Over the past two decades, the number and types of graduate programs have increased dramatically. In particular, the development of clinical master’s and doctoral programs, often initiated by changes within the professions, has changed the landscape of higher education. More institutions, including former liberal arts colleges and state universities, have expanded their charters to offer both master’s and doctoral programs. This growth in and diversity among graduate programs requires increasing clarity about graduate program purpose, desired learning outcomes, competencies, curricula, admissions and graduation requirements. New forms of instructional delivery and the use of technology have increased the complexity and variability among programs.

In response WSCUC has developed Guidelines for the Review of Graduate Programs. The purpose of these guidelines is to complement and inform the WSCUC Standards of Accreditation, providing more specific guidance about the planning, development, and evaluation of those programs. These guidelines are minimal baseline standards for quality and do not necessarily reflect robust or ideal characteristics of graduate programs. The target audiences for these guidelines are WSCUC Substantive and Structural Change panels reviewing new graduate degree programs. They are also available to institutions planning to develop or revise graduate programs and to evaluator teams and Commission panels to help with the review of these programs.

Staff Contact: Maureen Maloney