Program Assessment Plan
American University
CAS: History - MA
CAS: History - MA
Contact Person for Eric Lohr
Assessment:
Primary Department: History
Does 2014 report reflect No
changes in your LOs? :
Are there any changes in your Yes
assessment method?:
Learning Outcome: Content Knowledge
Students will be able to demonstrate broad knowledge of historical events and periods and their significance.
Outcome Year: 2014-2015
Start Date: 10/04/2011
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
All comprehensive examinations will be evaluated for students' knowledge of historical 70% of students will pass.
eras and historiography.
Measure Type:
Quiz/ Exam
Placement in PhD programs or jobs requiring the MA is evidence that the students have
qualified themselves by achieving the learning outcome. We will survey students after
graduation and keep track of where they go next.
Measure Type:
Job/Grad School Placement
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Every Spring (beginning Spring 2012).
Graduate director will compile results for
inclusion in Department's Annual Report.
No
Every Spring, beginning Spring 2012.
Graduate Director, aided by the
administrative assistant, will track graduates Graduate Director.
of the program and note the doctoral
programs or jobs they attain. X% will enter
such programs and professional positions (to
be determined in future cycles after data
collection period).
No
Director of Graduate Studies will examine the grade distribution for the last 2 academic 80% of students will receive a B+ or better. Every 2 academic years starting AY 16-17. Yes
years of colloquium offerings.
Measure Type:
Other
Related Action Steps
* Supporting Assessment: Colloquia Syllabi Review
Description: Colloquia syllabi will be reviewed to ensure broad chronological and topical coverage and varied scholarly approaches to history.
100% of colloquia will demonstrate breadth in chronology, topics, and approaches.
Year 1, beginning Spring 2012.
Graduate Committee.
* Supporting Assessment: Curriculum Review
Description: Curriculum of graduate courses offered over 2 years will be reviewed to ensure that sufficient topical chronological, and sub-field breadth is available to all students
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during a typical program of study.
Chair and Graduate Director will agree that sufficient courses are offered.
Every Spring, beginning Spring 2012.
Graduate Director and Department Chair.
* Supporting Assessment: Facebook Tracking
Description: We will seek to enroll every student in a Facebook page to maintain contact after graduation as a way to help track post-graduation employment/further study.
Learning Outcome: Schools of Thought
Students will be able to explain and critique the historical schools of thought that have shaped scholarly understanding of their fields of study.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 10/04/2011
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
All comprehensive examinations will be evaluated for students' knowledge of historical 70% of students will pass.
eras and historiography.
Measure Type:
Quiz/ Exam
Placement in PhD programs or jobs requiring the MA is evidence that the students have
qualified themselves by achieving the learning outcome. We will survey students after
graduation and keep track of where they go next.
Measure Type:
Job/Grad School Placement
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Every Spring (beginning Spring 2012).
Graduate director will compile results for
inclusion in Department Annual Report.
No
Every Spring, beginning Spring 2012.
Graduate Director, aided by the
administrative assistant, will track graduates Graduate Director.
of the program and note the doctoral
programs or jobs they attain. X% will enter
such programs and professional positions (to
be determined in future cycles after data
collection period).
Director of Graduate Studies will examine the grade distribution for the last 2 academic 80% receive a B+ or better.
year offerings of HIST-744 Historians Craft.
Measure Type:
Other
No
Every 2 academic years, beginning in AY 14 Yes
-15 with an examination of F12 and F13
grade distribution.
Related Action Steps
* Supporting Assessment: Colloquia Syllabi Review
Description: Colloquia syllabi will be reviewed to ensure broad chronological and topical coverage and varied scholarly approaches to history.
100% of colloquia will demonstrate breadth in chronology, topics, and approaches.
Year 1, beginning Spring 2012.
Graduate Committee.
* Supporting Assessment: Curriculum Review
Description: Curriculum of graduate courses offered over 2 years will be reviewed to ensure that sufficient topical chronological, and sub-field breadth is available to all students
during a typical program of study.
Chair and Graduate Director will agree that sufficient courses are offered.
Every Spring, beginning Spring 2012.
Graduate Director and Department Chair.
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* Supporting Assessment: Facebook Tracking.
Description: Placement in PhD programs or jobs requiring the MA is evidence that the students have qualified themselves by achieving the learning outcome. We will survey
students after graduation and keep track of where they go next.
We will seek to enroll every student in a Facebook page to maintain contact after graduation.
Learning Outcome: Critical Analysis
Students will be able to deploy skills of critical analysis:
a. Formulating persuasive arguments
b. Evaluating evidence and critiquing claims in the literature
c. Interpreting a variety of primary sources
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 10/04/2011
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Sample final projects from Research Seminar to ensure these goals are met.
75% of research papers will demonstrate
Year 3 Spring, beginning Spring 2014.
original contribution from primary research,
engage literature of the field, and meet
professional standards.
Yes
Every Spring, beginning Spring 2012.
Graduate Director, aided by the
administrative assistant, will track graduates Graduate Director.
of the program and note the doctoral
programs or jobs they attain. X% will enter
such programs and professional positions (to
be determined in future cycles after data
collection period).
Yes
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
Placement in PhD programs or jobs requiring the MA is evidence that the students have
qualified themselves by achieving the learning outcome. We will survey students after
graduation and keep track of where they go next.
Measure Type:
Job/Grad School Placement
Director of Graduate Studies will examine the grade distribution for HIST-751 Research 80% should receive a B+ or better.
Seminar for the last academic year.
Measure Type:
Other
Schedule/Cycle
Every academic year, starting AY 14-15
Active
Yes
Related Action Steps
* Supporting Assessment: Facebook Tracking
Description: Placement in PhD programs or jobs requiring the MA is evidence that the students have qualified themselves by achieving the learning outcome. We will survey
students after graduation and keep track of where they go next. We will seek to enroll every student in a Facebook page to maintain contact after graduation.
Learning Outcome: Original Research
Students will be able to conduct research that makes an original contribution to knowledge, deploying these essential skills:
a. Reviewing the state of the field to identify a new topic and locate their work within larger scholarly conversations
b. Identify and accessing a sufficient base of primary sources
c. Producing a high-quality research paper, well-written and meeting professional standards typical for conference presentation or academic publication.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
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2014-2015
Start Date: 10/04/2011
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Sample final projects from Research Seminar to ensure these goals are met.
75% of the research papers will demonstrate Year 3 Spring, beginning Spring 2014.
original contribution from primary research, Graduate Committee.
engage literature of the field, and meet
professional standards.
No
Placement in PhD programs or jobs requiring the MA is evidence that the students have
qualified themselves by achieving the learning outcome. We will survey students after
graduation and keep track of where they go next.
Measure Type:
Job/Grad School Placement
Every Spring, beginning Spring 2012.
Graduate Director, aided by the
administrative assistant, will track graduates Graduate Director.
of the program and note the doctoral
programs or jobs they attain. X% will enter
such programs and professional positions (to
be determined in future cycles after data
collection period).
No
Director of Graduate Studies will examine the grade distribution for HIST-751 Research
Seminar for the last academic year
Measure Type:
Other
60% of students will receive an A,
Every academic year, starting AY 15-16.
indicating superior research and writing
performance. 50% of papers will be judged
to be of publishable quality by the instructor.
Yes
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Related Action Steps
* Supporting Assessment: Facebook Tracking
Description: Placement in PhD programs or jobs requiring the MA is evidence that the students have qualified themselves by achieving the learning outcome. We will survey
students after graduation and keep track of where they go next. We will seek to enroll every student in a Facebook page to maintain contact after graduation.
12/03/2014 2:05 PM
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