ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sociology (BA)
Instructional Degree Program
Spring 2004___
Assessment Period Covered
June 28, 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:
To increase “(1) students’ ability to communicate through the use
of the written and spoken word; (2) their knowledge and appreciation
of culture, fine arts, social integration; and (3) self realization.
The College [COAS] also prepares students for a variety of professions
and roles by providing a broad-based liberal arts education.”
Intended Educational (Student) Outcomes:
1. Students completing the program will demonstrate their
knowledge of the core ideas of the field of sociology.
2. Students completing the program will be able to secure employment.
3.Students will be satisfied with the curriculum and instruction
of the sociology program.
ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sociology (BA)
Instructional Degree Program
Spring 2004___
Assessment Period Covered
June 28, 2004
Date Submitted
Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
Students completing the program will demonstrate their knowledge of
the core ideas of the field of sociology.
First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
____a. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Students will take an exit objective and essay exam to document
knowledge of key concepts of the core of ideas in the field of sociology—8
core areas--as determined by the faculty. We expect an average passing
rate of 75% and no less than a 70% passing for any subpart of the exam
in 8 sub-content areas. The essay portion of the exam, to measure critical
thinking and application, will be graded by all faculty using a rubric
of competency. The rubric was adapted from Cappell & Kamens (2002,
Teaching Sociology (30), pp. 467-494)) and addresses the following
areas: usage of sociological concepts and theories; accuracy of specific
knowledge of social conditions; sociologically based reasoning skills;
application of sociological knowledge to the evaluation of social policies
or practical social service situations; ability to express ideas clearly
in written English.
____a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
Data collected was for one Spring 2004 graduating senior (the other
5 graduates were assessed in the Fall of 2003). The result was compared
with 41 freshmen students. The student achieved an overall passing
score of 78% (75% is average minimum), but fell below the expected minimum
of 70% in three of eight areas--introduction to sociology, marriage
and family and research methods. The graduates’ results are compared
to the freshmen results based on percent correct. This assessment is
taken at the end of the term for all. We now have comparative data
and can compare Spring 2004 with Fall and Spring 2003, both for graduates
of the program and freshmen.
Objective Assessment Results Comparative Analysis: Percent Correct
(N=number of graduates, n=number who took the assessment)
Area |
Min Exp Score |
Grads
Spring 2004
N=3
n=1* |
Fresh
Spring 2004
Comparison
N=41 |
Grads
Fall
2003
N=3
n=7** |
Fresh
Fall
2003 Comparison.
N=57 |
Grads
Spring
2003
N=8
n=8 |
Introductory Qs |
70% |
60% |
46.2% |
57.0% |
44% |
57.0% |
Sociological Theory |
70% |
80% |
58.8% |
80% |
52% |
54.8% |
Research Methods |
70% |
40% |
52.6% |
77 % |
32% |
72.2% |
Social Problems |
70% |
80% |
80% |
77.0% |
16% |
84.8% |
Urban Sociology |
70% |
100% |
74.7% |
89% |
80% |
62.3% |
Marriage & Family |
70% |
66% |
48.6% |
81.0% |
40% |
79.0% |
Race |
70% |
100% |
73.7% |
100% |
48% |
92.6% |
Social Inequality |
70% |
100% |
80.5% |
90% |
73% |
96.3% |
Overall Average |
|
78.25% |
64.38% |
79% |
57.5% |
73% |
*students took the assessment the previous Fall 2003 when they were
taking the Pro-Seminar class.
**includes students who will graduate Spring 2004
Essay: The one student’s score is incomplete. We had changed
the structure of the essay portion of the exam to be more explicit by
providing data to be analyzed because past performance on essay was
poor. The student, however, overlooked, or did not address the last
part of the essay. What was completed, however, we considered adequate.
____a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
We have increased the credit hours for the professional seminar
from 1 to 3 (to be implemented Fall 2004). We believe this review and
enhancement-based course will provide the needed synthesis of sociological
concepts and skills and that this will be reflected in the next assessment,
Fall 2004. We have examined our writing requirements in all of our
courses and determined that 100% of our courses require writing; the
writing expectation varies from 25-100%. This indicates writing is
not at issue, but expectations for application to social policy is.
We are emphasizing social policy issues in all our courses. We have
little control over our research methods as this course is cross-listed
with political science and criminal justice. When we teach it, it is
applied and students complete a research project. According to our
Quality Enhancement Plan assessment (2/02/04) all of our courses have
a minimum of 25% written work.
ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sociology (BA)
Instructional Degree Program
Spring 2004___
Assessment Period Covered
June 28, 2004
Date Submitted
Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
Students completing the program will be able to secure employment.
Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
____b. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Every Fall students will be contacted (for three years after graduation)
to determine if they have secured employment. A survey/structured interview
is used to document employment.
____b. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
None. This is conducted in the Fall only and will be conduced Fall
2004.
____b. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
While we did not conduct this survey, the faculty have identified
the names of community individuals to be included on a sociology steering
board to help us determine vocational skills. The College of Arts and
Sciences asked us to wait on this endeavor, temporarily, while they
develop their board.
ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sociology (BA)
Instructional Degree Program
Spring 2004___
Assessment Period Covered
June 28, 2004
Date Submitted
Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
Students will be satisfied with the curriculum and instruction of the
sociology program.
Third Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
____c. Students will complete a 4 page survey assessing: (I) Their
background; (II) Post-Graduate Work and Expectations; (III) Intellectual
Development (41 questions), and (IV) Overall Satisfaction with Curriculum.
____c. Summary of Assessment Data Collected:
Three graduating seniors took the exit survey. All were satisfied
or very satisfied with the program except for the following areas, where
1 out of 3 indicated they were somewhat satisfied (note: it was the
same respondent for all). These are: Ability to do computer searches,
ability to use research skills for evaluation and gathering evidence;
understanding sociological theory; how to use concepts of sociology;
critique sociological findings; understand ethics. Personal experience
comments indicated that two of the three thought that theory was most
memorable. One indicated the study of social inequality has driven her/him
to work for social change.
____c. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
The exit survey indicates students have a higher assessment of their
research skills compared to the assessment of knowledge indicates. We
would like to see “very satisfied” with computer competence rather than
“satisfied” and therefore, will require more use of technology in our
courses. In that area, one faculty is introducing Census Data analysis
with thematic mapping (GIS—Geographic Information Systems) into a number
of courses (Introduction to Sociology, Sociology of Education, and Research
Methods). This should increase both research methods skills and computer
competence.
SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
SOURCE |
LOCATION/Special Instructions |
Assessment of Knowledge-Sociology |
|
Assessment of Knowledge-Data |
|
Employment Survey-Sociology |
|
Exit Survey Perception- |
|
Exit Survey Perception- Data |
|
Rubric for Grading Written Work |
|
Quality Enhancement Plan Assessment
(2/02/04) |
|