Social Work, M.S.W.
Program Assessment Report
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Degree Program(s):
Department Chair:
Report Prepared by:
Next Self-Study:
Department:
M.S.W.
Social Work
Alice Hines
Phone:
Peter Allen Lee
Phone:
408-924-5850
Spring 2013
E-mail:
plee4@email.sjsu.edu
Note: Schedule is posted at: http://www.sjsu.edu/ugs/programplanning/
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Location:
Person to Contact:
(Bldg/Room #)
(Name)
(Phone)
Does the information (e.g., Mission, Goals, and/or Learning Outcomes) posted on the web (see,
http://www.sjsu.edu/ugs/assessment/programs/ ) for this program need to be updated?
Yes
No
If yes, please submit changes to jacqueline.snell@sjsu.edu
SCHEDULE OF ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES*
Please complete the schedule of assessment activities below by listing all program Student Learning
Outcomes (SLOs) by number down the left column and indicating when data were/will be collected (C)
and when they were/will be discussed (D) by your faculty. You can also schedule/track program
changes resulting from your assessment activities by indicating an “I” (implemented changes) where
relevant. This schedule is meant to be fluid; providing a proposed schedule for future assessment while
at the same time, providing a record of your efforts as the program planning cycle progresses.
↓Semester after self-study
SLOs
1
2
3
4
…
Sp08
F08
Semester before next self-study↓
Sp09
F09
Sp10
F10
Sp11
F11
Sp12
F12
*Note: This template is based on a five-year program planning cycle. If your program planning follows another cycle
(e.g., based on accreditation), please feel free to add (or subtract) columns as necessary.
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Social Work, M.S.W.
Program Assessment Report
1.1 Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of diversity
and competence in applying a transcultural perspective.
1.1 Data Collection:
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – For this assessment cycle, how were the data collected and what were the
results?
M1.1, M1.2
In Spring 2008 we continued to implement program changes in relation to teaching our transcultural
perspective. Our motivation was to improve the curriculum and pedagogy around the transcultural
perspective since it is the cornerstone of our School’s mission. These particular outcomes were
addressed previously by holding several faculty retreats to better define the transcultural model and
infuse it throughout curriculum. Faculty successfully applied for LPP grant to further this work in AY 200708, including the development of new teaching modules for piloting in three core classes (HBSE, Policy,
Practice) in both the BASW and MSW programs.
In addition to scheduled implementation of changes, additional data was collected in Spring 2008 on 133
MSW students and 74 BASW students. Analysis, discussion, and implementation of future changes are
pending.
1.2 What have you learned about this Student Learning Outcome?
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – Based on the results in part I., briefly summarize the discussion surrounding this
outcome, i.e., what does the faculty conclude about student learning for this SLO?
1.3 Action Item(s) (if necessary):
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – Based on the discussion in part II., what actions will the department take to
improve student learning, e.g., program changes, changes in pedagogy, process changes, resources
requests, etc?
1.4 Results of Action Items
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – What does assessment of student learning show after
implementation of any action items? What, if anything, is planned next?
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Social Work, M.S.W.
Program Assessment Report
1.2 Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to work effectively
with diverse populations, particularly populations that are
disenfranchised, oppressed or marginalized.
1.2.1 Data Collection:
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – For this assessment cycle, how were the data collected and what were the
results?
1.2.2 What have you learned about this Student Learning Outcome?
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – Based on the results in part I., briefly summarize the discussion surrounding this
outcome, i.e., what does the faculty conclude about student learning for this SLO?
1.2.3 Action Item(s) (if necessary):
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – Based on the discussion in part II., what actions will the department take to
improve student learning, e.g., program changes, changes in pedagogy, process changes, resources
requests, etc?
1.2.4 Results of Action Items
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – What does assessment of student learning show after
implementation of any action items? What, if anything, is planned next?
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Social Work, M.S.W.
Program Assessment Report
3.2 Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skill in
analyzing and influencing social policy.
3.2.1 Data Collection:
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – For this assessment cycle, how were the data collected and what were the
results?
M 3.2
In Spring 2008 we collected direct assessment data of student learning through embedded test questions
in our foundation policy courses. We will discuss and implement improvements in curriculum design and
teaching methods to address how students demonstrate knowledge and skill in analyzing and influencing
social policy.
3.2.2 What have you learned about this Student Learning Outcome?
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – Based on the results in part I., briefly summarize the discussion surrounding this
outcome, i.e., what does the faculty conclude about student learning for this SLO?
3.2.3 Action Item(s) (if necessary):
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – Based on the discussion in part II., what actions will the department take to
improve student learning, e.g., program changes, changes in pedagogy, process changes, resources
requests, etc?
3.2.4 Results of Action Items
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – What does assessment of student learning show after
implementation of any action items? What, if anything, is planned next?
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Social Work, M.S.W.
Program Assessment Report
3.5 Students will be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of
policies and programs in a specific field of practice (e.g., aging;
children youth and families; school social work; or health and mental
health) as well as skills for analyzing and influencing policies and
programs.
3.5.1 Data Collection:
M 3.5
In Spring 2008 we proposed to discuss this outcome focusing on advanced-year policy analysis. We
discussed and assessed this program outcome, including data collection, via parallel assignments in each
of the four advanced concentration year policy courses (ScWk 250, 260, 270 and 280). Students develop
mastery of advanced policy skills in the context of one of four fields of practice: aging; children, youth, and
families; school social work; or health/mental health. The scores on the advanced policy analysis
assignment in each of the courses were collected (N = 136). Final student scores were aggregated for
analysis using a benchmark of 80% or more students scoring the equivalent of 83% or higher on the
assignment. 92.6% of students (71 out of 81) earned 83% or above on the assignment. This exceeds the
benchmark of at least 80 students earning 83% or above. Although only 60% of students rated their ability
to analyze policy as “very good” or better in the previous year’s assessment via our program exit survey,
direct measures of student achievement in both courses and the field suggest that students are generally
successful in learning expectations related to advanced policy program outcomes. Further discussion
and implementation of additional improvements are pending.
3.5.2 What have you learned about this Student Learning Outcome?
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – Based on the results in part I., briefly summarize the discussion surrounding this
outcome, i.e., what does the faculty conclude about student learning for this SLO?
3.5.3 Action Item(s) (if necessary):
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – Based on the discussion in part II., what actions will the department take to
improve student learning, e.g., program changes, changes in pedagogy, process changes, resources
requests, etc?
3.5.4 Results of Action Items
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – What does assessment of student learning show after
implementation of any action items? What, if anything, is planned next?
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Social Work, M.S.W.
Program Assessment Report
4.2 Students will be able to critically review empirical evidence and
understand strategies for investigating social work issues and
problems, particularly as they impact disenfranchised, oppressed, or
marginalized populations.
N.1 Data Collection:
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – For this assessment cycle, how were the data collected and what were the
results?
In Spring 2008 we proposed to discuss student achievement of research outcomes. In additional to our
discussion, we collected and assessed data utilizing a matrix based on the final research proposal
assignment to measure student achievement of foundation outcomes related to basic research
knowledge and skills. We collected data from multiple sections of our foundation research class (N =
109). Final student scores were aggregated for analysis using a benchmark of 80% or more students
scoring the equivalent of 83% or higher on the assignment. Aggregate scores for the assignment
exceeded the 80% benchmark. Specifically, 84.4% of students (n=92) scored 83% or above and 15.6%
(n=17) of scores were below the benchmark. Additional discussion and implementation of improvements
are pending.
N.2 What have you learned about this Student Learning Outcome?
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – Based on the results in part I., briefly summarize the discussion surrounding this
outcome, i.e., what does the faculty conclude about student learning for this SLO?
N.3 Action Item(s) (if necessary):
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – Based on the discussion in part II., what actions will the department take to
improve student learning, e.g., program changes, changes in pedagogy, process changes, resources
requests, etc?
N.4 Results of Action Items
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – What does assessment of student learning show after
implementation of any action items? What, if anything, is planned next?
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Social Work, M.S.W.
Program Assessment Report
#N [Please add a page for each Student Learning Outcome in
program]
N.1 Data Collection:
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – For this assessment cycle, how were the data collected and what were the
results?
M4.3, *M1.4, *M2.5, *M2.8
In Spring 2008 we were to assess our advanced research objectives (M4.3). Although not all originally
proposed, these four concentration-year outcomes were discussed and measured by data collected in the
Spring 2008. Students complete an independent research project in the concentration year (ScWk 298 in
Fall and Spring) which is considered their Capstone experience for the Master of Social Work (MSW)
degree. We created a 3-level scale (below, meets, or exceeds) for each outcome related to the four
program outcomes, resulting in ratings for a total of 8 domains. Scores for students were evaluated
against a benchmark of 80% of students achieving “meets” or “exceeds” in each of the eight domains
described above. Aggregate scores indicated that we met or exceeded our benchmark of 80% in 2 of 8
of our domains, were close in the 70% range for 3 of our 8 domains, and below 60% in the remaining 3
domains. There was a positive indication that our students are following ethical procedures, specifically
because they are trained in values and required to submit an IRB protocol. Also, since ScWk 298
involves applied research in conjunction with an agency or organization related to the field, students are
working effectively with officials in their investigation of social work issues and practices. The belowbenchmark scores indicate areas needing improvement. However, this was the first pilot test (N = 17) of
the capstone project as a tool for assessing these four MSW program outcomes. Additional discussion
and improvements are pending.
N.2 What have you learned about this Student Learning Outcome?
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – Based on the results in part I., briefly summarize the discussion surrounding this
outcome, i.e., what does the faculty conclude about student learning for this SLO?
N.3 Action Item(s) (if necessary):
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – Based on the discussion in part II., what actions will the department take to
improve student learning, e.g., program changes, changes in pedagogy, process changes, resources
requests, etc?
N.4 Results of Action Items
[SEMESTER/YEAR] – What does assessment of student learning show after
implementation of any action items? What, if anything, is planned next?
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