ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

 

 

Bachelor of Arts with a major in Urban Studies (BA)
Instructional Degree Program

Spring 2004
Assessment Period Covered

March 9, 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:
The College of Arts and Humanities is dedicated to the provision of programs that prepare students for a variety of professional roles through enhancement of their abilities to communicate and to understand and appreciate the world through a broad-based, liberal arts education.

Intended Educational (Student) Outcomes:
1. Students completing the baccalaureate program in Urban Studies will understand the political, social, spatial, and economic characteristics of urban areas.

2. Students completing the Urban Studies program will be prepared for employment in municipal, county, state, or federal government as well as in non-profit and private sector jobs related to urban studies.

3. Students completing the Urban Studies program will have knowledge and skills valued by government and non-profit employers.


ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

 

 

Bachelor of Arts with a major in Urban Studies (BA)
Instructional Degree Program

Spring 2004
Assessment Period Covered

March 9, 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 baccalaureate program in Urban Studies will understand the political, social, spatial, and economic characteristics of urban areas.

1a. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Senior Urban Studies majors will take a locally generated exit examination, standardized through the creation of rubrics, that measures their understanding of political, social, spatial, and economic characteristics of urban areas. The examination will be graded by a team of program faculty with expertise in Urban Studies. The average score on the examination will not fall below the second highest quartile of the grading scale.

Rubric: Students completing the BA in Urban Studies will demonstrate, through answering an essay question selected by a team of Urban Studies faculty, their understanding of the political characteristics of urban areas. Students will be provided a list of the bank of questions ahead of time, but only one question will be selected by the program faculty for students to answer.

Grading Scale:

1=Essay demonstrates a weak level of knowledge, understanding, critical thought and written skills

2=Essay is of marginal quality, and reflects only a minimal level of knowledge, understanding, critical thought and written skills

3=Essay is of adequate quality, and reflects a sufficient level of knowledge, understanding, critical thought and written skills

4=Essay demonstrates excellence of knowledge, understanding, critical thought and written skills

a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected
There were no graduates in Spring 2004

a. Use of Results to Improve Unit Services:
Because there were no graduates, no changes to program assessment or curriculum could be recommended at this time.

2. Students completing the Urban Studies program will be prepared for employment in municipal, county, state, or federal government as well as in non-profit and private sector jobs related to urban studies.

First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
2a. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Graduating Urban Studies students will be surveyed to assess their employment status.  At least 80% of graduates will be employed in government, non-profit, or private sector jobs that relate to urban studies.

2a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected
There were no graduates in Spring 2004

2a. Use of Results to Improve Unit Services:
Because there were no graduates, no changes to program assessment or curriculum could be recommended at this time

Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
2b. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Graduating Urban Studies will be surveyed to gather supporting data on how well the program prepared them for employment in urban studies areas.  The responses will be measured on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (very poorly) to 5 (very well).  The average of responses will not fall below 4 on a scale.

a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected
There were no graduates in Spring 2004

a. Use of Results to Improve Unit Services:
Because there were no graduates, no changes to program assessment or curriculum could be recommended at this time.

 

 

ASSESSMENT REPORT

FOR

 


Bachelor of Arts with a major in Urban Studies (BA)
Instructional Degree Program

Spring 2004
Assessment Period Covered

March 9, 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.

3. Students completing the Urban Studies program will have knowledge and skills valued by government and non-profit employers.

First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
3a. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Senior Urban Studies students are required to do an internship in a government agency or non-profit firm related to urban studies.  External internship managers will complete an evaluation of each intern, rating their knowledge and skills.  The ratings will be expressed as a Likert scale ranging from 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent).  The average rating will not fall below 4 on the scale.

3a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected
There were no graduates in Spring 2004

3a. Use of Results to Improve Unit Services:
Because there were no graduates, no changes to program assessment or curriculum could be recommended at this time

Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
3b. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Graduating Urban Studies students who have completed internships will be surveyed to gather supporting data on how well the program prepared them for the internship in urban studies areas.  The responses will be measured on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (very poorly) to 5 (very well).  The average of responses will not fall below 4 on the scale.

3b. Summary of Assessment Data Collected
There were no graduates in Spring 2004

3b. Use of Results to Improve Unit Services:
Because there were no graduates, no changes to program assessment or curriculum could be recommended at this time.


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