Abstract
The institutions of higher learning in Sulu are still on the infant stage compared to the pioneer academic institutions in the Philippines such as the University of Santo Thomas, Silliman University, and University of the Philippines. In particular, the Graduate School in MSU-Sulu and the Sulu State College were established only in the early 1990s. Notre Dame of Jolo College started earlier but it was on and off status due to lack of faculty members. Most local college faculty members earned their master and doctoral degrees only after the graduate courses have become a regular course offering of the Sulu’s academic institutions. The purpose of the graduate school is to hone the research skills of the students and to enhance their level of analysis both oral and written presentation. It was presumed that graduate students are expected to learn how to conduct an independent research toward the end of the program. Yet, college faculty as well as the graduate students have yet to learn the rudiments of research and many of them have the handicap of writing skill.