Many teachers and administrators are overwhelmed by big data collected in their own classrooms and buildings. The new undergraduate Education Data Analytics (EDA) certificate gives future educators the foundation to better understand, interpret and leverage data to inform and improve teaching and learning.
Overview
Students gain hands-on experience using software tools, visualizing data, and adapting to emerging methods. Through courses in descriptive and inferential statistics, you will learn how to communicate analytic results clearly and ethically.
While data analytics programs exist across campus, Iowa’s new certificate is the only one designed specifically for education settings. Unlike traditional analytics coursework, this program emphasizes the quality and measurement properties of assessment data, the context of real K–12 classrooms and schools, and the communication of results to audiences such as families, colleagues, and administrators.
Data literacy is critical
Classrooms are becoming more digital and schools increasingly rely on real-time information to guide instruction.
Add marketable skills
Learn to confidently navigate data-informed environments—and help your school do the same.
Get hands-on experience
You’ll be using software tools, visualizing data, and adapting to emerging methods.
Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes are distributed across the three core components of the Education Data Analytics certificate: working with data, statistics in education, and assessment and applications.
Working with Data
- Students develop proficiency in accessing data with available software tools and in executing data analytic procedures.
- Students become proficient in visualization and numeric tabulation.
- Students access appropriate resources to develop proficiency in data analytics not specifically studied to support life-long learning.
- Students gain hands-on experience with data in education and behavioral science to support future professional practice.
Statistics in Education
- Students achieve proficiency in descriptive and inferential statistical methods including measures of central tendency and variability, correlation and regression, and analysis of variance.
- Students use data visualization and numeric tabulation to communicate results of data analytics with a variety of audiences.
- Students communicate the results and interpretation of statistical analyses in writing.
Assessment and Applications
- Students understand the social contexts and roles of tests and other forms of assessment.
- Students understand the impact of the quality of assessment practices and instruments on the interpretation of results from data analytics.
- Students develop appreciation for the strengths and weaknesses of assessments in their areas of interest in education.
Enrollment and Completion Requirements
Enrollment
- The certificate may be earned by any student admitted to the University of Iowa who is not enrolled in a UI graduate or professional degree program. Undergraduate to Graduate U2G) students may earn the certificate when the undergraduate classification is primary.
- You can declare the Education Data Analytics certificate in MyUI. To declare an undergraduate certificate in MyUI, log in, go to Student Information > Programs of Study, and add the certificate to your list.
Completion Requirements
- Students must maintain a grade-point average of 2.0 or greater in work for the certificate. Up to 6 s.h. of transfer credit may be counted toward certificate requirements with the approval of the certificate coordinator.
- Some of the certificate courses may have prerequisites not included in the certificate requirements. Students should select courses for which they meet the prerequisites.
- Be sure to include the certificate in your degree application.
Course Requirements
The undergraduate Certificate in Education Data Analytics requires a minimum of 18 s.h. of courses distributed across the three core components: working with data, statistics in education, and assessment and applications.
Students must maintain a grade-point average of 2.0 or greater in work for the certificate. Up to 6 s.h. of transfer credit may be counted toward certificate requirements with the approval of the certificate coordinator.
The certificate may be earned by any student admitted to the University of Iowa who is not enrolled in a UI graduate or professional degree program. Undergraduate to Graduate (U2G) students may earn the certificate when the undergraduate classification is primary.
Some of the certificate courses may have prerequisites not included in the certificate requirements. Students should select courses for which they meet the prerequisites.
*Courses marked as NEW have not been added to the registration system and are not currently open for registration. You may watch this space or ask to be notified when the new courses are available.
Working with Data (3 s.h.)
Complete one of the following courses:
Course | Title | Semester Hours |
PSQF:xxxx | *New PSQF undergraduate course in Principles of Education Data Analytics | 3 s.h. |
STAT:1015 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 s.h. |
STAT:2010 | Statistical Methodsand Computing | 3 s.h. |
STAT:4540 | Statistical Learning (prerequisite: STAT:2010 or STAT:3200) | 3 s.h. |
Statistics in Education (6-7 s.h.)
Complete one of the following courses:
Course | Title | Semester Hours |
PSQF:1020 | Elementary Statistics and Inference | 3 s.h. |
PSQF:4143 | Introduction to Statistical Methods | 3 s.h. |
Complete one of the following courses:
Course | Title | Semester Hours |
PSQF:xxxx | *New PSQF undergraduate course in Intermediate Statistical Methods | 3 s.h. |
STAT:3120 | Probability and Statistics (prerequisite: MATH:1560 or MATH:1860) | 4 s.h. |
STAT:3200 | Applied Linear Regression (prerequisite: STAT:2010 or STAT:3120) | 3 s.h. |
Assessment and Applications (9 s.h.)
Complete the following course:
Course | Title | Semester Hours |
PSQF:xxxx | *New course in Testing | 3 s.h. |
Complete two of the following courses:
Course | Title | Semester Hours |
PSQF:1075 | Educational Psychology and Measurement | 3 s.h. |
PSQF:4740 | Issues in K-12 Assessment | 3 s.h. |
PSQF:xxxx | *New PSQF undergraduate course in Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 3 s.h. |
PSQF:4121 | Identification of Students for Advanced Programming | 3 s.h. |
PSQF:xxxx | *New PSQF undergraduate course in Quantitative Research Methodologies | 3 s.h. |
PSQF:1103 | Introduction to Assessment in Counseling and Behavioral Health | 3 s.h. |
EDTL:3103 | Assessment for Instructional Planning and Practice | 3 s.h. |
College of Education launches new undergraduate certificate in education data analytics
Launching Spring 2026, Iowa's new Education Data Analytics certificate equips undergraduates to interpret educational data, apply it in real K–12 settings, and lead data-informed decisions that strengthen teaching and learning.
“We hope the certificate not only makes our graduates more marketable,” Dunbar says, “but also positions them as valuable resources for their future colleagues.” Students who complete the program, he adds, will have a “lasting influence on schools and related organizations who have adopted a philosophy of using data for continual improvement.”
Stephen Dunbar, Certificate Coordinator
Contact Us
Stephen Dunbar
Hieronymus-Feldt Professor of Educational Measurement
319-335-5561
steve-dunbar@uiowa.edu
Mark McDermott
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education and Educator Preparation
319-335-5591
mark-a-mcdermott@uiowa.edu
Questions?
For general admissions questions, please email ask-education@uiowa.edu