ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

 

 

Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science (BA)
Instructional Degree Program

Fall 2003_
Assessment Period Covered

February 13, 2004
Date Submitted

Expanded Statement of Institutional Purpose Linkage:
Institutional Mission Reference:
Texas A&M International University, a Member of The Texas A&M University System, is committed to the preparation of students for leadership roles in their chosen profession and in increasingly complex, culturally diverse state, national, and global society … Through instruction, faculty and student research, and public service, Texas A&M International University is a strategic point of delivery for well-defined programs and services that improve the quality of life for citizens of the border region, the State of Texas, and national and international communities.

College/University Goal(s) Supported:
A principal focus of A&M International University's program is to prepare students for leadership roles in their chosen profession and to provide undergraduate education in the liberal arts and sciences.

Intended Educational (Student) Outcomes:
1. Students completing the Political Science program will understand political behavior, political institutions, public policies, and the role of government in society.

2. Students completing the baccalaureate program will compare favorably in their knowledge of political science with students at other universities completing similar programs.

3. Students completing the Political Science baccalaureate program will be prepared to enter post-baccalaureate programs.


 ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

 


Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science (BA)

Instructional Degree Program

Fall 2003_
Assessment Period Covered

February 13, 2004
Date Submitted

Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
NOTE: There should be one form for each intended outcome listed.  The intended outcome should be restated in the box immediately below and the intended outcome number entered in the blank spaces.

1. Students completing the Political Science program will understand political
behavior, political institutions, public policies, and the role of government in society.

First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
1a. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Senior Political Science students will be required to take a capstone course that reviews political behavior, political institutions, public policies, the role of government in society, research methods, political theory, comparative politics and international relations.  The final examination, a locally generated test, focusing on these components, will be given to students at the end of the semester.  It will be team graded by political science faculty using a rubric ranging from 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent). The average score on the examination will be at least 3.

1a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
This course was developed for assessment and instructional purposes in 2002-03 and will be in the catalogue in Fall 2003. It will be taught for the first time in Spring 2005. There are as yet no data to analyze.

1a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
Because the course in which the data will be collected will not be taught until Spring 2005, the faculty could not make any recommendations or changes at this time.

Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
1b. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
The examination in the capstone course will have subscales:  political behavior; political institutions; public policies; role of government in society, political theory, comparative politics and international relations. These will be graded by a team of Political Science faculty using a rubric ranging from 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent). On each subscale, the average score will not fall below 3 and no individual student will score below 2 on any subscale.

1b. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
This course was developed for assessment and instructional purposes in 2002-03 and will be in the catalogue in Fall 2003. It will be taught for the first time in Spring 2005. There are as yet no data to analyze.

1b. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
Because the course in which the data will be collected will not be taught until Spring 2005, the faculty could not make any recommendations or changes at this time.


ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

 


Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science (BA)

Instructional Degree Program

Fall 2003_
Assessment Period Covered

February 13, 2004
Date Submitted


Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
NOTE: There should be one form for each intended outcome listed.  Intended outcome should be restated in the box immediately below and the intended outcome number entered in the blank spaces.

2. Students completing the baccalaureate program will compare favorably in their knowledge of political science with students at other universities completing similar programs.

First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
2a. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Graduating seniors will take the ACAT examination in political science. The average score of TAMIU graduates will not fall below the average scores of other students completing similar programs nationwide.

2a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
As of 11 February 2004, still awaiting results, but it should be noted that despite all efforts only 3 of the 6 students graduating this semester took the ACAT.

2a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
ACAT will be embedded in PSCI 4351 (Senior Seminar in Political Science). The course will be first implemented in Spring 2005.


Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
2b. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Subscales on the ACAT will be analyzed to identify specific areas of the program that need attention. On no subscale will the average score fall below the average of other students completing similar programs nationwide.

2b. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
No assessment data collected.

2b. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
No recommendations at this time.

 

ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

 


Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science (BA)

Instructional Degree Program

Fall 2003_
Assessment Period Covered

February 13, 2004
Date Submitted

Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
NOTE: There should be one form for each intended outcome listed.  Intended outcome should be restated in the box immediately below and the intended outcome number entered in the blank spaces.

3. Students completing the Political Science baccalaureate program will be prepared to enter post-baccalaureate programs.

First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
3a. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Acceptance rates in post-baccalaureate programs will be gathered. More than fifty percent of Political Science graduates who pursue a post-baccalaureate program will be accepted.

3a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
Faculty will collect data for this means of assessment in May 2004.

3a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
Because the faculty did not have data from this means of assessment, it could not at this time make recommendations for program changes.