Developing Program Goals

Program Goal Steps
Sample Templates
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Program Goals are broad statements that describe what the program aims to achieve. While there may be overlap with department goals, program goals should be specific to the major and align with MSU Denver’s mission and strategic plan. Throughout the Academic Program Review process, programs are asked to articulate measurable program goals or outcomes for each major, then report on the findings at the end of each cycle.

Steps to Writing Program Goals

Program Goal Example

Assessment Templates

Sample Student Learning Outcomes Template

Sample SLO Data Reporting Template

Sample Rubric

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Questions? Need Help

Contact Academic Program Review

Lou Moss, MA, PMP
Director of Academic Program Review
[email protected]

Corinne Landry
Program Review Coordinator
[email protected]

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1: Identify the Purpose Determine what you want to achieve with your program. Align goals with the mission and vision of your academic department or the University.	2: Use Specific Language Avoid vague terms. Be clear and precise about what you want to accomplish. Example: Instead of “Improve student skills,” use “Increase student proficiency in critical thinking and problem-solving.”	3: Make Goals Measurable Include quantifiable criteria to track progress. Example: “Increase the percentage of students scoring above 80% on the final exam from 70% to 85%.”
4: Set Achievable Targets Ensure goals are realistic and attainable within the given timeframe and resources. Example: “Implement a new tutoring program to support at least 50 students per semester.”	5: Ensure Relevance Goals should be relevant to the program’s objectives and beneficial to students. Example: “Develop industry partnerships to provide internship opportunities for 30% of students.”	6: Time-Bound Specify a timeframe for achieving the goals. Example: “By the end of the 2025 academic year, increase student retention rates by 10%.”

1: Identify the Purpose
Determine what you want to achieve with your program. Align goals with the mission and vision of your academic department or the University.

2: Use Specific Language
Avoid vague terms. Be clear and precise about what you want to accomplish.
Example: Instead of “Improve student skills,” use “Increase student proficiency in critical thinking and problem-solving.”

3: Make Goals Measurable
Include quantifiable criteria to track progress.
Example: “Increase the percentage of students scoring above 80% on the final exam from 70% to 85%.”

4: Set Achievable Targets
Ensure goals are realistic and attainable within the given timeframe and resources.
Example: “Implement a new tutoring program to support at least 50 students per semester.”

5: Ensure Relevance
Goals should be relevant to the program’s objectives and beneficial to students.
Example: “Develop industry partnerships to provide internship opportunities for 30% of students.”

6: Time-Bound
Specify a timeframe for achieving the goals.
Example: “By the end of the 2025 academic year, increase student retention rates by 10%.”

Assessment Templates

Questions? Need Help

Discover more about MSU Denver

Request Information

Academic Programs

Apply now

Developing Program Goals

1: Identify the Purpose Determine what you want to achieve with your program. Align goals with the mission and vision of your academic department or the University.

2: Use Specific Language Avoid vague terms. Be clear and precise about what you want to accomplish. Example: Instead of “Improve student skills,” use “Increase student proficiency in critical thinking and problem-solving.”

3: Make Goals Measurable Include quantifiable criteria to track progress. Example: “Increase the percentage of students scoring above 80% on the final exam from 70% to 85%.”

4: Set Achievable Targets Ensure goals are realistic and attainable within the given timeframe and resources. Example: “Implement a new tutoring program to support at least 50 students per semester.”

5: Ensure Relevance Goals should be relevant to the program’s objectives and beneficial to students. Example: “Develop industry partnerships to provide internship opportunities for 30% of students.”

6: Time-Bound Specify a timeframe for achieving the goals. Example: “By the end of the 2025 academic year, increase student retention rates by 10%.”

Assessment Templates

Questions? Need Help

Discover more about MSU Denver

Request Information

Academic Programs

Apply now

1: Identify the Purpose
Determine what you want to achieve with your program. Align goals with the mission and vision of your academic department or the University.

2: Use Specific Language
Avoid vague terms. Be clear and precise about what you want to accomplish.
Example: Instead of “Improve student skills,” use “Increase student proficiency in critical thinking and problem-solving.”

3: Make Goals Measurable
Include quantifiable criteria to track progress.
Example: “Increase the percentage of students scoring above 80% on the final exam from 70% to 85%.”

4: Set Achievable Targets
Ensure goals are realistic and attainable within the given timeframe and resources.
Example: “Implement a new tutoring program to support at least 50 students per semester.”

5: Ensure Relevance
Goals should be relevant to the program’s objectives and beneficial to students.
Example: “Develop industry partnerships to provide internship opportunities for 30% of students.”

6: Time-Bound
Specify a timeframe for achieving the goals.
Example: “By the end of the 2025 academic year, increase student retention rates by 10%.”