BA - HISTORY
PROGRAM ASSESSMENT PLANS & REPORT
AY 2011-2012
Program Rationale/Purpose Statement:
The BA-HIS Program within the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) is designed to provide students
with a comprehensive foundation that will make them well-informed citizens fully prepared to take an
active role in their communities’ political and civic life. In addition, each will be prepared to succeed
in their chosen occupation or excel in graduate-level education. Students will become familiar with a
broad range of issues and theories common to the field of history. They will likewise acquire cognitive
skills appropriate both to entry-level employment in various historical positions and to the successful
pursuit of a graduate degree. The SAS offers this major as part of a continuing effort to:
1) attract new students to campus;
2) offer existing students additional options in career study, which, in turn, contributes to
student retention;
3) establish a course of study that will provide students with the tools to enrich their lives and
the lives of those around them;
4) teach students to express themselves clearly and logically.
Marketing / Recruitment Target Statement:
The goal of the BA-HIS Program with the SAS is to attract students who seek post-baccalaureate
employment in the history field or in editing and research. It is also appropriate for students whose
career path is uncertain and seek a liberal arts degree. Finally, it should appeal to students interested in
pursuing graduate degrees in history or law.
Goals of the Program/Corresponding Classes:
Students were evaluated on their ability to successfully trace and fully explain a chain of linking events
that demonstrate the relationship between cause and effect in a historical episode.
HIS137/211/212/320/425
Students will demonstrate the ability to trace the evolution of historical thought. HIS425
Students will demonstrate writing skills appropriate to history profession with a special emphasis on
understanding historical context. HIS211/212/320/425
Students will provide evidence that they possess the research and communications skills expected of a
practitioner in the history profession. SAS499
Section One: Describe all department activities with respect to improving student learning in the
major. This may include new faculty hires, course revisions, assignment creation, rubric revisions,
goal evaluations, etc.
Section Two: Describe which program goal(s) in the Major Program Plan was assessed during the
academic year.
Section Three: Describe analysis of assessment data and action plans for upcoming academic year.
Intended Outcomes/Assessment Criteria:
Intended Outcome 1: (D - Critical Thinking / D – Literacy / D - Writing Abilities) Students were
evaluated on their ability to successfully trace and fully explain a chain of linking events that
demonstrate the relationship between cause and effect in a historical episode.
Assessment Criteria: All students will write an essay test on a common question in HIS 137. Eighty
percent of the majors will achieve ratings of “exceptional” or “good” on their essays, according to the
historical causation section of the History Grading Rubric (see attached).
Section One - Activity Statement:
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2011-2012
Met/Not Met Data Details
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
Intended Outcome 2: (D - Critical Thinking / D – Literacy / D - Writing Abilities) Students will
demonstrate the ability to trace the evolution of historical thought.
Assessment Criteria: Each student in HIS 425 will select a published historian and explain where and
how that historian fits into the evolving study of history in a fully developed written exercise. Eighty
percent of the majors in HIS 425 will achieve ratings of “exceptional” or “good” on their essays,
according to the content comprehension portion of the History Grading Rubric.
Section One - Activity Statement:
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2011-2012
Met/Not Met Data Details
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
Intended Outcome 3: (D - Critical Thinking / D - Writing Abilities) Students will demonstrate writing
skills appropriate to history profession with a special emphasis on understanding historical content.
Assessment Criteria: Students will write a research paper on a topic of historical content in HIS 211,
HIS 320, or HIS 425. Eighty percent of the majors will achieve ratings of “exceptional” or “good” on
their essays, according to the content comprehension portion of the History Grading Rubric.
Section One - Activity Statement:
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2011-2012
Met/Not Met Data Details
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
Intended Outcome 4: (D - Critical Thinking / D – Literacy / D - Writing Abilities) Students will
provide evidence that they possess the research and communications skills expected of a practitioner in
the history profession.
Assessment Criteria: SAS 499 students will select a topic in their area of interest and prepare written
(20-page minimum) and oral (20-minute minimum) presentations of their findings. Both should
demonstrate the ability to incorporate the skills associated with professional historical research and
communication. 85% of the majors should score at least a B or better on both the paper and the oral
presentation.
Section One - Activity Statement:
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2011-2012
Met/Not Met Data Details
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
Updated: November 2011