As noted in IR C-18 D, programs must “set a minimum level of achievement for demonstration of student attainment of graduate level discipline-specific knowledge (DSK) in each area. Programs must provide one or more discrete evaluations with associated minimum levels of achievement for each discipline-specific knowledge category.”
A frequent question received by CoA is what constitutes a “discrete evaluation” of an individual DSK area if the DSK is embedded in an evaluated education experience. Examples include, but are not limited to, a DSK (such as cognitive aspects of behavior) embedded in an intervention class, assessment class, a comprehensive examination, or an integrated class (such as social cognition). In these cases, an overall course grade or score would not represent a discrete assessment of the DSK. If a DSK is embedded in an evaluated educational experience, the program should clearly identify the materials or experiences that provide specific exposure to the DSK, the outcome measure used to discretely/independently assess competency in the DSK, and the expected minimum level of achievement (MLA) on the outcome measure that demonstrates that the student has achieved competency on the DSK. When examinations, evaluation forms, or surveys are used to evaluate DSK knowledge, programs must identify the specific items/sections of the outcome measure that are relevant to each DSK area being evaluated.
We encourage programs to contact the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditationopens in new window for guidance.
