MASTER OF ARTS IN HISTORY
STUDENT OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT PLAN
[Approved by the Department]
[April 22, 2009]
I.
Preamble:
A quality Graduate Program contributes to all dimensions of the research and
instructional capabilities of any History Department and rests upon the commitment and
ability of the entire faculty. Intense student-faculty interaction stimulates and assists
professional research, even as it provides an apprenticeship that prepares students to
some day assume the role of academic professionals, public historians, skilled
practitioners of innumerable occupations, and enlightened citizens.
A Master of Arts in History is frequently a prelude to doctoral candidacy and a
subsequent academic career. However, M.A. programs also serve state and community
by making post-baccalaureate instruction available to those who do not aspire to a Ph.D.,
consequently raising and diversifying the cultural base of the entire community.
II.
Historical Outcomes and Competencies:
The UNI Department of History expects that students enter its Master’s Program with a
substantial body of historical knowledge and some degree of analytical sophistication
upon which to base their graduate education. As graduate students, we expect that they
will: 1) further develop their ability to examine the past analytically; 2) become familiar
with the major historical and historiographical issues in their areas of emphasis; 3) hone
their research skills and conduct original historical research; and 4) develop the written,
oral, and visual communication techniques that will enable them to organize and express
their ideas clearly and succinctly.
III.
Assessment:
Although our program has grown dramatically over the past few years, it remains small
enough to permit students to enjoy a close working relationship and considerable rapport
with faculty. Thus, we have some measure of continuous feedback from students that
sometimes proves useful in resolving problematic issues and in making adjustments to
the program. There is, however, a need for a more formal and structured process for
assessing our program. Consequently, the Department of History has developed a twostage procedure for measuring both student perceptions of our program and faculty
assessment of student progress toward the outcomes noted above.
IV.
Methodology:
1.
Student Feedback:
Students in Historical Methods (960:289), which is normally taken during the first
semester of graduate study, will be surveyed regarding such issues as their rationale for
graduate study, reason for selection of UNI’s program, expectations for graduate work,
future educational and/or career plans, and impressions of the UNI program thus far. As
they approach the completion of their graduate study, they will be surveyed again
regarding whether their perceptions of the goals and function of graduate education have
changed, whether their career goals have changed as a result of their graduate work, what
they consider to be the strengths and weaknesses of the program, and what changes they
believe would enhance graduate history education at UNI.
2.
Analysis of Student Development:
In order to measure student growth during their tenure in the History Master’s Program,
the Graduate Studies Committee will evaluate the writing sample submitted by each
student as a part of his/her application for admission to the program. The evaluation will
be filed and used as a benchmark of competencies against which to measure subsequent
progress. As students complete their degree, representatives of the Committee will
observe a student’s performance in his/her oral examinations or defense of the
thesis/Public History project. The Graduate Studies Committee will also examine the
thesis, research paper, or project documentation to evaluate progress toward departmental
learning outcomes.
V.
Action Plan:
The Department Head, in conjunction with the Graduate Coordinator and Graduate
Studies Committee, will compile and review survey and analytical data and prepare an
annual report that will be distributed to the departmental faculty and to appropriate
University administrators. The Department will carefully review each year’s report and
consider possible program improvement based on SOA results. The reports and the data
gathered in their preparation will be kept on file in the departmental office in order that it
be available for periodic future program analysis.