A guide for institutional self-study is presented that covers departmental and programmatic or specialized self-study and accreditation. The guide is intended as a handbook for participants in self-study processes, as a basic reference for administrators on processes and uses of self-study, and as a reader-manual for workshops on self-study and accreditation. Specific topics include: the organizational context of postsecondary institutions; the nature of the accrediting process; ten desired attributes or goals of self-study processes; five main steps required and general models for self-study; elements of the preparation and design phase of the self-study process; the organization of the study; specific activities that must be conducted (types of tasks and data collection instruments); the study of departmental or program self-assessment efforts; preparing a useful report; some of the ways results, peers, and accrediting agencies can be used to institutional advantage; and enhancing the study/planning cycle. Included are informative case studies, an outcomes taxonomy and a list of outcome measures, information on 17 major sources of information as well as seven reference sources; sample alumni followup questionnaires for programs and the overall institution; checklists; and sample tables of contents of self-study reports. (SW)