Program Assessment Plan
American University
SOC: Film & Electronic Media - MFA
SOC: Film & Electronic Media - MFA
Contact Person for Brigid Maher
Assessment:
Primary Department: Film/Media Arts
Learning Outcome: Digital and Traditional Media Production
Students will achieve a mastery of digital and traditional media production.
This includes integrating key elements into a cohesive, compelling production, as appropriate to the medium:
a.Clearly defined concept for their production.
b.A compelling story.
c.Compelling and believable characters.
d.A clear script that is in keeping with industry standards.
e.Cinematography that conveys the story and characters in an aesthetically appealing way.
f.Directing that displays a well-managed and coherent vision.
g.Appropriate editing and graphics techniques that realize the production?s aesthetic.
h.Appropriate sound and music that realize the production?s aesthetic.
i.Appropriate use of the performance of actors, subjects, participants in the production.
Outcome Year: 2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 05/01/2013
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Capstone Projects--COMM 702 Master's Porfolio Seminar.
Capstones are reviewed by faculty using strict evaluation rubrics (same as for the
comprehensive exams). The results are aggregated across all students and discussed in
curriculum/ syllabus reviews.
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
All students must complete a capstone
project with a grade of B or better.
Annual.
Yes
Visions Festival Awards Program.
Only high achieving students receive
This is an annual competition which is judged by faculty and outside reviewers who are awards.
professionals in their field.
Graduating students are nominated by faculty for their work in several categories at the
end of the of each academic year. The work is reviewed by a team that includes faculty
and outside reviewers. Awards are given to those students who demonstrate the outcomes
in an exemplary way.
Annual data collection/ analysis every three Yes
years.
Measure Type:
Other
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Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Graduating Student Survey--assessment of student perceptions in achieving outcomes.
The survey has been administered annually since 2005 to all graduating students and has
achieved response rates close to 80%. The results are tabulated and reviewed by the
Associate Dean and Division Director.
Measure Type:
Survey
On average, students will rate their
Annual data collection/ analysis every three Yes
academic career at least "very good" or
years.
"excellent" on each outcome. The categories
directly address the learning outcomes.
A survey of 3-5 year alumni.
To assess their transition into and preparedness for the profession.
Alumni who have been working for several years should be better able to assess their
education.
On average, alumni will rate their academic Every five years.
career "very good" or "excellent."
Yes
Measure Type:
Alumni Feedback
Periodic Curriculum Reviews/ Faculty Retreats.
No target identified.
To ensure that curriculum meets the needs of the profession.
The Film and Media Arts Division monitors its curriculum and uses input from its faculty
(many of whom are practicing professionals), adjunct faculty (who are all professionals),
and alumni (including the Dean's Advisory Council--a group of high level alumni who
are professionals in the field.)
Measure Type:
Focus Group
Annual.
Yes
Ad hoc Research Studies -- SOC Image Study, Writing Programs Survey, Career Center No target identified.
Survey, Alumni Focus Groups, Alumni Survey.
Surveys are conducted occasionally to address specific issues.
Studies have been conducted through the Development Office and also in Research
Methods classes. Two studies in particular -- the Writing Study and the Career Center
Survey -- provided useful data to evaluate student perceptions toward our programs.
Measure Type:
Survey
Occasional.
Yes
Judges for the annual Visions festival assessed student work from COMM 630,
Principles of Photography. Judges included the president of the DC chapter of the
American Society of Media Photographers, a local studio and portrait photographer, and
a recent graduate of our photography program who is a working artist.
Measure Type:
Creative Work
Institutional research -- Student Evaluations of Teaching, Campus Climate Survey,
No target identified.
Graduation Census, National Survey of Student Engagement.
To add Context for the evaluation of other data.
The School of Communication and Film and Media Art Division routinely analyze other
data available in order to provide the background by which to understand more specific
data.
Measure Type:
Survey
Yes
Annual.
Related Courses
- COMM-702 - Master's Portfolio Capstone
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Yes
Learning Outcome: Social Relevance and Diversity
Students will generate work that is socially relevant and acknowledges social diversity.
Outcome Year: 2014-2015
Start Date: 05/01/2013
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Comprehensive Exam. Students must demonstrate proficiency in all of the stated
All students must pass the comps to get their Annual.
outcomes. In addition to the student's own written analysis and critique of the work
degress.
produced in the program, the student must submit their professional portfolio as a part of
the exam. This written critique and the portfolio are evaluated by two faculty who are
appropriate to the student's area of focus. The portfolios are evaluated using a strict
rubric addressing all the elements of production cited in the outcome.
Measure Type:
Quiz/ Exam
Yes
Capstone Projects--COMM 702 Master's Porfolio Seminar.
Capstones are reviewed by faculty using strict evaluation rubrics (same as for the
comprehensive exams). The results are aggregated across all students and discussed in
curriculum/ syllabus reviews.
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
Yes
All students must complete a capstone
project with a grade of B or better.
Visions Festival Awards Program.
Only high achieving students receive
This is an annual competition which is judged by faculty and outside reviewers who are awards.
professionals in their field.
Graduating students are nominated by faculty for their work in several categories at the
end of the of each academic year. The work is reviewed by a team that includes faculty
and outside reviewers. Awards are given to those students who demonstrate the outcomes
in an exemplary way.
Annual.
Annual data collection/ analysis every three Yes
years.
Measure Type:
Other
Graduating Student Survey--assessment of student perceptions in achieving outcomes.
The survey has been administered annually since 2005 to all graduating students and has
achieved response rates close to 80%. The results are tabulated and reviewed by the
Associate Dean and Division Director.
Measure Type:
Survey
On average, students will rate their
Annual data collection/ analysis every three Yes
academic career at least "very good" or
years.
"excellent" on each outcome. The categories
directly address the learning outcomes.
Survey among internship supervisors.
On average, internship supervisors will rate Data collection each semester/analysis every Yes
three years.
Internship supervisors (i.e. employers) currently evaluate students. This evaluation is
students' performance "very good" or
reviewed by the faculty member responsible for internships. A uniform rating/ evaluation "excellent" on each outcome.
form will be developed in 2009-10. This form will ensure that the ratings are directly
related to the outcomes.
Measure Type:
Field Work/ Internship
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Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
A survey of 3-5 year alumni.
To assess their transition into and preparedness for the profession.
Alumni who have been working for several years should be better able to assess their
education.
On average, alumni will rate their academic Every five years.
career "very good" or "excellent."
Active
Yes
Measure Type:
Alumni Feedback
Periodic Curriculum Reviews/ Faculty Retreats.
No target identified.
To ensure that curriculum meets the needs of the profession.
The Film and Media Arts Division monitors its curriculum and uses input from its faculty
(many of whom are practicing professionals), adjunct faculty (who are all professionals),
and alumni (including the Dean's Advisory Council--a group of high level alumni who
are professionals in the field.)
Measure Type:
Focus Group
Annual.
Yes
Ad hoc Research Studies -- SOC Image Study, Writing Programs Survey, Career Center No target identified.
Survey, Alumni Focus Groups, Alumni Survey.
Surveys are conducted occasionally to address specific issues.
Studies have been conducted through the Development Office and also in Research
Methods classes. Two studies in particular -- the Writing Study and the Career Center
Survey -- provided useful data to evaluate student perceptions toward our programs.
Measure Type:
Survey
Occasional.
Yes
Institutional research -- Student Evaluations of Teaching, Campus Climate Survey,
No target identified.
Graduation Census, National Survey of Student Engagement.
To add Context for the evaluation of other data.
The School of Communication and Film and Media Art Division routinely analyze other
data available in order to provide the background by which to understand more specific
data.
Measure Type:
Survey
Annual.
Yes
Related Courses
- COMM-702 - Master's Portfolio Capstone
Learning Outcome: Cultural, historical and social context of work
Students will develop creative work within a cultural, historical or social context.
Outcome Year: 2014-2015
Start Date: 05/01/2013
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Learning Outcome: Topic or Skill Area
Students will master a skill area in emerging media, photography, sound, screenwriting, directing, editing, and/or producing.
Outcome Year: 2012-2013
2013-2014
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2014-2015
Start Date: 10/01/2014
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Learning Outcome: Flexibility and Problem-solving, Critical Analysis, Understanding Industry Trends
Students will acquire professional skills, which includes flexibility, problem-solving, critical analysis in addition to obtaining an understanding of industry trends.
Outcome Year: 2014-2015
Start Date: 05/01/2013
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Learning Outcome: Effective communication in visual and written form
Students will master advanced practices of communication in visual and written form.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 05/01/2013
End Date: 05/01/2014
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Concentrating on the visual component of 1D, criteria will be developed from
evaluations used by judges for Visions and used by the ad hoc committee to assess the
outcomes at the second-level core film and video production course for graduate
students.
Ten final video projects from MFA candidates will be randomly selected, and, where
possible, redacted for review. The report will be completed and submitted in January
2012.
Expected assessment is high for both survey
results and written critiques from the
assessment committee.
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Yes
Measure Type:
Creative Work
Judges for the annual Visions festival assessed student work from COMM 630,
Principles of Photography. Judges included the president of the DC chapter of the
American Society of Media Photographers, a local studio and portrait photographer, and
a recent graduate of our program in photography who is a working artist.
Measure Type:
Creative Work
Yes
Learning Outcome: Authorial, Creative, and Aesthetic Integrity
Students will cultivate an authorial voice, unique vision, and aesthetic integrity in their creative work.
Outcome Year: 2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 05/01/2013
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
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Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Comprehensive Exams (Direct)
All students must pass the comps to get their Annual ? Students must demonstrate
Yes
degree
proficiency in all of the stated outcomes. In
addition to the student?s own written
analysis and critique of the work produced
in the program, the student must submit
their professional portfolio as a part of the
exam. This written critique and the portfolio
are evaluated by two faculty who are
appropriate to the student?s area of focus.
The portfolios are evaluated using a strict
rubric addressing all the elements of
production cited in the outcomes above.
Measure Type:
Quiz/ Exam
Schedule/Cycle
Learning Outcome: Theoretical Foundation in media history and studies
Students will establish a theoretical foundation in media history and studies.
Outcome Year: 2014-2015
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Learning Outcome: Pedagogy and teaching
Students will attain a background in pedagogy and teaching.
Outcome Year: 2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 05/01/2013
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Learning Outcome: Final Mastery and Thesis
Students will create a final media work that reflects their mastery of craft and distinct authorial voice.
Outcome Year: 2014-2015
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
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Active