the following five courses with grades over 80%: EPSE 528, EPSE 592, EPSE 595, EPSE 591 and EPSE 681. The student took the core course EPSE 596 but received a mark of 68%. To obtain a MERM sub-specialization, the student needs to repeat EPSE 596 and earn a grade of 80% or higher.

Case 6: Student took the following five courses with grades over 80%: EPSE 528, EPSE 595, EPSE 596, EPSE 591 and EPSE 681. The student took the core course EPSE 592 but received a mark of 76%. The student petitioned the MERM committee about the 76% mark. After considering the student’s excellent performance on the other 5 courses, the committee awarded the student the MERM sub-specialization.