This paper focuses on the development of a modified, zero-based curriculum review of programs at a land-grant research university in the southeastern United States which was directed toward demonstrating the viability, and justifying the existence, of current programs. A small group of faculty developed an eight-step process which was used by other faculty to review six graduate programs in one department. The steps included: (1) developing a preliminary list of desired graduate attributes, (2) refining the list of desired graduate attributes, (3) quantifying significant graduate characteristics, (4) developing a matrix, (5) soliciting input from external faculty for support courses, (6) visually inspecting the matrix, (7) quantifying matrix information, and (8) using the matrix information. Although results varied by program, each program found skills and abilities that were receiving insufficient attention and others that were overly emphasized. The information gathered prompted faculty to make several significant changes to existing courses. The paper concludes that this is a cost-effective model that provides a thorough review while taking into account limited faculty time and resources. (Contains 5 references.)(CH)