Doctoral portfolio

The PhD is a research degree and it is expected that students will develop excellence in the skills associated with scholarship. Scholarship can be demonstrated through accomplishments in publishing and presenting research, teaching, outreach, and professional engagement. The categories in the portfolio are designed to mirror the professional activities in the discipline.

Because the portfolio serves as partial fulfillment for the doctoral degree, all students must meet the portfolio requirements. The criteria are the minimum requirements for portfolio approval, but many of our students engage in scholarship, teaching, and service that exceed the minimum requirement. Only activities accomplished during your doctoral program (or your MA/PhD program) at the University of Minnesota can be included.

Competencies and Portfolio

The Doctoral Portfolio Requirements document is designed to reflect the reality that students have different goals, and that faculty have different approaches to research, teaching, and mentoring. This document is designed to provide a structure with enough flexibility to allow faculty and students to focus on some areas, give less emphasis to others, and ultimately co-create the learning experiences and learning outcomes that  are ideal for the student and their goals.

Students should begin to compile their portfolio in their first year of the program; the portfolio will be reviewed annually during the student’s progress review, and be used by the student and the student’s committee to create goals for the student and track progress. The Preliminary Oral Exam involves a review and discussion about the student’s doctoral portfolio and progress toward the program’s stated competencies. 

A final portfolio review with the student and their committee should occur before the student’s Final Oral Examination (dissertation defense). A student cannot hold the Final Oral Examination until the portfolio is complete. The original signed Doctoral Portfolio Sign-Off form should be submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Doctoral Portfolio Progress Plan