Message from the Director

Welcome to the Joint Program in Survey Methodology (JPSM)!  For more than 30 years, JPSM
has been a leader in research and instruction on survey methods. In recent years, reflecting the
growing interest in unstructured Big Data as a source of valuable information and the demand
for professionals with the skills to work with new types of data, the program’s scope has
expanded to encompass social data science research and teaching.

JPSM was founded in 1993 as an initiative of the heads of the federal statistical agencies, the
head of the Office of Management and Budget’s Statistical Policy Office, and the chair of the
President’s Council of Economic Advisers. Survey methodology is inherently interdisciplinary
and the JPSM founders brought together a consortium of organizations and researchers to
provide the breadth and depth of expertise required for the new endeavor. The original
consortium members – the University of Maryland College Park, the University of Michigan Ann
Arbor, and Westat – worked together with partners in the federal agencies to create a robust
program in survey methods and research.

JPSM’s first instructional offering was its onsite Master of Science program. Early graduates
received a degree in Survey and Methodology. Changes to the program were introduced in
2017 to better prepare students to work with new types of data and graduates now receive a
degree in Survey and Data Science. JPSM’s other curricular offerings have expanded and,
today, along with its highly-regarded onsite Masters program, it offers an onsite PhD program,
online courses and programs, and non-credit coursework for those seeking professional
development in survey methodology.

The JPSM online graduate degree program is part of the International Program in Survey Data
Science. This is a web-based learning environment that allows participants to take courses
from anywhere in the world and includes a Master of Professional Studies and three certificate
programs at the University of Maryland. In addition, JPSM has co-launched a citation program
with the American Association of Public Opinion Research. Through its massive open online
courses on Coursera, JPSM faculty have exposed over 100,000 students worldwide to the field
of survey methodology. JPSM also offers training to undergraduate students at the University of
Maryland through its undergraduate minor.

Since its inception, JPSM has enriched the field of survey statistics and methodology.  Our
faculty and students have been in the vanguard of research in survey and data science. We are
committed to continuing that leadership into the future.

Katharine G. Abraham

Distinguished University Professor, Department of Economics

Director, Joint Program in Survey Methodology 

University of Maryland

College Park, MD  20742

Phone:  301-405-3489