2006-2007
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES (BS/BA)
Intended Program Outcomes
OUTCOME #1:
Graduates will demonstrate satisfactory
knowledge of subject content area. Graduates
will:

Understand historical chronology from the origin
of mankind to the present especially as it
relates to Africans and African Americans.
Discuss competing ideas, concepts, and theories about
the linkage between politics, education, psychology,
religion, history, culture, economics, and geography
across various time periods as it relates to the African
and African American experience.
Methods of Assessment and Criteria for Success
Direct Measures
1. 85% of the graduating seniors will
demonstrate satisfactory knowledge of the
subject content by scoring 70% or higher in
all courses that focus on content area
material.
2. 85% of graduating seniors will earn 70% or
higher on classroom examinations
administered by African American Studies
faculty (AFA 3104, GEA 3600, SYD, 4730,
SOP 3724, etc)
Indirect Measures
80% of African American Studies faculty teaching 3000
and 4000 level courses will submit samples of student
book critiques and research papers demonstrating that
students have mastered content area material.
Faculty assignments that are submitted will be reviewed
by a committee.
3. Faculty will measure student performance
through a combination of essays, multiplechoice questions, and research papers.
4. Faculty will measure student performance
primarily through in-class exams that are a
combination of essay and multiple choice
questions.
OUTCOME #2:
Graduates will demonstrate critical thinking and/or
analytical skills within the subject content area as
well as other disciplines.
Graduates will:



Understand cause and effect relationships in
history as it relates to the African American
experience.
Understand and identify the roots, dynamics,
impacts, frameworks, and vitality of a political
reality as it relates to the African American
experience.
Interpret various influences in African American
history and how it impacts black psychology,
85% of graduating seniors will successfully pass
classroom examinations administered by African
American Studies faculty and earn 70% or higher
(AMH 3571, AMH 3572, PUP 3313, GEA 3600,
etc).
85% of graduating seniors will be required to
score at least 70% in 3000 and 4000 level
African American studies courses (PUP 3313, AFA
3104, etc).
Faculty who teach African-American Studies
courses will measure student performance
through in-class examinations that will include
essay questions.
Faculty who teach African-American Studies
5. 80% of African American Studies faculty
teaching 3000 and 4000 level courses will
respond to the following department survey
item: Describe the quality of graduating seniors’
analytical and critical thinking skills (Superior,
Good, Fair, Poor).
100% of graduating seniors will rate their perceived
analytical and critical thinking skills (Superior, Good,
Fair, Poor).
6. The Department will administer and analyze a
Departmental Survey to ascertain student
responses.
The Department will administrator and analyze a
Student Survey.
economics, geography, etc.
Understand various aspects of local, state, national,
and international politics as it relates to African and
African American issues.
OUTCOME #3:
Graduates will demonstrate satisfactory
communication skills through written and oral
mediums. Graduates will:

Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written
communication.

Use technology and library resources efficiently
and effectively to conduct and present research.
Demonstrate competency in using standard historical
writing style, i.e., Turabian, Chicago, or APA style.
courses will measure student performance
through a combination of in-class exams,
research papers, and book reviews.
85% of the graduating seniors will demonstrate
proficiency of written and oral communication
skills by scoring 70% or higher on written exams
which will be assigned and graded by African
American Studies faculty.
85% of graduating seniors will discuss relevant
African American studies literature with African
American Studies faculty in classes like AFH
4100, AFH 4200, AFA 4936, SOP 3724, PUP
3313, etc).
Faculty teaching upper level African American
Studies courses will measure student
performance through in-class examinations that
will include essay questions.
Faculty teaching upper level African American
Studies courses will measure student
performance through in-class discussion and/or
writing of relevant historiographical issues.
OUTCOME #4:
Graduates will demonstrate satisfactory
understanding of African American cultural
perspectives. Graduates will:

Appreciate the roles and contributions African
Americans have made to the American life,
culture, and history.

Analyze how the presence of African Americans
has profoundly affected the nature and
development of all aspects of American life and
culture.
Understand politics, psychology, economics, sociology,
history, etc, as it relates to African Americans and the
African American experience.
85% of graduating seniors will complete upper
division political science courses with at least
70% or higher including all 3000 and/or 4000
African American studies courses such as PUP
3313, AFA 3104, SOP 3724, etc.
85% of graduating seniors will submit written
critiques of studies pertaining to African
American life and culture and earn at least 70%
on assignments graded by African American
Studies faculty for all relevant 3000 and 4000
level courses.
85% of graduating seniors will pass
examinations given by African Americans Studies
faculty by scoring 70% or higher on written
and/or objective examinations in all 3000 and
4000 level courses like PUP 3313, AFA 3104, etc.
80% of African American Studies faculty will respond
to the following department survey item: Describe
the quality of most graduates’ oral and written
communication skills (Superior, Good, Fair, Poor).
85% of graduating seniors will join in classroom
discussions to analyze various issues related to
African Americans (SYD 4730, AMH 3571, AMH
3572, PUP 3313, etc).
The Department will administer and analyze a
Departmental Survey to ascertain student responses.
Faculty who teach upper level history courses will
engage students in meaningful classroom
discussions concerning various historical issues.
All of the program outcomes will be assessed by an
exit survey given to 100% of the graduating seniors
in the department.
80% of the African American Studies faculty will
respond to survey items which assess students’
writing skills, content, knowledge, and
communication skills for graduating seniors.
The Department will administer and analyze a
Departmental Survey to ascertain student responses.
Faculty who teach upper level African American
History courses will respond to a survey regarding
students’ writing skills, content knowledge, and
communication skills.
Faculty who teach upper level African American
History courses will measure student
performance through a combination of in-class
exams, historical research papers, and other
projects.
Faculty who teach upper level African American
History courses will measure student
performance through assignment of original
historical essays.
Faculty who teach upper level African American
History courses will measure student
performance through in-class examinations that
will include essay and/or objective questions.
OUTCOME #5:
Graduates will demonstrate satisfactory
appreciation for diversity perspectives and
interdisciplinary groups. Graduates will:

Appreciates various scholarly positions on racial
matters.

Understands the importance of various multicultural issues in American society.
Recognizes cultural bias when analyzing research and
writing from various disciplines.
85% of graduating seniors will complete African
American Studies courses with at least 70%
average for all 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 level
courses such as PUP 3313, AFA 3104, AMH 3571,
AMH 3572, GEA 3600, etc.
All of the program outcomes will be assessed by an
exit survey given to 100% of the graduating seniors
in the department.
85% of graduating seniors will earn 70% or
higher on objective examinations given in class
by African American Studies faculty (e.g., GEA
3600, SOP 3724, AMH 3571, AMH 3572, etc).
80% of the African American Studies faculty will
respond to survey items which assess students’
writing skills, content knowledge, and
communication skills for graduating seniors. The
Department will administer and analyze a
Departmental Survey to ascertain student responses.
Faculty who teach World and African History
courses will measure student performance
through a combination of in-class exams,
historical research papers, and other projects.
Faculty who teach upper level African American
History courses will respond to a survey regarding
students’ writing skills, content knowledge, and
communication skills.
Faculty who teach World and African History
courses will measure student performance
through in-class examinations that will include
essay and/or objective questions.