PHD Candidates Will Demonstrate Knowledge Of The Literature
Candidates of the Counselor Education PHD program will demonstrate knowledge of current literature in the field of counseling to conduct their own independent research.
Indicator
Quality Dissertation Checklist
The Quality Dissertation Checklist will be used to score the introduction, literature review, and methodology of the dissertation proposal.
Criterion
Committee Approval And 85% Rating On Checklist
1. All committee members must approve the proposal before the candidate can begin data collection. 2. 85% on the Quality Dissertation Checklist
Last year we realized that perhaps we should start the proposal phase in the first year rather than the second year. We are experimenting with that in 2012-2013.
Finding
Dissertation Proposal Results
All doctoral students who held dissertation proposal meetings scored 90% or higher on the Quality Dissertation Checklist and, consequently, received approval from their committees to seach IRB approval in order to begin data collection.
Action
Literature Review Competency
As per the most recent CACREP requirements (Doctoral Standards IV.F.1 & 2), we now not only track students' progress regarding Literature Review Competency but categorize their progress in terms of Novice, Proficient, and Master. The student outcomes for the recent assessment are as follows:
Novice (70-79 points): 0 Students Proficient (80-89 points): 4 Students 86 point average Master (90-100 points): 6 Students 93 point average
Goal
Research Competency
Candidates demonstrate research competency by original dissertation research.
Objective
Demonstrate Competency In Research
Candidates of the Counseling Education PHD program will demonstrate competency in research by planning, implementing, analyzing, and writing a scholarly dissertation based on original research.
Indicator
Dissertation Checklist
Committee Chair scores the Quality Dissertation Checklist
Criterion
Checklist Score
Degree candidates will score at least 95% on the dissertation quality checklist with the understanding that 100% must be achieved before final dissertation approval and graduation.
Using last year's results, we are working toward greater facility in choosing an appropriate methodology by students in the proposal process.
Finding
Dissertation Defense Results
All doctoral students who held dissertation defense meetings scored 95 or higher on the Quality Dissertation Checklist. They subsequently approximated 100% in working with their committee chair, reviewers from the Office of Graduate Studies, and the SHSU Library representative, and thus completed the requirements for graduation.
Action
Evaluating Students Dissertation Competency
In order to continually evaluate students' competency in planning, implementing, analyzing and writing their dissertation, we will have a meeting each semester that will include a discussion of each dissertation completed the previous semester. All persons who may teach research classes or direct dissertations will be expected to attend and the data gathered from each meeting will used by all faculty who teach research classes and chair dissertations.