Principles of Graduate Learning

The following language describes the general expectations for graduate education at IU East and can be broadly applied to any program:

The principles below form a conceptual framework that describes expectations of all graduate students at IU East. More specific expectations are determined by the faculty in a student's field of study. Together, these expectations identify knowledge, skills, and abilities graduates will have demonstrated upon completing their specific degrees. Therefore, students graduating from master’s degree programs at IU East are expected to:

1. Demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills expected for the degree and for professionalism and success in the field.
2. Think critically and creatively to evaluate literature, solve problems, and improve practice in their field of study, applying sound judgment in professional and personal situations through an understanding and expression of a wide range of perspectives.
3. Communicate high level information effectively from their field of study to their peers, their clientele, and the general public.
4. Understand and abide by the ethical standards established for their discipline and/or profession.
5. Demonstrate the ability to conduct original research, scholarly project, or creative activity appropriate to the discipline.

To illustrate how these Principles might be used in assessing individual programs, consider the following example:

Graduate students earning a master’s degree in X from Indiana University East will demonstrate the following abilities related to the research focus of the degree:

• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and conduct original research in X
  Method of acquisition: Didactic course work, journal clubs, attendance at research seminars, direct mentoring by faculty, studying grant proposals
  Assessment of learning: Grades in course work, ability to pass cumulative preliminary examinations in the field, ability to pass the oral and written qualifying examination, direct laboratory assessment by the research mentor, direct assessment of progress by the research committee for the dissertation
• Think critically and creatively to solve problems in X
  Method of acquisition: Attendance required at seminars by faculty and peers, presentation at informal laboratory meetings and at formal seminars, writing pre-proposal for dissertation, writing dissertation proposal
  Assessment of learning: Grades on formal seminar presentations based on outcomes rubrics, direct assessment by faculty on pre-proposal and dissertation proposal, publication of research manuscripts, success in getting grant proposals funded
• Communicate effectively high level information in X
  Method of acquisition: Attendance required at seminars by faculty and peers, presentation at informal laboratory meetings and at formal seminars, mentored writing of grant proposals and manuscripts
  Assessment of learning: Successful completion of the oral and written portions of the qualifying examinations, grades on formal seminar presentations based on outcomes rubrics, publication of manuscripts, awarding of grants
• Conduct research in an ethical and responsible manner
  Method of acquisition: Required classes in research ethics, modeling of appropriate behavior in seminars by faculty and peers, direct mentoring by research director, mentoring by the dissertation research committee
  Assessment of learning: Grades in ethics classes based on outcomes rubrics, direct observation of data handling by research mentor, direct oversight by dissertation research committee on issues of research compliance and ethics

The graduate faculty of the Department of X will conduct a yearly review of the progress of students through the program to determine if the program is meeting its goals to prepare students in each of these areas. Changes that might be made include replacing faculty in certain courses, adopting new methods to present material, offering additional options for training (e.g., making a writing consultant available), or engaging students in external training in other laboratories or institutions (e.g., an ethics seminar at IUB, laboratory placement for short term training in research technique, etc.).