Learner Outcomes

College-Wide Learner Outcomes

Learner Outcomes for candidates across all programs in the College of Education have been broadly defined to align with our conceptual framework. The overarching theme of our conceptual framework is "Developing Competent and Democratic Professionals." The "unit" described below encompasses all programs at all levels in the College of Education -- graduate and undergraduate, certification and non-certification, advanced and initial professional preparation, etc. Some programs have defined focused learner outcomes for their candidates and others rely on these learner outcomes in combination with professional standards to form the foundation of candidate and program assessment systems.

Unit Outcomes

We have identified three outcomes which unify the unit and the College in mission and purpose, while allowing programs to address specific standards and proficiencies at a more detailed level in their respective program assessment plans. The following three outcomes flow from our theme (Developing Competent and Democratic Professionals). All candidates in all programs in the unit and the COE are committed to meeting these outcomes. Importantly, these three outcomes bind together our unit's diverse fabric of people and programs.

Outcome 1 - competence.

Candidates completing our programs will demonstrate their ability to function as competent professionals. Candidates will demonstrate:

• competence in their specific area(s) to include comprehensive subject matter knowledge coupled with demonstrated pedagogical content knowledge; and

• respect for and understanding of intellectual and inquiry processes.

Outcome 2 - democratic perspectives.

Candidates completing our programs will exhibit democratic perspectives and dispositions. Candidates will demonstrate values, beliefs and ethics that include:

• confidence in the ability of ALL to learn and a passion for making it happen;
• empathy, understanding and advocacy for others, including cultural, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds different from their own;
• an understanding that democratic responsibility requires active participation; and
• a desire to collaborate with others.

Outcome 3 - professionalism.

Candidates completing our programs will document their aptitudes as professionals in their fields. Candidates will demonstrate and produce evidence that documents:

• practice with multiple approaches to teaching and learning;
• knowledge of how to plan and organize instruction and clinical/professional practice to positively benefit all students, including those with special needs;
• an understanding that underlying theories influence pedagogical and practical decisions; and
• competence in using assessment and reflection to guide future practice and decisions.

Ph.D. in Education Learner Outcomes

1. Academic Knowledge: Students will demonstrate a deep understanding of education and related fields and a broad understanding of various methods of inquiry in education.
2. Practical Competence: Students will demonstrate competence in several methods of inquiry (qualitative and quantitative) and excellence in university teaching and the ability to successfully guide their own scholarship.
3. Reflective Inquiry: Students will demonstrate the ability to guide their own scholarship, foster ethical and professional research and practice in education, as well as demonstrate a reflective and analytical stance towards scholarship in general.
4. Democratic Commitment: Students will demonstrate in both scholarship and university teaching commitment to diversity in education and an understanding of the relationship between the university and the complex process of democracy and a commitment to pursue this process with a focus on access to quality education for all learners in their own professional work.
5. Professional Engagement: Students will demonstrate deep intellectual engagement with education as an area of scholarly inquiry. In doing so students will belong to and participate in national/international scholarly associations and make evident benefits and contributions that result from these memberships.

Ed.D. in Education Learner Outcomes

1. Academic Knowledge: Students will demonstrate a deep understanding of education and professional leadership, a broad understanding of various methods of inquiry in education and applied research theory.
2. Practical Competence: Students will demonstrate competence in leadership, various methods of inquiry, and the skillful application of research findings to practice settings.
3. Reflective Inquiry: Students will demonstrate the ability to monitor and reflect upon leadership traits, to guide their own scholarship, to foster ethical and professional research and practice in education, as well as to demonstrate a reflective and analytical stance towards scholarship in general. 
4. Democratic Commitment: Students will demonstrate in both scholarship and leadership a deep commitment to diversity in education and an understanding of the relationship between educational settings and the complex process of democracy and a commitment to pursue this process with a focus on access to quality education for all learners in their own professional work.
5. Professional Engagement: Students will continuously promote excellence in applied professional practice.  In doing so students will belong to local, regional and national/international associations and make evident benefits and contributions that result from these memberships.