Graduate Mission Statement Examples
Educational Assessment
Santa Clara University
Graduate Program Mission Statements
Every graduate program should have a mission statement that aligns with the mission of Santa
Clara University and, as applicable, the mission of a school or division. The mission statement
should define the purpose of the program, the audience the program is intended to serve, and
the values of the academic program. The mission statement is a concise statement of the
purpose, offerings, and stakeholders of the academic program. For graduate programs, the
mission should clearly identify the value for graduate students.
Checklist for Mission Statement
A graduate program Mission Statement should answer the following questions:
● Was it drafted in collaboration with your stakeholders?
● Is the statement clear and concise?
● Is it distinctive and memorable?
● Does it clearly state the purpose of the program?
● Does it indicate the primary function or activities of the program?
● Does it indicate who the stakeholders are?
○ Are graduate students named as stakeholders?
● Does it support the mission of the department, college, and university?
● Does it reflect the graduate program’s priorities and values?
● Is it publicly available?
Example Mission Statements
Each of the following components are important in creating a strong mission statement: program
title, primary purpose, primary functions & activities, and program’s stakeholders. Some
programs also include additional clarifying statements, as indicated in the following examples.
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Example, All degree programs in Law (this mission statement applies across all graduate
degree programs in the school)
(from Loyola Marymount University)
The mission of Loyola Law School is legal education within the context of Loyola Marymount
University and its goals as a Catholic Institution in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions. In
carrying out this mission, it is the particular responsibility of Loyola Law School to:
● Achieve and maintain excellence in the instruction of law and promote legal scholarship
and research in the context of academic freedom;
● Seek to educate men and women who will be leaders of both the legal profession and
society, demonstrating in their practice of law and public service the highest standards of
personal integrity, professional ethics and a deep concern for social justice;
● Act at all times as an institution in a manner consistent with those values.
● The Law School should be distinguished by its concern for social justice. It should
continue its efforts to provide opportunities for legal education to the poor, the
underprivileged, women and minorities. Loyola Law School has a long-standing
commitment to diversity and adheres to and supports all legal requirements for
non-discrimination and equal opportunity in all of its programs. As a Jesuit-related
institution, the Law School recognizes its moral and ethical obligation to provide
opportunities for a quality legal education to qualified applicants of diverse backgrounds,
interests and professional objectives.
Example, MS in Industrial & Systems Engineering
(from San Jose State University)
The Mission of the Industrial and Systems Engineering program (ISE) is to serve society, with
emphasis on the manufacturing and service sectors by:
● Providing undergraduate and graduate industrial and systems engineering education
that prepares students to effectively apply engineering knowledge to the evaluation,
design, and operation of complex industrial, service, and governmental systems
comprised of people, equipment, and supplies through the application of modeling,
measurement, and economic methods.
● Contributing to the enrichment of the profession and to the development of knowledge
through faculty leadership, scholarship and professional practice.
● Meeting the needs of working professionals for continuing education in the fields of
operations research, advanced statistical data analysis and modeling, ergonomics and
human factors, supply chain engineering, lean six sigma and related topics.
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The college’s mission is consistent with the high-quality educational mission of the university’s
mission.
The department’s mission is to serve society, with emphasis on manufacturing and service
sectors, which is consistent with the university and college missions.
Example, degree programs in the School of Business (this mission statement applies across all
graduate degree programs in the school)
(from Fordham University)
The mission of the Gabelli School of Business is to inspire and empower positive global change,
developing students into compassionate business leaders and supporting faculty and students
in the ongoing generation of new knowledge.
Example, MA, Counseling Psychology
(from University of Hawaii, Hilo)
The mission of the Master of Arts Program in Counseling Psychology (Specialization: Clinical
Mental Health Counseling) is to prepare students to help meet the mental health service needs
of the diverse and multicultural populations in Hawai‘i and beyond. The program is designed to
train students to become knowledgeable, skillful, ethical, and reflective mental health
counselors, and to serve as a foundation for students interested in pursuing advanced graduate
studies. The program assigns a high priority to meeting the educational needs of its students
and is based on a scientist-practitioner model, with an emphasis on empirical research and
evidence-based practices.
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