Interdisciplinary Training Program (ITP) for Predoctoral Research in the Education Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison

The University of Wisconsin–Madison established the Interdisciplinary Training Program in the Education Sciences (ITP) in 2005. The 2009 grant allowed the program to continue its focus on training scholars in education policy and systems. The program's methodological focus was randomized controlled trials and other rigorous statistical methods, such as econometric techniques, that provide evidence on potential impacts when randomized trials are not feasible. ITP was housed at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research and drew fellows from sociology, economics, psychology, political science, and/or social welfare. Fellows completed course work in their home disciplines, in education, and in advanced statistics, including courses in experimental design and measurement; a weekly interdisciplinary seminar; certification in a minor in education sciences; a research practicum on randomized trials in education; an intensive internship in randomized field trials; and ongoing experiences in faculty-led research projects.The program's methodological focus was randomized controlled trials and other rigorous statistical methods, such as econometric techniques, that provide evidence on potential impacts when randomized trials are not feasible. ITP was housed at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research and drew fellows from sociology, economics, psychology, political science, and/or social welfare. Fellows completed course work in their home disciplines, in education, and in advanced statistics, including courses in experimental design and measurement; a weekly interdisciplinary seminar; certification in a minor in education sciences; a research practicum on randomized trials in education; an intensive internship in randomized field trials; and ongoing experiences in faculty-led research projects.