last updated: Jun 23 2008
Web Site Questions and Comments
The University of Texas at Austin
Executive Vice President and Provost

Writing Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes (PO’s) describe the measurable knowledge, skills, abilities, values, or behaviors that faculty want students to be able to demonstrate by the time they graduate.  Your PO’s should apply to your discipline and include competencies considered critical to your graduates and the field.

Outcomes answer the question:  What will the students be able to do, demonstrate, or apply as a result of their learning?

Steps to writing outcomes

1. Every outcome should align with the departmental mission statement.
2. Every outcome should be measurable, written so that the student demonstrates, applies, or performs a visible activity.  
3. Every outcome should have a statement that specifies the procedure or strategy that the students will use, e.g., “Students will be able to…”
4. Every outcome should have at least three methods linking to a specific curricular or extra-curricular task such as a class project, an exam, a homework assignment, or a field activity.  The method uses a metric, tool, or instrument (a rubric, a checklist, etc.) to measure student competence.  
5. Every method should have at least two criteria or quality indicators that identify the levels of performance or describe the conditions that performance must meet to be successful
6. Every outcome must include a standard of performance that indicates both the minimum acceptable score and the percentage of students you expect to achieve that score.  

EXAMPLE

Outcome:  Students will be able to speak clearly and effectively in presenting information, explaining ideas, and discussing issues   

Method 1: All students take Course 301 during their first year and are required in this class to give an oral presentation on a relevant topic of their choice.  Faculty will evaluate the oral presentation using a rubric with the following scale:  (1 = unacceptable; 2 = marginally acceptable; 3 = good; 4 = very good; 5 = excellent).  Criteria include precision of language, comprehension of material; logic of arguments; and effectiveness of answering questions.  80% of students will achieve at least an average of a 3.  

Method 2:  During their junior year, students complete a semester-long group project in course 368 that requires the use of oral communication skills to complete a group presentation.  All class members will complete a rubric to assess the quality of each group presentation, including clarity of ideas; use of visual aids; comprehension of material; and effectiveness of group activities.  The instructor also will use a grading rubric.  Final scores will be tabulated by weighting peer scores at 40% and instructor score at 60%.  At least 70% of students will achieve an average score of 70 on a 100-point scale.