Program Assessment Plan
American University
SIS: Global Environmental Policy - MA
SIS: Global Environmental Policy - MA
Contact Person for Ken Conca
Assessment:
Primary Department: Global Environ Politics
Does 2014 report reflect No
changes in your LOs? :
Are there any changes in your No
assessment method?:
Learning Outcome: Theory
Graduate students in Global Environmental Policy will be able to describe and distinguish among the major schools of thought for explaining Global Environmental Politics
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 11/12/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Comprehensive Exam (Questions specifically about schools of thought)
Comp has been phased out
Not assessed in 2011-2012; comp exam has No
been phased out
Measure Type:
Quiz/ Exam
Substantial Research Paper or Practicum Report that demonstrates familiarity with
relevant literature.
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
80% to attain a level of 2 or better on scale Annual - SRP/Practicum guidelines to be
of 1-3 (insufficient, sufficient, proficient). modified and supervision altered based on
results
Active
Yes
Learning Outcome: Research Methodology
Graduate students in Global Environmental Policy will develop and deploy appropriate methods to execute research projects.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 11/12/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
12/12/2014 2:56 PM
Target
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Schedule/Cycle
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Active
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Substantial Research Paper/Practicum: Student ability to apply appropriate methods;
80% to attain 2 or better on scale of 1-3
adequacy of discussion of methods. Relevant questions from survey of Faculty SRP and (insufficient, sufficient, proficient)
Practicum supervisors
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Annual -- SRP/Practicum
Yes
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
Faculty Consultation:Adequacy of student-faculty consultation starting project, ongoing 80% to attain a level of 2 or better on scale Annually
of 1-3 (insufficient, sufficient, proficient).
contact, addressing problems, timely completion. Relevant questions from survey of
Faculty SRP and Practicum supervisors
Measure Type:
Performance
Yes
Learning Outcome: Substantive Knowledge
Graduate students in Global Environmental Policy will be able to process substantive knowledge of Global Environmental Politics and within a subfield.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 11/12/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Comprehensive Exam that asks students questions about substantial knowledge in the
field.
Measure Type:
Quiz/ Exam
80% to attain a level of 4 on a scale of 1-7 Annual
based on the quality of organization, depth
of knowledge of the literature, and the
ability to integrate information and convey it
with a clear argument.
Yes
Substantial Research Paper or Practicum research that demonstrates familiarity with
relevant substantive knowledge. Relevant questions from survey of Faculty SRP and
Practicum supervisors
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
80% to attain a level of 2 or better on scale Annual - SRP/Practicum guidelines to be
of 1-3 (insufficient, sufficient, proficient)
modified and supervision altered based on
results
Yes
Learning Outcome: Communication
Graduate students in Global Environmental Politics will develop verbal and written communication skills to effectively convey knowledge.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 11/12/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
12/12/2014 2:56 PM
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Active
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
(Written)
1) Quality of writing first semester- SIS 660 papers
80% to attain a level of 2 or better on scale Annual - Results based on random sampling Yes
of 1-3 (insufficient, sufficient, proficient)
of papers from SIS 660
Measure Type:
Written Assignment
(Written)
2) Quality of writing midstream- SIS 620 (Policy Analysis for GEP) memos
Measure Type:
Written Assignment
80% to attain a level of 2 or better on scale Annual
of 1-3 (insufficient, sufficient, proficient)
(Verbal)
1) Presentation of SRP / Practicum Projects
1) 80% to attain a level of 3 or better on
(revised) a 1-5 scale survey of Faculty
(presentation)
Annual - Faculty audience survey of
Yes
students presenting during GEP/NRSD
?SRP Day? or practicum team presentations
(Written)
3) Quality of writing concluding stage of program
Measure Type:
Written Assignment
80% to attain a level of 2 or better on
(revised) scale of 1-3 (insufficient,
sufficient, proficient).
Annual (Relevant questions from survey of Yes
Faculty SRP supervisors)
(Verbal)
2) Post-presentation of SRP surveys
Measure Type:
Presentation
2) 80% satisfactory (surveys)
We are dropping this measure, which
anticipated audience surveys, as it has
proved infeasible--
No
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Yes
Measure Type:
Presentation
Learning Outcome: Professional Practical Skills
Graduate students in Global Environmental Policy will develop experiential knowledge in the policy making process.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 11/12/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Student demonstration of professional practical skills in practicum research teams.
80% to attain a level of 2 or better on scale Annual
of 1-3 (insufficient, sufficient, proficient)
Yes
Measure Type:
Field Work/ Internship
12/12/2014 2:56 PM
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Learning Outcome: Professional Practical Experience
Graduate students in GEP will develop experiential knowledge in the policy making process.
Outcome Year: 2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 10/01/2012
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Students participating in internships or other structured professional activities during
summer between first and second year in program.
Data source: Student survey of summer activities conducted in fall semester
90% to participate in professional summer
activities
Annual survey of summer activities
conducted in fall semester
Yes
Measure Type:
Field Work/ Internship
12/12/2014 2:56 PM
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