Department of Philosophy
Assessment Plan
March 31, 2006
1. Citation of appropriate goals from Oakland University’s Mission
Statement. Oakland University offers, "A variety of majors and specialized
curricula [that] prepare students for post-baccalaureate education,
professional schools or careers directly after graduation." The Department
of Philosophy advances this aspect of Oakland University's mission through
our major in philosophy. We expect our majors to be well prepared for
applying critical thinking skills and philosophical concepts in their careers
and personal lives. Some will use this preparation for law school, graduate
school and other advanced study. Most will use these skills and knowledge
in non-academic careers. These critical thinking skills and philosophical
concepts are particularly relevant to "informed decision making and
productive citizenship." In addition, and perhaps most notably, the
Department of Philosophy offers an education “to ensure an enriched life”.
2. Specification of academic unit goals that flow from each of the
cited university goals. Graduates are prepared with a variety of skills,
particularly analytical reading, critical thinking, and writing skills that,
besides enriching their personal lives, can be applied in almost any business
setting. These skills can also be applied in advanced studies in law,
philosophy and other fields. The program teaches students to analyze and
evaluate arguments and philosophical presuppositions inherent in a variety
of contexts. The study of philosophy also leads to an enriched
understanding of the world and society within which our graduates live and
thereby prepares them for fuller participatory citizenship.
3. Operationalization of the unit’s goals into objectives for student
learning. Learning outcomes: Upon completion of the program philosophy
majors will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the history of philosophy,
elementary symbolic logic, ethics, and will be able to produce critical
analyses and evaluations of philosophical texts. They will be able to
compose a philosophical research paper that demonstrates familiarity with
relevant concepts from the history of philosophy and some contemporary
philosophical literature as well as critical analytical reasoning and sound
rhetoric.
4. Description of the methods by which progress toward the
operationalized unit goals will be measured. The students' knowledge
of the history of philosophy, elementary symbolic logic, ethics, and critical
textual analysis are measured directly by our multiple choice exit
examination. The students' philosophical knowledge, textual analysis,
critical reasoning skills and writing skills are also directly assessed through
analysis of the writing samples. Two readers will score each student's
writing sample with the department's rubric. In the event that the two
readers score a paper significantly differently, a third reader will be asked to
review the paper.
5. List the individual(s) who have primary responsibility for
administering assessment activities. The instructor of the senior seminar
each year will be responsible for administering the exit examination and
collection of writing samples. The senior seminar's instructor and the
department's assessment coordinator (currently Paul Graves) will be
responsible for scoring the exit examination and the writing samples each
year. The assessment coordinator will be responsible for presenting a
summary of the findings to the department each September and for
reporting the department's response to these findings to the University
Assessment committee.
6. Describe the procedures used in your academic unit for
translating assessment results into program changes. Each September
the department of philosophy will meet to review the findings from our
assessment instruments, identify strengths and weaknesses of the program,
and formulate strategies for improving student achievement.
Assessment Rubric for the philosophy major’s senior seminar:
PHL 465
Every student term paper will be judged in the following areas. A number
between 0 and 4 is assigned. A ‘4’ corresponds to excellent, ‘3’ to good, ‘2’
to fair, ‘1’ to poor, and ‘0’ to failure.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Philosophical Quality: The paper takes on a philosophically
important topic and does so in an interesting manner.
Philosophical Reasoning: The paper gives quality arguments in
support of its thesis or theses.
Philosophical Background: The paper shows appropriate use and
explanation of philosophical/technical terms, demonstrates
command of relevant theories in the philosophical literature, and
synthesizes information from other philosophy courses or from
other disciplines.
Organization: The paper is well organized, has a clearly articulated
thesis, and makes judicious use of quotations where appropriate.
Grammar, spelling, and sentence structure