Go beyond the program:

Program career and professional

achievements, including
educational impact on the
profession/field of practice
objectives
(PEOs) “Three to five years after
graduation, alumni of this
program shall…”
Source: MIT Civil and Environmental Engineering Educational Objectives
 What successful
learners will have
achieved by the time of
Program graduation
outcomes Achievement evidenced
by completion of a
(POs) cluster of courses

Satisfy the requirements

of the corresponding
PQF level
 Not limited to cognitive
(think like a professional)
Program but encompass
practical/skills (perform like
outcomes a professional) and
moral/attitudes (value and
(POs) act in a responsible and
ethical manner)
 Provides clear direction to
decisions about instruction
Program and assessment
outcomes Provides an overview of
(POs) learning across courses
and years

“A graduate of this program

will be able to…”
Writing effective program outcomes
A graduate of this program will be able to…

1. [Start with an action verb]

learning frameworks in ‘educational/learning taxonomies’

2. [Provide the disciplinary context]

Some PO examples
A graduate of this program will be able to…

Implement and test information systems using contemporary and

leading practices and methodologies.

Read texts (including entire books, routinely) and other media critically,
to analyze evidence, arguments, and competing interpretations, and to
challenge assumptions and values that underlie claims about the past
and its relation to the present.

Effectively communicate ideas orally, graphically, physically, and in

writing throughout all stages of the design process.
Critique of statement of POs
(Yes/No)
• Is it learning focused rather than activity-focused ?
• Is it concise, direct and clearly stated?
• Is it observable?
• Can it be assessed?
• Is it meaningful? Is it significant and durable?
• What outcomes can be grouped together (e.g., subset) because they
speak of the same performance?