{"id":73,"date":"2018-07-05T08:45:15","date_gmt":"2018-07-05T15:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/degree-program-expectations-how-to-guide\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T22:47:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T22:47:58","slug":"degree-program-expectations-how-to-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/degree-program-expectations-how-to-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Degree Program Expectations How-to Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Degree Program Expectations<br \/>\nHow-to Guide<\/h2>\n<p>The resources provided on this website will assist you in completing the Degree Program Expectations, including the six steps of the assessment process. The ideas and suggestions for completing the steps are intended to provide useful information for faculty and department chairs.\u00a0 Meaningful assessment practices are <em>anything but<\/em> a one-size-fits-all approach. For assessment to be useful, it needs to be tailored to fit each academic unit and program.\u00a0<strong>Since each academic department or school and its degree programs differ in terms of size, approach, and outlook, it is important to ensure that the assessment approach matches the needs of the program, the faculty, and students.<\/strong> Staff from the Office of Curriculum &amp; Assessment are available to discuss any thoughts or ideas to help programs build a learning outcomes assessment approach that fulfills NAU\u2019s assessment requirements and meets the needs of your faculty and students.<\/p>\n<h4>The Cyclical Nature of Learning Outcomes Assessment and NAU\u2019s Six Step Assessment Cycle<\/h4>\n<p>The primary goal of program learning outcomes assessment at NAU is to assess how well the program\u2019s students have achieved the program\u2019s learning outcomes. Obtaining this information leads to identifying student learning strengths and areas for continued improvement. Due to this approach, the process of \u201ccurriculum and assessment\u201d is cyclical in nature. It is an ongoing process that should evolve and change to inform directions for a program\u2019s curriculum as programs and students evolve and change. Our goal is to ensure our programs maintain student learning strengths, and that actions taken result in the improvements sought by the program\u2019s faculty.<\/p>\n<p>There are six steps to NAU\u2019s learning outcomes assessment cycle:<\/p>\n<div class=\"collapse\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/150\/2018\/07\/steps_overview-ek.png\" alt=\"Program Learning Outcomes Assessment Cycle\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Purpose Statement<\/h3>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"An Overview of the Purpose Statement\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/overview-purpose-statement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">An Overview of the Purpose Statement<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Characteristics of a Purpose Statement\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/characteristics-of-a-purpose-statement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Characteristics of a Purpose Statement<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"The Program's Scope\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/scope\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Program&#8217;s Scope<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"A Summary of Content, Skills, Learning Experiences\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/a-summary-of-content-skills-learning-experiences\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A Summary of Content, Skills, Learning Experiences<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"A Summary of Future Opportunities\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/a-summary-of-future-opportunities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A Summary of Future Opportunities<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"For Graduate Degrees: the Population\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/for-graduate-degrees-the-population\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">For Graduate Degrees: the Population<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"How to Develop a Purpose Statement\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/how-to-develop-a-purpose-statement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to Develop a Purpose Statement<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/150\/2021\/01\/Guide_Plan_Purpose_Outcomes.docx\">Guide to Degree Program Plan Purpose Statements and Student Learning Outcomes<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Strategic Course Design<\/h3>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>Guide to Designing, or Re-designing, a Course\n<ul>\n<li>Consult an Instructional Designer<\/li>\n<li>Use the \u201cBackward Design\u201d Tutorial<\/li>\n<li>Use other Instructional Design Tutorials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Checklist for High-Quality Course Design\u00a0\" href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/150\/2018\/07\/QA-Rubric-ek.xlsx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Checklist for High-Quality Course Design<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Guide to Creating Assignments Aligned to Course Outcomes\u00a0\" href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/150\/2018\/07\/LAT-Worksheet-5.12.16-ek.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Guide to Creating Assignments Aligned to Course Outcomes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"An Overview of \u00a0Learning Outcomes\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/an-overview-of-learning-outcomes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">An Overview of \u00a0Learning Outcomes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Characteristics of Learning Outcomes\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/characteristics-of-learning-outcomes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Characteristics of Learning Outcomes<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"What does it mean for an outcome to be \" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/what-does-it-mean-for-an-outcome-to-be-explicit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">What does it mean for an outcome to be &#8220;explicit?&#8221;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/learning-centered-vs-teaching-centered\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">&#8220;Learning Centered&#8221; vs &#8220;Teaching-Centered&#8221;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Alignment to Purpose Statement\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/alignment-to-purpose-statement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alignment to Purpose Statement<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Appropriate to the Level of the Degree Offered\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/appropriate-to-the-level-of-the-degree-offered\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Appropriate to the Level of the Degree Offered<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"For Programs with Emphases: Emphasis-specific Outcomes\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/for-programs-with-emphases-emphasis-specific-outcomes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">For Programs with Emphases: Emphasis-specific Outcomes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>How to Develop Learning Outcomes\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"How to Begin\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/how-to-begin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to Begin<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"How to Draft &amp;amp; Revise Outcomes\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/how-to-draft-and-revise-outcomes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to Draft &amp; Revise Outcomes<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Degree Program Expectation: Curriculum Design, Curriculum Map\/Matrix<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/150\/2021\/01\/Guide_Plan_Purpose_Outcomes.docx\">Guide to Degree Program Purpose Statements and Student Learning Outcomes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/an-overview-of-the-curriculum-map-matrix\/\">Overview of the Curriculum Map\/Matrix<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Characteristics of a Curriculum Map\/Matrix\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/characteristics-of-curriculum-design-and-the-curriculum-mapmatrix\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Characteristics of a Curriculum Map\/Matrix<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Types of Curriculum Map\/Matrix\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/types-of-curriculum-maps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Types of Curriculum Map\/Matrix<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"How to Develop a Curriculum Map\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/how-to-develop-a-curriculum-map\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to Develop a Curriculum Map<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"How to Align Syllabi to the Curriculum Map\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/how-to-align-syllabi-to-the-curriculum-map\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to Align Syllabi to the Curriculum Map<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"How to Develop a Written Description of the Curriculum\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/how-to-develop-a-written-description-on-the-curriculum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to Develop a Written Description of the Curriculum<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Systematic Assessment<\/h3>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>An Overview of Assessment at NAU\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"What is assessment and why assess?\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/what-is-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">What is assessment and why assess?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Assessment Responsibilities at NAU\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/assessment-responsibilities-at-nau\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Assessment Responsibilities at NAU<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Characteristics of Systematic Assessment\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/characteristics-of-systematic-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Characteristics of Systematic Assessment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Step 1: Determine where\/when to conductassessment\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/step-1-describe-where-when-how\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Step 1: Determine where\/when to conduct assessment<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Using the capstone course or \u201cexperience\u201d\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/using-the-capstone-course-or-experience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Using the capstone course or \u201cexperience\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Course-Embedded Assessment\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/course-embedded-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Course-Embedded Assessment<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Step 2: Design outcome measures (assignments, tests, portfolios, etc.)\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Overview of Designing Outcome Measures\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/overview-of-designing-outcome-measure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Overview of Designing Outcome Measures<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Direct Methods of Assessment\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/direct-methods-of-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Direct Methods of Assessment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"How to Select or Develop Direct Measures ofStudent Learning\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/how-to-select-or-develop-direct-measures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to Select or Develop Direct Measures of Student Learning<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Common Outcome Measures\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/common-outcome-measures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Common Outcome Measures<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Step 3: Collect data\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/step-3-collect-data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Step 3: Collect data<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Gathering\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/gathering-qualitative-and-quantitative-data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gathering<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Evaluating\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/evaluating-student-performance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Evaluating<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Storing\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/storing-qualitative-and-quantitative-data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Storing<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Step 4: Analyze and interpret findings\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/step-4-analyze-and-interpret-findings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Step 4: Analyze and interpret findings<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Conducting the Analysis\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/conducting-the-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Conducting the Analysis<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Interpreting Assessment Results\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/interpreting-assessment-results\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Interpreting Assessment Results<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Use of Findings<\/h3>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Step5: Use of findings: Select actions to \u00a0take based on assessment findings and develop a plan to implement actions\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/step-5-use-of-findings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Step 5: Use of findings: Select actions to \u00a0take based on assessment findings and develop a plan to implement actions<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Improve the assessment\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/improve-the-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Improve the assessment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Improve the curriculum\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/improve-the-curriculum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Improve the curriculum<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Disseminate student learning strengths\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/disseminate-learning-strengths\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Disseminate student learning strengths<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<!-- shortcode-right-column -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-right-column\" >\n    <div class=\"shortcode-right-column__container\"><!-- shortcode-block -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-block\">\n      <div class=\"block-header\">\n        <h3>DPE How-To Guide<\/h3>\n    <\/div>\n          <div class=\"block-body\">\n      <div><\/p>\n<div>The complete <a title=\"Degree Program Expectation How-to Guide\" href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/150\/2018\/07\/How-to-Guide-DPE-ek.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Degree Program Expectation How-to Guide<\/a> is available to download.<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n          <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Degree Program Expectations How-to Guide The resources provided on this website will assist you in completing the Degree Program Expectations, including the six steps of the assessment process. The ideas and suggestions for completing the steps are intended to provide useful information for faculty and department chairs.\u00a0 Meaningful assessment practices are anything but a one-size-fits-all [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","ring_central_script_selection":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-73","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/73","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73"}],"version-history":[{"count":42,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/73\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1065,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/73\/revisions\/1065"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ocldaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}