Dr. Adrienne Adams
Professor and Program Director
Dr. Adrienne Adams is an Professor of Psychology at MSU. She holds a Ph.D. in community psychology. Over the past 15 years, she has evaluated local, state, and national domestic violence and sexual assault victim service programs. She uses participatory evaluation methods to build evaluation capacity and foster organizational learning.
Program Overview
How do we know which programs and policies are successful in improving society and which are not? How can we use assessments to help make programs and policies work better? Program evaluation specialists use applied research methods and other tools to determine how people can improve programs and policies, and which programs and policies are effective in addressing important social problems. Students in this Master of Arts online program are preparing for or working in a career requiring program evaluation methods and practice skills.
The Michigan State University Program Evaluation MA courses are taught by seasoned evaluators who work in diverse settings and bring real-world experience to the classroom. They are leaders in the field who serve on evaluation association boards, author books and articles on evaluation theory and practice, and/or facilitate trainings for evaluation audiences.
Program Outcomes
The MA in Program Evaluation will provide you with the practical skills and real-world experience needed for a successful evaluation career. The program emphasizes professional development in the key areas of evaluation practice, including contemporary models and standards of professional evaluation practice; quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method design and analysis; leading-edge communication and reporting strategies; and evaluation contracting and project management.
As part of the coursework for the MSU Program Evaluation MA, you will complete a practicum sequence that provides the opportunity to further develop your evaluation skills by immersion in a real-world setting in which evaluations are currently being conducted. Settings include government agencies, human service organizations, educational settings, healthcare organizations, and for-profit and non-profit evaluation firms. If you are already working in a setting where evaluations are conducted, you will have the option to complete the practicum along-side a seasoned evaluator in your place of employment.
Career Outlook
Graduates of this online Master's program possess the skills to develop evaluation proposals and contracts; design rigorous and culturally competent evaluations; collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative evaluation data; communicate findings to diverse audiences; and work successfully with stakeholders throughout the process of conducting an evaluation. With these skills, our graduates are prepared to work as an evaluation specialist in diverse settings such as foundations, human service agencies, school systems, hospitals, Inspector Generals offices, and independent evaluation firms.
A Top-Ranked Education
- 29th among Best Public Universities in America — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
- Veteran-Friendly 'Gold Status' 10 Years in a Row — Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, 2025
Tuition & Fees per credit
| In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Flat Fees |
| $930 | $930 | $1050 Books & Materials (estimated) |
Cost of Attendance
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found on the "Estimate Your Cost of Attendance" page.