3.5.4 Terminal Degrees of Faculty

The At least 25 percent of the discipline course hours in each major at the baccalaureate level are taught by faculty members holding the terminal degree—usually the earned doctorate—in the discipline, or the equivalent of the terminal.

Judgment of Compliance

Partial Compliance

Narrative of Compliance

In accordance with the mission [1] of the institution, Prairie View A&M University offers a range of degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level. No associate degree programs are offered. Faculty members have appropriate credentials to teach assigned courses as shown in the Faculty Roster Forms for the Fall 2008 [2], Spring 2009 [3], and Summer 2009 [4]. All faculty teaching baccalaureate courses have a doctoral or master’s degree in the teaching discipline or master’s degree with a minimum of 18 graduate semester credit hours in the teaching discipline. Eighty-seven percent of the Fall 2008 full-time faculty members have the doctorate or terminal degree as shown on the Faculty Terminal Degree Attainment Chart 1994-2008 [5]. Sample data reports to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) demonstrate the yearly trends in terminal degree holders at the University and the progress the University has made since 1994 [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]. Transcripts which document faculty qualifications are maintained in the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Of the baccalaureate degree programs offered by the University, thirty-eight (95%) of the programs either meet or exceed the requirement that at least 25% of the discipline course hours in each undergraduate major are taught by faculty members holding the terminal degree—usually earned doctorate—in the discipline. This is documented in the table below. The table shows the baccalaureate degree programs offered, the number of undergraduate credit hours required in the major discipline and the percent credit hours taught by faculty holding terminal degrees.

Two degree programs, Human Sciences and Human Nutrition and Food, have less than 25% of the major course hours in the discipline being taught by terminal degreed faculty. The percents are 16% and 19%, respectively. The faculty members holding masters degrees in these two programs are experienced and competent in the discipline, and two have Registered Dietetic (RD) credentialing. They have completed a bachelor and master's degree at a U.S. regionally accredited university or college, with course work approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). They have completed a CADE accredited and supervised practice program at a healthcare facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation, or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies, and have passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), and complete continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration [12]. The Dietetics area in the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences also maintains specialized accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Dietetics Education (ADA) [13]. Furthermore, sixty-percent of the faculty in the College of Agriculture hold a terminal degree [14]. Although the degree programs have this credentialing, the Dean, Department Head, and Office of Academic Affairs are working to correct this in the Fall 2009 semester so that at least 25% of the undergraduate discipline courses are taught by terminal degree holders.

Supporting Documentation and Links

• [1] Prairie View A&M University Mission Statement
  PDF Document, 3 Pages
• [2] Faculty Roster Forms Fall 2008
• [3] Faculty Roster Forms Spring 2009
• [4] Faculty Roster Forms Summer 2009
• [5] Trend in Faculty Terminal Degree Attainment 1994-2008
  PDF Document, 1 Page
• [6] Terminal Degree Holder Faculty in 2003
  PDF Document, 1 Page
• [7] Terminal Degree Holder Faculty in 2004
  PDF Document, 6 Pages
• [8] Terminal Degree Holder Faculty in 2005
  PDF Document, 6 Pages
• [9] Terminal Degree Holder Faculty in 2006
  PDF Document, 1 Page
• [10] Terminal Degree Holder Faculty in 2007
  PDF Document, 1 Page
• [11] Terminal Degree Holder Faculty in 2008
  PDF Document, 1 Page
• [12] Educational and Professional Requirements for a Registered Dietitian
  PDF Document, 3 Pages
• [13] Prairie View A&M University Accreditations
  PDF Document, 1 Page
• [14] College of Agriculture Terminal Degree Data
  PDF Document, 1 Page