OATdb Archive

2014 - 2015

Counselor Education PhD

Goal
Knowledge Of Counseling Education Literature
Current literature advised practice and research

Objective
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
Knowledge Of Literature Finding
We had 9 graduates this year.  All scored at or above specified criteria. 

Action
Knowledge Of Literature Action
To continue our efforts in supporting students in this area, we decided to have doctoral students select their dissertation chairs at the end of thier first year of doctoral work rather than the Spring semester of their second year.  Thus, they will be able have a more extended time with their research mentor.

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
Research Competency Finding
We had 9 graduates this year.  All scored at or above specified criteria.

Action
Research Competency Finding
To continue our efforts in supporting students in this area, we decided to have doctoral students select their dissertation chairs at the end of thier first year of doctoral work rather than the Spring semester of their second year.  Thus, they will be able have a more extended time with their research mentor.


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement We met in Spring 2015 to discuss our improvment plan progress, evaluate the progress of our students, and address modifications to our improvement plan.  The primary result of the meeting was that we decided to connect doctoral students with their research mentor earlier in students' doctoral work.

Plan for continuous improvement Unlike previous cohorts that did not select a research mentor until the Spring semester of their second year in the doctoral program, students in the 2015 doctoral cohort will select their research mentor at the end of their first year.  This will give student a longer experience with their research mentor and should strengthen their ability to produce quality research.