Monitoring, evaluation, assessment, and learning (MEAL) is a growing professional practice across peacebuilding, humanitarian response, international development, philanthropy, and social innovation. Be a part of a new generation of leaders who can design evidence-based programs, measure real-world impact, and drive adaptive change. The certificate is embedded within the Kroc School's graduate degree programs — available to students enrolled in the MA in Peace and Justice, MA in Social Innovation, MS in Conflict Management and Resolution, and JD/MA in Peace and Justice.
The academic certificate is designed for students to:
- gain a broad knowledge of evaluation frameworks, theories of change, and ethical research methods necessary to distinguish rigorous practice from well-intentioned guesswork
- connect to practitioners and community partners working on the front lines of violence intervention, restorative justice, and social change, right here in San Diego and beyond
- ensure skillful practice by combining academic grounding in evaluation methodology with hands-on experience through the Kroc IPJ's Peace Evaluation & Accompanied Research (PEAR) initiative
- create an apprenticeship that includes a community of learners who support one another while receiving close mentorship from faculty and evaluation professionals embedded in active, community-based projects
- build a strong, diverse cohort of practitioners equipped to pursue MEAL-focused roles and provide evaluation leadership across the nonprofit, government, and social sector
Program Highlights
An academic certificate from USD
In-Person w/ Online Options
9 units (3 courses)
4 months completion time
Who Is Eligible
As an embedded certificate, applicants must:
- Be admitted to MAPJ, MASI, MSCMR, or JD/MAPJ
- Be in good academic standing
- Declare intention to complete the certificate by the end of their first year
"When we designed the Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment, and Learning certificate, the need was already there. Organizations doing serious peacebuilding and social change work are being asked to prove — and improve — their impact every day. Our students will gain the tools and real-world experience to help them do that."
Apply for the Certificate
- Earn an academic certificate (9 units) from the University of San Diego
- Current students should contact their student advisor to declare for the MEAL Certificate
Get to know the Kroc School
Meet our faculty
Committed to strengthening the evidence behind the work that makes communities more just and peaceful
Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment, & Learning practices include:
Program Design
Developing theories of change, logic models, and adaptive learning frameworks grounded in peacebuilding principles and community context.
Monitoring & Evaluation
Applying participatory, conflict-sensitive approaches that draw on qualitative, quantitative, and geospatial tools to generate credible, actionable evidence.
Organizational Learning Systems
Building the data cultures, internal feedback loops, and evaluation capacity that allow partner organizations to learn, adapt, and improve over time.
Applied Peace Science
Translating rigorous evidence into strategies that advance social cohesion, justice, and community resilience — closing the gap between research and real-world impact.
Learning Outcomes
Design
Design evidence-based interventions using logic models, theories of change, and results frameworks.
Implement
Implement mixed-method monitoring and evaluation plans that adhere to ethical and conflict-sensitive principles.
Analyze & report
Analyze and report findings through narrative synthesis, data visualization, and stakeholder-oriented communication.
Facilitate learning
Facilitate learning and adaptive management processes within organizational systems.
Apply professional standards
Apply professional standards consistent with OECD-DAC criteria and USAID’s Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) framework.
Certificate Requirements
Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment, & Learning
| Course Type | Course Number | Course Title | Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation (choose one) | KROC 513 | Program Design, Monitoring & Evaluation | 3 | Option 1 |
| Foundation (choose one) | KROC 522 | Impact Evaluation | 3 | Option 2 |
| Applied Practicum | KROC 593 | Advanced Design, Monitoring & Evaluation Practicum | 3 | Required |
| Elective | Various | From the Curated List Below | 3 | Elective |
Curated Elective List:
- KROC 531: Intervention Design. This course provides a framework for students to synthesize and apply knowledge and practical skills gained during the program to create a specific conflict management/resolution project. It is also a requirement for MS-CMR students, making a MEAL certificate particularly easy for them to contemplate.
- KROC 593: Peace & Justice Infrastructure: Philanthropy, Nonprofits, and Resourcing Social Change Work
- MSHA 590: Data Visualization and Analytics for Humanitarian Action (online course for the MS in Humanitarian Action program; in-person students may take 3 online credits)
FAQs
The certificate is primarily an in-person program. That said, students have the flexibility to fulfill the elective requirement through an online course option.
As an embedded certificate, applicants must:
- Be admitted to MAPJ, MASI, MSCMR, or JD/MAPJ
- Be in good academic standing
- Declare intention to complete the certificate by the end of their first year
Graduate-Credit
Those enrolling in the certificate for graduate-level credit must follow the university guidelines for adding/dropping classes.
Questions?
Connect with Kroc School Admissions
Connect with the admissions team to learn more information about our degree programs.