Program Assessment Plan
American University
SOC/SIS: International Media - MA
SOC/SIS: International Media - MA
Contact Person for Rick Rockwell
Assessment:
Primary Department: Communication Studies
Learning Outcome: Understanding of the Field
Students will gain a greater knowledge of International Relations and the International Communication field through this degree program.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Both schools have worked to approve a joint rubric for assessment. This covers various
areas of the final capstone project. The areas covered in that rubric that directly affect
this outcome are: 1) the ability of a student to create an overview of specific research in
the field; 2) the ability to write about and analyze that research; 3) and the ability of the
student to apply a proper methodology to the research.
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
One-third of the capstone projects were
assessed in the summer of 2012.
Again in 2013, a third of the capstone
projects will be assessed by faculty in both
schools.
Capstone projects were assessed in the
Yes
summer of 2012. Assessment is underway
for capstone projects submitted in May of
2013.
Learning Outcome: Methods
Students will learn and experience different types of communication and writing methods.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
12/15/2014 12:45 PM
Target
Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive.
Schedule/Cycle
Page 1 of 2
Active
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Our assessments have ranked this area as one of the highest need for students. Faculties Curriculum changes in 2011 and 2012
in both SIS and SOC have agreed even before assessments began that this was the area of increased and bolstered a plan to improve
greatest need for students. As such, our evaluation of the program has centered on this how students use methods to approach their
area.
capstone projects. In 2012, this area
continued to lag in the assessment of faculty
Measure Type:
in both schools. The 2013 assessment will
Final Paper/ Final Project
again review whether we have seen
improvement in this area.
As the capstone course is taught annually, Yes
we will endeavor to continue to assess a
significant portion of capstone projects and
assess their use of strong methodology to
reach their final analysis.
Again, although the methodology area was
judged to be "good" by the program
directors, this area lagged behind other
assessment areas. Moving forward the
program directors again plan to assess the
use of methodology in the capstone projects
in 2014.
Yes
Program directors assessed 40 percent of the capstone projects submitted in 2013.
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
Waivers for methods courses from previous
program directors continued for some
students in 2013, so this assessment area
remained incomplete and the results of
strengthening the curriculum for
methodology also remained incomplete.
The program directors feel further
strengthening of the methodology area in
this degree program may be necessary
moving forward.
12/15/2014 12:45 PM
Generated by TracDat a product of Nuventive.
Page 2 of 2