Graduate Student Learning Goals

Ethics and Inclusivity 

Graduate students will apply ethical decision-making and inclusivity by demonstrating integrity in professional and academic settings, making fairness-driven decisions, and actively engaging in open discourse and initiatives that promote diverse perspectives

Objective 1: Ethical Analysis 

Analyze ethical dilemmas using established ethical frameworks, identifying competing values and stakeholder interests to inform integrity-based reasoning. 

Target: ethical decision making 

Objective 2: Fair and Justified Decision-Making

Construct and defend professional decisions that integrate principles of fairness and articulate clear rationales for value-driven choices. 

Target: Apply fairness in decision-making 

Objective 3: Respectful Engagement with Diverse Perspectives 

Engage constructively in academic discourse by actively listening to, synthesizing, and responding to viewpoints that differ from one's own with intellectual humility and respect. 

Targets: Engage in open discourse, demonstrate respect for diverse perspectives 

Objective 4: Reflective Integration 

Critically reflect on personal and professional growth in ethical reasoning and inclusive practice, evaluating one's own biases and identifying strategies for continued development. 

Targets: Not necessarily in the overall description, but it is important to be a reflective practitioner

Scholarship & Commitment to Learning 

Graduate students will conduct scholarly inquiry, integrate complex information from multiple sources, critically analyze and evaluate literature and data, and apply theory to address real-world challenges in their field. 

Objective 1: Research Design and Inquiry 

Formulate focused research questions and design methodologically appropriate investigations that address gaps in knowledge within one's discipline or professional field. 

Target: conduct scholarly inquiry 

Objective 2: Critical Evaluation of Evidence 

Evaluate scholarly sources and data for credibility, methodological rigor, and consistency. 

Target: Evaluate literature and data 

Objective 3: Synthesis and Argumentation 

Synthesize information from multiple sources and diverse perspectives to construct cohesive, evidence-based arguments that demonstrate original thinking and scholarly voice. 

Target: Integrate complex information 

Objective 4: Analysis and Interpretation 

Analyze qualitative and/or quantitative findings using appropriate analytical methods to accurately interpret results and draw meaningful conclusions that contribute to the knowledge base and real-world challenges in the profession. 

Target: Analyze data, apply theory to address real-world challenges 

Objective 5: Theory-to-Practice Application 

Apply relevant theoretical frameworks to authentic problems (e.g., through research, case study analysis, applied projects, or field-based experiences) demonstrating the ability to translate scholarly knowledge into effective professional practice. 

Target: apply theory to address real-world challenges

Leadership and Professionalism

Graduate students will model professional behaviors that demonstrate self-awareness, build collaborative relationships, engage in respectful and effective communication, and contribute to their professional and academic communities through ethical decision-making, integrity, and service-orientated actions. 

Objective 1: Professional Presence and Integrity 

Demonstrate professionalism by exhibiting competence, integrity, and respect across academic, professional, and interpersonal contexts. 

Targets: model professional behaviors 

Objective 2: Self-Awareness 

Apply self-awareness and reflective thinking to regulate emotional responses and maintain integrity in one’s professional identity. 

Targets: demonstrate self-awareness, contribute to professional and academic communities with integrity 

Objective 3: Collaborative Leadership 

Develop skills for respectful discourse, effective teamwork, and conflict resolution across diverse teams that balance individual and collective needs. 

Target: build collaborative relationships 

Objective 4: Communication 

Develop advanced, audience-appropriate and ethical communication skills across written, oral, and digital media. 

Target: engage in respectful and effective communication 

Objective 5: Service Oriented Action 

Contribute to the well-being of professional, academic, or community contexts through service-oriented actions, whether through mentorship, knowledge-sharing, advocacy, committee participation, volunteer engagement, or other forms of professional citizenship that extend beyond one's immediate responsibilities. 

Targets: Service-oriented actions, contribute to professional and academic communities