Graduate Degree-Level Expectations: PhD

The overall objective of the Doctoral program is to prepare candidates for careers in teaching, research and other scholarly pursuits related to education, including service as educational leaders. These objectives are achieved through supervisory relationships, course work, comprehensive exams, and the writing and defense of a dissertation. In addition, all students will have opportunities to participate in scholarly activities within and outside the faculty and work as teaching assistants, research assistants and/or course directors during the course of their programs.

The Graduate Degree Level Expectations (GDLEs) in the context of Doctoral studies are derived from a synthesis of the following foundational and accountability documents:

1. Council of Universities Quality Assurance Framework
2. Mission Statement of York University
3. Graduate Program in Culture Language and Teaching Brochure
4. OCGS Appraisal Self-Study Brief for Graduate Program of Language, Culture and Teaching at the Faculty of Education

The following three principles guided the Curriculum Committee’s creation of the document: generalizability of expectations across the Doctoral program of Language, Culture and Teaching; awareness of the holistic relations across the expectations; and a commitment to the sustenance of academic freedom and faculty judgement.

To further qualify and specify the program’s objectives, the Curriculum Committee for the Graduate Program in Language, Culture and Teaching, in consultation with Graduate Executive and Graduate Faculty Council, has developed a set of learning expectations and outcomes that reflects the reach of the delivery of the program:

1. Depth and Breadth of Knowledge
2. Research and Scholarship
3. Application of Knowledge
4. Professional Capacity/Autonomy
5. Communication Skills
6. Awareness of limits of knowledge

1. Depth and Breadth of Knowledge

Overall Objective: To understand and gain awareness of issues, debates and insights in the field of language, culture and teaching.

Specific Outcomes:  Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to:

1. Analyze multiple frameworks of theory, methodology and practice
2. Understand procedures for creating and evaluating knowledge
3. Appreciate and facilitate interdisciplinarity

2. Research and Scholarship

Overall Objective: To interpret research orientations and design research in language, culture and teaching

Specific Outcomes:  Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to:

1. Examine and evaluate theoretical concepts, arguments and orientations to research and scholarship
2. Identify and investigate research questions and problematics
3. Formulate scholarly arguments

3. Application of knowledge

Overall objective: To evaluate research applications and conceptual investigations in language, culture and teaching.

Specific Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to:

1. Examine debates and questions
2. Transfer theoretical and practical ideas to new contexts
3. Examine the construction and use of knowledge

4. Professional Capacity/Autonomy

Overall Objective: To further one’s knowledge, qualities and skills

Specific Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to:

1. Conduct independent inquiry
2. Exercise judgment and initiative
3. Understand academic integrity and ethical conduct in research

5. Communication Skills

Overall Objective: To communicate ideas and issues effectively to academic and/or non-academic audiences

Specific Outcomes:  Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to:

1. Utilize scholarly and media modes in knowledge exchange
2. Analyze modes of communicating knowledge
3. Produce written and oral scholarly work

6. Awareness of Limits of Knowledge

Overall Objective:  To gain awareness of the limits of knowledge

Specific Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to:

1. Analyze processes and problems in knowledge construction, use and exchange
2. Analyze problems and dilemmas in researching others and the self

(Approved February 2012)