Program-level learning objectives help students, faculty, and other stakeholders understand the goals and purpose of the academic program. Program-level learning objectives serve as the guide map of what students should know, be able to do, and believe by the end of the academic program.

Objectives are brief, clear statements that describe the desired learning outcomes of instruction; objectives define the specific knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes students should possess and exhibit by the end of the learning experience; objectives should be more specific than goals but should align with meeting the broader goals.

When creating a new academic program or revising an academic program, by deciding what students should take away from the academic program prior to planning the teaching, classroom activities, and assessments of learning, faculty can ensure courses and assessment measures align with the objectives.

How might you find suggestions on learning objectives?

While your course or program learning objectives will be unique to your teaching situation, a variety of resources are available to give suggestions. Some potential sources of ideas:

• Many professional associations within disciplines have defined learning objectives
• Search websites of programs in your discipline at peer and aspirant institutions as many of them post their program-level learning objectives
• Consider the 5 learning categories of the Degree Qualification Profile from the Lumina Foundation
• If teaching a general education course, review UConn’s Common Curriculum learning objectives to ensure your course objectives and assessments align
• The Office of Academic Program Assessment has collated graduate program learning objectives from other institutions
• Reach out to the Office of Academic Program Assessment for assistance

 

For questions about program-level learning objectives or assistance developing them, reach out to the Office of Academic Program Assessment at assessment@uconn.edu

 

Additional resources:

Robert F. Mager’s Preparing Instructional Objectives. ISBN 978-1879618039

Linda B. Nilson’s Teaching at Its Best: A Research-Based Resource for College Instructors. ISBN 978-1119096320