Program Assessment Plan
American University
Academic Program: CAS: Physics - BS and BA
Academic Program: CAS: Physics - BS and BA
Contact Person for Teresa Larkin
Assessment:
Unit's Primary Department: Physics
Are there any changes in Yes
your assessment method?:
Learning Outcome: Understanding of the Foundations in Physics
Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the foundations in physics (classical mechanics, computational physics, electricity and
magnetism, modern physics, waves and optics, and quantum mechanics) by demonstrating competence in the major through appropriate homework
assignments and examinations, particularly in their upper-level physics courses. Homework assignments within this learning outcome refer
specifically to more traditional forms of mathematical and problem solving activities common to all physics classes (including lower-level introductory
classes).
Outcome Year: 2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
Start Date: 11/01/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Measure
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Measure 4 (Direct): Review of students' written research papers Student scores on facultyand oral presentations in Senior Capstone Seminar course.
developed rubric for research
paper will be at the 75th
percentile or higher.
Measure Type:
Student scores on facultyFinal Paper/ Final Project
developed rubric for oral
presentation will be at the 75th
percentile or higher.
Data reviewed on a bi-annual
basis,
Rubric analysis conducted by a
minimum of two physics faculty
members.
Yes
Measure 1 (Direct): Samples of student work (including
homework, exams, papers, and/ or projects) from selected 300level and above physics courses obtained form student
portfolios.
Scores on faculty-developed
rubrics for students' final exams,
papers, and/ or projects will be at
the 75th percentile or higher.
Yes
Measure Type:
Written Assignment
Chronological grade distribution
of homework scores (i.e. do
individual student's homework
scores show improvement from
semester to semester?).
Data collected every other
semester a given course is
offered.
Data is reviewed annually by a
committee consisting of at least
50% of the physics faculty.
Measure 5 (Direct): Review of students' written laboratory work
and oral presentations in Experimental Physics (PHYS-440).
Student cores on facultydeveloped rubric for written
laboratory report will be at the
75th percentile or higher.
Student scores on facultydeveloped rubric for oral
presentation will be at the 75th
percentile or higher.
Data reviewed on a bi-annual
basis.
Rubric analysis conducted by a
minimum of two physics faculty
members.
Yes
Measure Type:
Written Assignment
Measure 6 (Indirect): End of semester student
knowledge/communication skills survey in selected upper-level
physics classes.
Measure Type:
Survey
10/23/2013 12:44 PM
Conceptual surveys will reveal a Data reviewed semi-annually by Yes
positive response from a majority all physics faculty.
of student respondents. If a
rubric is used as part of the
assessment, student scores will
be at the 75th percentile or
Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive.
Page 1 of 6
Assessment Plan
Assessment Measure
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
higher.
Measure 7 (Direct): Conceptual Assessment surveys in selected
upper-level physics classes.
Measure Type:
Survey
Students' score(s) will be above
the means that have been
reported at the national level.
(Note: The target will vary
depending on the assessment
and data available.)
Measure 8 (Direct): Obtain data on national standardized physics Students' scores will be in the
subject tests that our students take.
75% percentile or higher as
compared to nationally available
Measure Type:
data.
Quiz/ Exam
Data collected each semester a Yes
given course is offered.
Data is reviewed bi-annually by a
committee consisting of at least
50% of the physics faculty.
Data will be collected semiannually and reviewed during a
faculty meeting where at least
75% of the faculty is present.
Yes
Learning Outcome: Problem Solving
Students will be able to competently solve appropriate problems in upper level physics courses using increasingly important computational and
mathematical tools, such as Mathematica. Specific courses include: PHYS-365 (Waves and Optics), PHYS-430 (Classical Mechanics), PHYS-450
(Electricity and Magnetism), and PHYS-470 (Introduction to Quantum Mechanics).
Outcome Year: 2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
Start Date: 11/01/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Measure
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Measure 1 (Direct): Samples of student work (including
homework, exams, papers, and/ or projects) from selected 300level and above physics courses obtained form student
portfolios.
Scores on faculty-developed
rubrics for students' final exams,
papers, and/ or projects will be at
the 75th percentile or higher.
Data collected each semester a
given course is offered.
Data is reviewed annually by a
committee consisting of at least
50% of the physics faculty.
Yes
Measure Type:
Written Assignment
Chronological grade distribution
of homework scores (i.e. do
individual student?s homework
scores show improvement from
semester to semester?).
Measure 6 (Indirect): End of semester student knowledge/
communication skills survey in selected upper-level physics
classes.
Conceptual surveys will reveal a Data reviewed semi-annually by Yes
positive response from a majority all physics faculty.
of student respondents.
Measure Type:
Survey
If a rubric is used as part of the
assessment, student scores will
be at the 75th percentile or
higher.
Measure 8 (Direct): Obtain data on national standardized
physics subject tests that our students take.
Measure Type:
Quiz/ Exam
Students' scores will be in the
75% percentile or higher as
compared to nationally available
data.
10/23/2013 12:44 PM
Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive.
Data will be collected semiannually and reviewed during a
faculty meeting where at least
75% of the faculty is present.
Yes
Page 2 of 6
Related Courses
- PHYS-365 - Waves and Optics
- PHYS-430 - Classical Mechanics
- PHYS-450 - Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS-470 - Intro to Quantum Mechanics
Learning Outcome: Experimental Design
Students will be able to demonstrate competency in experimental design and scientific data collection and analysis.
Outcome Year: 2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
Start Date: 11/01/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Measure
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Measure 1 (Direct): Samples of student work (including
homework, exams, papers, and/ or projects) from selected 300level and above physics courses obtained form student
portfolios.
Scores on faculty-developed
rubrics for students' final exams,
papers, and/ or projects will be at
the 75th percentile or higher.
Data collected each semester a
given course is offered.
Data is reviewed annually by a
committee consisting of at least
50% of the physics faculty.
Yes
Measure Type:
Written Assignment
Chronological grade distribution
of homework scores (i.e. do
individual student?s homework
scores show improvement from
semester to semester?).
Data reviewed on a bi-annual
basis.
Rubric analysis conducted by a
minimum of two physics faculty
members.
Yes
Measure 5 (Direct): Review of students' written laboratory work Student scores on facultyand oral presentations in Experimental Physics (PHYS-440).
developed rubric for written
laboratory report will be at the
75th percentile or higher.
Measure Type:
Written Assignment
Student scores on facultydeveloped rubric for oral
presentation will be at the 75th
percentile or higher.
Measure 6 (Indirect): End of semester student knowledge/
communication skills survey in selected upper-level physics
classes.
Conceptual surveys will reveal a Data reviewed semi-annually by Yes
positive response from a majority all physics faculty.
of student respondents.
Measure Type:
Survey
If a rubric is used as part of the
assessment, student scores will
be at the 75th percentile or
higher.
Measure 7 (Direct)
Students' score(s) will be above
the means that have been
reported at the national level.
(Note: The target will vary
depending on the assessment
and data available.)
Conceptual assessment surveys.
Measure Type:
Survey
10/23/2013 12:44 PM
Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive.
Data will be collected every other Yes
time the course is offered. Data
will be reviewed by at least two
physics faculty members.
Page 3 of 6
Learning Outcome: Scientific Information
Students will be able to demonstrate competency in their understanding of scientific information, both orally and in writing.
Outcome Year: 2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
Start Date: 11/01/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Measure
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Measure 1 (Direct): Samples of student work (including
homework, exams, papers, and/ or projects) from selected 300level and above physics courses obtained form student
portfolios.
Scores on faculty-developed
rubrics for students' final exams,
papers, and/ or projects will be at
the 75th percentile or higher.
Data collected every other time a Yes
given course is offered.
Data is reviewed annually by a
committee consisting of at least
50% of the physics faculty.
Measure Type:
Written Assignment
Chronological grade distribution
of homework scores (i.e. do
individual students' homework
scores show improvement from
semester to semester?).
Measure 4 (Direct): Review of students' written research papers Student scores on facultyand oral presentations in Senior Capstone Seminar course.
developed rubric for research
paper will be at the 75th
percentile or high.
Measure Type:
Student scores on facultyFinal Paper/ Final Project
developed rubric for oral
presentation will be at the 75th
percentile or higher.
Results of end of semester
survey.
Data reviewed on a bi-annual
basis,
Rubric analysis conducted by a
minimum of two physics faculty
members.
Yes
Measure 5 (Direct): Review of students' written laboratory work Student cores on facultyand oral presentations in Experimental Physics (PHYS-440).
developed rubric for written
laboratory report will be at the
75th percentile or higher.
Measure Type:
Written Assignment
Student scores on facultydeveloped rubric for oral
presentation will be at the 75th
percentile or higher.
Data reviewed on a bi-annual
basis.
Rubric analysis conducted by a
minimum of two physics faculty
members.
Yes
Measure 6 (Indirect): End of semester student knowledge/
communication skills survey in selected upper-level physics
classes.
Surveys will reveal a positive
response from a majority of
student respondents.
Data reviewed semi-annually by Yes
all physics faculty.
Measure Type:
Survey
Learning Outcome: Integrate Knowledge and Skills
Upon taking the foundational courses in physics (classical mechanics, computational physics, electricity and magnetism, modern physics, waves and
optics, and quantum mechanics) students will be able to integrate competently the knowledge and skills acquired in the major and have adequate
preparation to succeed in post-undergraduate studies or in a professional career.
Outcome Year: 2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
10/23/2013 12:44 PM
Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive.
Page 4 of 6
Start Date: 11/01/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Measure
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Measure 1 (Direct): Samples of student work (including
homework, exams, papers, and/ or projects) from selected 300level and above physics courses obtained form student
portfolios.
Scores on faculty-developed
rubrics for students' final exams,
papers, and/ or projects will be at
the 75th percentile or higher.
Data collected each semester a
given course is offered.
Data is reviewed annually by a
committee consisting of at least
50% of the physics faculty.
Yes
Measure Type:
Written Assignment
Chronological grade distribution
of homework scores (i.e. do
individual students' homework
scores show improvement from
semester to semester?).
Measure 2 (Indirect): Email departmental survey of graduating
seniors and recent alumni.
Measure Type:
Survey
Surveys will reveal a positive
response from a majority of
respondents.
Email surveys sent on an annual Yes
basis.
Survey summaries are reviewed
annually by all physics faculty.
If a rubric is used as part of the
assessment, student scores will
be at the 75th percentile or
higher.
Measure 3 (Indirect): Telephone interviews with students in
graduate school.
Measure Type:
Alumni Feedback
Interviews will reveal a positive
majority response.
Measure 8 (Direct): Obtain data on national standardized
physics subject tests that our students take.
Measure Type:
Quiz/ Exam
Students' scores will be in the
75% percentile or higher as
compared to nationally available
data.
Data will be collected semiannually and reviewed during a
faculty meeting where at least
75% of the faculty is present.
Measure 4 (Direct): Review of students' written research papers
and oral presentations in Senior Capstone Seminar Course.
Measure Type:
Presentation
ScStudent scores on facultydeveloped rubric for research
paper will be at the 75th
percentile or higher.
Data will be collected every other Yes
time the course is offered.
If a rubric is used as part of the
assessment, student scores will
be at the 75th percentile or
higher.
Student scores on facultydeveloped rubric for oral
presentation will be at the 75th
percentile or higher.
Telephone interviews conducted Yes
on an annual basis.
Interviews summaries are
reviewed annually by all physics
faculty.
Yes
Data will be reviewed by a
minimum of two physics faculty
members.
Results of end of semester
survey.ores on faculty developed
rubrics for research paper and
oral presentation. Summary
survey administered at end of
semester.
Measure 6 (Indirect)
Assessment will be conducted
Conceptual surveys will reveal a every other time the course is
End of semester student knowledge/ communication skills survey positive response from a majority offered.
in selected upper-level physics classes.
of student respondents.
Assessment results will be
10/23/2013 12:44 PM
Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive.
Yes
Page 5 of 6
Assessment Plan
Assessment Measure
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Measure Type:
Survey
If a rubric is used as part of the
assessment, student scores will
be at the 75th percentile or
higher.
reviewed by a minimum of 2
physics faculty members.
Active
Related Courses
- PHYS-365 - Waves and Optics
- PHYS-370 - Modern Physics
- PHYS-430 - Classical Mechanics
- PHYS-450 - Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS-470 - Intro to Quantum Mechanics
10/23/2013 12:44 PM
Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive.
Page 6 of 6