Standards Addressing Defining Learning Goals and Measuring Achievement of Learning Goals

21: Doctoral level degree: Knowledge and Skills: Doctoral programs educate students for highly specialized careers in academe or practice. Students of doctoral level programs demonstrate the ability to create knowledge through original research in their areas of specialization. Normally, doctoral programs will include:

• The acquisition of advanced knowledge in areas of specialization.
• The development of advanced theoretical or practical research skills for the areas of specialization.
• Explicit attention to the role of the specialization areas in managerial and organizational contexts.
• Preparation for teaching responsibilities in higher education (for those students who expect to enter teaching careers).
• Dissertation, or equivalent, demonstrating personal integration of, and original intellectual contribution to, a field of knowledge.
• Other areas as identified by the school.

• [DOCTORAL LEARNING GOALS]

Basis for Judgment:

• Students in doctoral programs create knowledge through original research.
• The doctoral program includes components related to each of the relevant areas mentioned in the standard.

Guidance for Documentation:

• Demonstrate that doctoral students make original research contributions.
• Show that doctoral programs include the relevant areas mentioned in the standard.