Assessment Details
Academic Year: 2020-2021 Level: Undergraduate
Campus Department: Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences [UG and Grad]
Program Type: Core [UG]
Program Name: Political Science Core (Link)
Description of Data Collection:
In previous years, the department had used simple four-question, multiple-choice quiz given to most of the students enrolled in Core courses each semester. However, as noted in previous reports, this method has problems in terms of assessing whether students had achieved the stated outcomes for the Core. This year the department has instituted a new two-pronged assessment process: faculty assessment of a random selection of final papers or exams in both Core courses and upper-level courses, and a student survey incorporating both numerical ratings (26 questions under the headings “Knowledge of the Discipline,” “Analytical and Communication Skills,” “Civic Culture and Political Engagement,” and “The Major and Beyond”) and open-ended questions about the strengths, weaknesses, and best courses of the department.
Review Process:
The responsibility in general lies with the Undergraduate Committee. More specifically, the Undergraduate Committee has established this year a seat dedicated to the assessment process. The UC assessment head is charged with collecting and organizing the data obtained from respondents to the senior survey and the random faculty evaluations, and with processing the data to show general results, trends, and comparisons. This general process of assessment is overseen by the Undergraduate Director and the Department Chair – who combine to write up a report for the administration as well as to share with the faculty – along with recommendations for areas of improvement
Resulting Program Changes:
Spring 2021 is the first semester for which we have collected data under the new process. Social Science Core courses are required to emphasize one or more of “major concepts and central questions of the discipline, key methods [of analysis], real-world and policy applications.” The data for our Core courses indicate a solid level of student achievement both with respect to knowledge of the concepts and questions of the discipline and skills in analysis and communication, although overall faculty rated students more highly in the former than in the latter.
Date of Most Recent Program Review:
Spring 2021 is the first semester for which we have collected data under the new process. Social Science Core courses are required to emphasize one or more of “major concepts and central questions of the discipline, key methods [of analysis], real-world and policy applications.” The data for our Core courses indicate a solid level of student achievement both with respect to knowledge of the concepts and questions of the discipline and skills in analysis and communication, although overall faculty rated students more highly in the former than in the latter.
Attachments (if available)