ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Instructional Degree Program
Spring 2004___
Assessment Period Covered
July 1, 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 an 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 in Political Science
Instructional Degree Program
Spring 2004___
Assessment Period Covered
July 1, 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, and the role of government in society. The final examination,
a locally generated exam, 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 purposes for the catalog
year 2002-2003. The senior capstone course will not begin until Spring
2005 due to catalog--major requirement limitations.
1a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
Not applicable at this time. Examination will be developed during
the Spring 2005 semester.
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 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.
____b. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
No data. This course was developed for assessment purposes for
the catalog year 2002-2003. The senior capstone course will not begin
until Spring 2005 due to catalog--major requirement limitations.
____b. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
The program faculty did not feel that action was warranted at this
time. This examination will be developed during the Spring 2005 semester.
ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Instructional Degree Program
Spring 2004___
Assessment Period Covered
July 1, 2004
Date Submitted
Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
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 nation.
2a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
Four of five graduating seniors took the ACAT examination in political
science. The fifth student had taken the exam in the Fall semester
anticipating graduation, but did not actually graduate until the Spring
Semester. As a whole students performed at the 76th percentile,
exceeding our goal. Scores varied from a high of 597 (97 points above
average) to a low of 530 (30 points above average).
2a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
We will continue to monitor these developments.
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)
596 (96 points above average) to 410 (90 points below average);
mean score = 483 (17 points below average)
International politics/Comparative Government
660 (160 points above average) to 563 (63 points above average);
mean score = 606 (106 above average)
Public Administration
628 (128 points above average) to 567 (67 points above);
mean score = 610 (110 above average)
Normative and Empirical Theory
692 (192 points above average) to 397 (103 points below average)
mean score = 522 (22 points above average)
2b. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
The number of students taking the test remains 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. Nevertheless, it should be noted that we have
already taken steps that should improve the political science instructional
program. New majors since the 2002-2003 academic year are required to
take foundation courses in all the instructional areas.
ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Instructional Degree Program
Spring 2004___
Assessment Period Covered
July 1, 2004
Date Submitted
Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
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 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. None of the members of this class has applied
for graduate study.
3a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
No action indicated.
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 available at this time. If any of the students of this
class does attend graduate studies in the future these data will be
collected at that time. At the earliest,
this would be over a year from now.
3b. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
The program faculty did not feel that action was warranted at this
time.
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