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Career & Technical Education Doctorate Degree

ASTE Graduate Programs

View All ASTE Assessments

Program Objectives:

Skills and Career Competencies

  1. Objective 1 - Students will demonstrate their ability to conduct research independently using quantitative and qualitative methods to advance various areas of career and technical education in formal and nonformal settings.
  2. Objective 2 - Students will improve critical thinking and written communication skills to advance innovative or original ideas in scholarly and practical settings.
  3. Objective 3 - Students will describe the foundational development and theoretical aspects of CTE within the context of public education.
  4. Objective 4 - Students will develop and practice professional and leadership skills to communicate effectively within the scholarly CTE community, formal and nonformal settings, and work collaboratively in local, national, and global settings.
  5. Objective 5 - Students will develop and use evaluation and assessment instruments to measure achievement, attitude, behaviors, and program impacts.
  6. Objective 6 - Students will develop grant proposals and practical budget management plans.

Each of the program objectives must be achieved and properly assessed with the following required and elective courses. The course information related to the transparency of the student work and how the student work is evaluated is given in the links that correspond to the objectives. The course objectives are written to meet the course description (link to the USU catalog) and achieve the program objectives. Students are evaluated in each course by completing assignments, projects, quizzes, exams, and other forms of formative and summative assessments. To better help students understand the course and program expectations, the corresponding assignments, and the assessment tools (e.g., rubrics) are given for each program objective and its aligning course objective.

Courses in Development:

  • ASTE 7090: Instructional Design for Distance Education, Instructor: Dr. Debra Spielmaker
  • ASTE 7200: Qualitative Methods, Instructor: Dr. Courtney Clausen
  • ASTE 7300 (Elective): Mixed Methods Research, Instructor: Kelsey Hall
  • ASTE 7600 (Elective): The Professoriate, Instructor: Rebecca Lawver
  • ASTE 7800: Advanced Data Analysis, Instructor: Michael Pate

Arranged Courses

  • ASTE 7810: Research Seminar, Instructor(s): Debra Spielmaker or as assigned. Variable credit courses (1-3 hours) designed to assist doctoral students in hosting discussions under faculty direction on timely and pertinent topics, issues, and trends impacting the field of study.
  • ASTE 7970: Dissertation Research, Instructor: as assigned. Variable credit courses (1-6 hours) designed to assist doctoral students will the preparation, writing, and presentation of their dissertation research.

Program Objective 1:

Students will demonstrate their ability to conduct research independently using quantitative and qualitative methods to advance various areas of career and technical education in formal and nonformal settings.

Courses that meet the Program Objective

ASTE 6360: History, Philosophy, and Policy Development in Career and Technical Education | Instructor, Rebecca Lawver

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will write a scholarly paper summarizing your beliefs about the evolution and future of CTE.

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Final Paper
  • Final Paper Peer Review

ASTE 6750: Research Methods & Design | Instructor, Michael Pate

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will demonstrate strategies for writing a research proposal
  • Students will summarize and plan specific research designs for review

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Assignment: Students will complete a research prospectus
  • Assignment : Students will work in a group to complete a research preview presentation

ASTE 6800: Analysis of Social Research Data | Instructor, Michael Pate

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will select and demonstrate the use of quantitative data analysis techniques
  • Students will develop a data analysis proposal

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Assignment: Students will complete SPSS assigned practice work (sets 4, 5, and 6)
  • Assignment : Students will prepare and submit a data analysis proposal

ASTE 7100: Research Methods & Design | Instructor, Kelsey Hall

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will demonstrate expertise using APA 7 formatting
  • Students will construct a pre-proposal dissertation document
  • Students will develop a research proposal
  • Students will effectively present their research proposal to an audience

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Assignment 2 & 3: APA citation correction assignments
  • Assignment 4: Read and review the required elements of a pre-proposal and develop a pre-proposal and present it to Supervisory Committee
  • Assignment 5: Submit a high-quality dissertation proposal, ready for presentation at semester end
  • Assignment 6: Prepare a dissertation proposal presentation, 15-20 minutes in length
  • preview presentation

ASTE 7170: Program Theory and Evaluation | Instructor, Debra Spielmaker

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will describe the use and need for evaluation research
  • Students will compare and contrast the similarities and differences between evaluation research and basic or applied research
  • Students will apply the procedures for protecting the rights and welfare of human participants in research
  • Students will develop skills to frame evaluation projects based on paradigms and theories
  • Students will develop skills related to evaluation proposal preparation
  • Students will develop skills for developing surveys based on research-based practices
  • Students will plan and design evaluations based upon stakeholder input, the purpose of the evaluation using appropriate methods for data collection and analysis
  • Students will prepare communication materials to disseminate evaluation findings

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Assignment 1: Visualizing Evaluation Research
  • Assignment 2: Understanding Existing Programs
  • Assignment 3: IRB CITI Training
  • Assignment 4: Evaluation Approached Graphic Organizer
  • Assignment 5: Logic Model Critiques
  • Assignment 6: Logic Model for Evaluation
  • Assignment 7: Survey Development
  • Assignment 8a, 8b, & 8c: Data analysis, findings, and conclusions report

ASTE 7500: Diffusion of Innovations | Instructor, Brian Warnick

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will analyze factors that contribute to change agent success
  • Students will evaluate the potential consequences of an innovation and cite examples of desirable, undesirable, direct, indirect, anticipated, and unanticipated consequences
  • Students will evaluate the role of communication networks and social learning theory on the rate of innovation adoption

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Assignment: Students will write and submit a reflection paper on change agent characteristics and aptitudes
  • Assignment : Students will complete the consequences of innovations review
  • Assignment : Students will investigate and review a "hardware or product" innovation

Program Objective 2:

Students will improve critical thinking and written communication skills to advance innovative or original ideas in scholarly and practical settings.

Courses that meet the Program Objectives

ASTE 6360: History, Philosophy, and Policy Development in Career and Technical Education | Instructor, Rebecca Lawver

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will write a scholarly paper summarizing your beliefs about the evolution and future of CTE.

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Final Paper
  • Final Paper Peer Review

ASTE 6750: Research Methods & Design | Instructor, Michael Pate

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will demonstrate strategies for writing a research proposal
  • Students will summarize and plan specific research designs for review

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Assignment: Students will complete a research prospectus
  • Assignment : Students will work in a group to complete a research preview presentation

ASTE 6800: Analysis of Social Research Data | Instructor, Michael Pate

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will select and demonstrate the use of quantitative data analysis techniques
  • Students will develop a data analysis proposal

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Assignment: Students will complete SPSS assigned practice work (sets 4, 5, and 6)
  • Assignment : Students will prepare and submit a data analysis proposal

ASTE 7100: Research Methods & Design | Instructor, Kelsey Hall

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will demonstrate expertise using APA 7 formatting
  • Students will construct a pre-proposal dissertation document
  • Students will develop a research proposal
  • Students will effectively present their research proposal to an audience

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Assignment 2 & 3: APA citation correction assignments
  • Assignment 4: Read and review the required elements of a pre-proposal and develop a pre-proposal and present it to Supervisory Committee
  • Assignment 5: Submit a high-quality dissertation proposal, ready for presentation at semester end
  • Assignment 6: Prepare a dissertation proposal presentation, 15-20 minutes in length
  • preview presentation

ASTE 7370: Grant Writing and Management | Instructors, Michael Pate

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will perform a critical review of a competitive grant proposal
  • Students will outline and complete essential elements of a proposal for funding
  • Students will produce and submit a competitive grant proposal

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Group Panel Peer Review
  • Grant Proposal Final

Program Objective 3:

Students will describe the foundational development and theoretical aspects of CTE within the context of public education.

Courses that meet the Program Objectives

ASTE 6360: History, Philosophy, and Policy Development in Career and Technical Education | Instructor, Rebecca Lawver

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will write a scholarly paper summarizing your beliefs about the evolution and future of CTE.

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Final Paper
  • Final Paper Peer Review

ASTE 7310: Theories of Teaching and Learning | Instructor, Tyson Sorenson

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will describe, compare, contrast, critically analyze, and critique popular learning theories and paradigms used in CTE and their major tenets and concepts
  • Students will compare and contrast the similarities and differences between evaluation research and basic or applied research

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Assignment 1-8: Graphic Organizers

Program Objective 4:

Students will develop and practice professional and leadership skills to communicate effectively within the scholarly CTE community, formal and nonformal settings, and work collaboratively in local, national, and global settings.

Courses that meet the Program Objectives

ASTE 6180: Administration & Leadership | Instructor, Rebecca Lawver

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will assess their individual leadership skills and strengths, ability to be a change agent, exercise the opportunities for self-assessment, reflection, and feedback
  • Students will communicate a personal leadership vision to guide continued development and success.

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Assignment: Personal leadership development plan
  • Assignment: Personal leadership development presentation

ASTE 6360: History, Philosophy, and Policy Development in Career and Technical Education | Instructor, Rebecca Lawver

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will write a scholarly paper summarizing your beliefs about the evolution and future of CTE.

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Final Paper
  • Final Paper Peer Review

ASTE 6960: Readings and Conference (Elective) | Instructor, Debra Spielmaker, or as assigned

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will TBA

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • TBA
  • TBA

Program Objective 5

Students will develop and use evaluation and assessment instruments to measure achievement, attitude, behaviors, and program impacts.

Courses that meet the Program Objectives

ASTE 7170: Program Theory and Evaluation | Instructor, Debra Spielmaker

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will describe the use and need for evaluation research
  • Students will compare and contrast the similarities and differences between evaluation research and basic or applied research
  • Students will apply the procedures for protecting the rights and welfare of human participants in research
  • Students will develop skills to frame evaluation projects based on paradigms and theories
  • Students will develop skills related to evaluation proposal preparation
  • Students will develop skills for developing surveys based on research-based practices
  • Students will plan and design evaluations based upon stakeholder input, the purpose of the evaluation using appropriate methods for data collection and analysis
  • Students will prepare communication materials to disseminate evaluation findings

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Assignment 1: Visualizing Evaluation Research
  • Assignment 2: Understanding Existing Programs
  • Assignment 3: IRB CITI Training
  • Assignment 4: Evaluation Approached Graphic Organizer
  • Assignment 5: Logic Model Critiques
  • Assignment 6: Logic Model for Evaluation
  • Assignment 7: Survey Development
  • Assignment 8a, 8b, & 8c: Data analysis, findings, and conclusions report

ASTE 7500: Diffusion of Innovations | Instructor, Brian Warnick

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will analyze factors that contribute to change agent success
  • Students will evaluate the potential consequences of an innovation and cite examples of desirable, undesirable, direct, indirect, anticipated, and unanticipated consequences
  • Students will evaluate the role of communication networks and social learning theory on the rate of innovation adoption

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Assignment: Students will write and submit a reflection paper on change agent characteristics and aptitudes
  • Assignment : Students will complete the consequences of innovations review
  • Assignment : Students will investigate and review a "hardware or product" innovation

Program Objective 6:

Students will develop grant proposals and practical budget management plans.

Courses that meet the Program Objectives

ASTE 7370: Grant Writing and Management | Instructors, Michael Pate

Course Objectives from the Syllabus that meet the Program Objective

  • Students will perform a critical review of a competitive grant proposal
  • Students will outline and complete essential elements of a proposal for funding
  • Students will produce and submit a competitive grant proposal

Course Assignments that meet the Course Objectives

  • Group Panel Peer Review
  • Grant Proposal Final