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ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

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

Spring, 2003
Assessment Period Covered

July 1, 2003
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

Spring, 2003
Assessment Period Covered

July 1, 2003
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, and the role of government in society.  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:
No data.  This class 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 2004.

1a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
Enter text here

Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
1b. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
The examination in the capstone class will have subscales:  political behavior; political institutions; public policies; role of government in society.  These examinations 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:
No data.  This class 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 2004.

1b. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
Enter text here

ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

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

Spring, 2003
Assessment Period Covered

July 1, 2003
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:
Too few students took the examination for comparative results to be available.  Both grades were below the standardized average:  358 (142 points below) and 494 (6 points below).

2a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
The number of students taking the examination is too small to use to reach conclusions about the program.  The results will be recorded and combined with those of future graduates who take the exam.

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:
Averages on subscales  were not given due to the small number of students taking the examination.  Individual results are as follows:
American Studies (U.S. Government)
381=119 points below average; 512=12 points above average
International politics/Comparative Government
382=118 points below average; 449=51 points below average
Public Administration
347=153 points below average; 518=18 points above average
Normative and Empirical Theory
427=73 points below average; 498=2 points below average

2b. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
The number of students taking the test is too small to use as a basis of programmatic changes.  These data will be compiled with future exam scores to identify trends.  The Political Science faculty will consider the indicators from this exam as a guide to careful monitoring of program offerings.

ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

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

Spring, 2003
Assessment Period Covered

July 1, 2003
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.  Seventy-five percent of Political Science graduates who pursue a post-baccalaureate program will be accepted.

3a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
No data available.  No record of members of this class applying for graduate study was found.  This will be reviewed in the next two months when any such record should be available.

3a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
Enter text here

Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
3b. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
The number of students completing the baccalaureate program who successfully complete graduate programs will be gathered.  At least 50% of those entering post-baccalaureate programs will successfully complete those programs.

3b. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
No data are as yet available. 

3b. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
Enter text here

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