Faculty create “Program Learning Outcomes” (PLOs) for each undergraduate and graduate program at Boise State University. The Ed.D. / Curriculum & Instruction program has twelve such outcomes, which students must address in various projects done during their studies, including in their dissertation project. We use feedback from students, assessments of assignments, and other input about the PLO’s to help judge how the program is effective and in which ways it might be improved. Faculty work to generate a “program area report” every three years. Students do not directly contribute to the PAR process (except by way of surveys), but they should be aware of the PLOs so that they are aware of how they connect to the goals and objectives of each course. Learn more at the PLO-ULO Alignment Guidelines.

Revised Spring 2026

1. Locate, summarize, and synthesize literature related to education, its related fields, and the student’s research interests.
2. Demonstrate effective collaboration with one or more colleagues to design and implement a research-based project, presentation, or paper related to the discipline.
3. Critically assess existing and emerging research and evaluation methods to analyze studies and provide critical perspectives about them.
4. Apply research methodologies to design an empirical investigation in accordance with accepted professional and institutional guidelines and procedures.
5. Apply expertise gained from research in education and its related fields to make recommendations that inform and guide professional practice.
6. Critically analyze and apply theory as it relates to leadership, culture, and contexts.
7. Analyze and articulate ethical considerations and culturally relevant issues within the study and practice of education and related fields.

See how the revised PLOs connect to the previously described outcomes.

PLO Connections

Degree of emphasis placed on the outcome in the associated course or experience in the EDTECH doctoral program:

• No Emphasis [ — ]
• Limited / Some [ Ls ]
• Focus Area [ Fa ]
• Serious Concentration [ Sc ]
• Varies [V]

EDTECH 601 Introduction to Doctoral Studies

[Ls] PLO 5

[Fa] PLO 3

[Sc] PLO 1, 2

EDTECH 603 Global and Cultural Perspectives in Educational Technology

[Ls] PLO 1, 2, 3

[Sc] PLO 6, 7

EDTECH 604 Leadership in Educational Technology

[Ls] PLO 1, 5

[Fa] PLO 2, 7

[Sc] PLO 6

EDTECH 606 Research Writing

[Fa] PLO 1

[Sc] PLO 7

EDTECH 650 Research in Educational Technology

[Ls] PLO 2, 3, 5, 7

[Fa] PLO 1, 4

EDTECH 651 Introduction to Statistics for Educational Technology

[Ls] PLO 1, 4, 7

[Fa] PLO 3

EDTECH 652 Quantitative Research Methods

[Ls] PLO 4, 7

[Fa] PLO 3

EDTECH 653 Intro to Qualitative Research Methods

[Ls] PLO 4, 7

[Fa] PLO 3

EDTECH 662 Survey Research and Analysis

[Ls] PLO 1

[Fa] PLO 4, 7

[Sc] PLO 3

EDTECH 663 Advanced Qualitative Methods

[Ls] PLO 1

[Fa] PLO 4, 7

[Sc] PLO 3

EDTECH 691 Comprehensive Examination

[Ls] PLO 6

[Fa] PLO 3, 4, 7

[Sc] PLO 1

EDTECH 693 Dissertation

[Ls] PLO 2, 6

[Fa] PLO 7

[Sc] PLO 1, 3, 4, 5

EDTECH 698 Doctoral Seminar

[Ls] PLO 3, 5, 6

[Fa] PLO 7

[Sc] PLO 1, 2

Cognate Requirement

[V] PLOs 1 – 7

Elective Requirement

[V] PLOs 1 – 7