ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT PLAN
SIX STEPS TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING
Department/School_______Geography_/ Arts and Sciences___________________
Program (major) Name_______Ph.D._____________________
Contact Name___________Jay Lee_____________ email address___jlee@kent.edu__
Date Submitted_______April 23, 2004___________________________
Please complete the following for each program (major) in your unit. You may find the
online guide “Continuous Improvement of Student Learning” http://explore.kent.edu/aa
helpful for providing definitions and examples. Please submit a separate form for each
program.
1. Identify the student learning goals of this program. (Due April 16, 2004)
2. Articulate multiple measurable student learning objectives (outcomes) for each
goal. (Due April 16, 2004)
3. List the appropriate methods to assess how well students are meeting the
articulated objectives. (Due October 11, 2004)
4. List appropriate measures that can be administered, analyzed, and interpreted for
evidence of student learning outcomes. Include timeline for implementation.
(Due October 11, 2004)
5. Findings based on data collected. (First report due Fall 2005)
6. Actions taken to continuously improve the quality of student learning. (First
report due Fall 2005)
Submit information electronically to Dr. Stephane Booth, Office of Academic Quality
Improvement (sbooth@kent.edu)
Student Learning Goals of Geography
PhD
Department of Geography
413 McGilvrey Hall
Kent State University
Step One: Identify the Student Learning Goals of the Department of Geography.
The PhD program in Geography aims at developing the ability of PhD candidates for
advancing concepts, theories and technology in Geography. In addition, the PhD program
aims at developing PhD candidate for teaching at higher education institutes to further
promote academic geography research. Specifically, the major goals of the PhD program
in Geography are for degree candidates to:
Goal 1: Acquire advanced knowledge of the concepts, theories and technology in
Geography.
Goal 2: Nurture the ability to advance the concepts, theories, and technology in
Geography.
Goal 3: Develop the skills and experience in effective teaching of geography courses at
college level.
Step Two: Articulate multiple measurable student learning objectives (outcomes)
for each goal
For Goal 1: Geography plans to develop courses of special topics that reflect the critical
and contemporary issues in academic Geography. In addition, Geography plans to
support PhD degree candidates to attend national and international conferences.
Objective: Geography will enhance the courses related to the development of
thoughts in Geography so that these will have seminar formats to allow professors
and students the opportunities for full explorations of subject matters studied.
These subject matters will include geographic concepts, theories, technological
and field skills and experiences.
For Goal 2: Geography plans to encourage PhD degree candidates to engage in
independent research projects by means of PhD level independent research courses.
Geography will encourage PhD degree candidates to engage research projects with
faculty members’ guidance. By carrying out independent research projects, PhD degree
candidates will be able to acquire experiences in formulating research problems,
reviewing relevant literature, designing research methodology, analyzing research data,
and formulating results from academic research.
Objective: Geography will increase our support to PhD degree candidates to attend
national and international conferences. This will allow degree candidates more
opportunities to interact with researchers in their fields and to present their own
works for comments and suggestions from experts in their fields.
For Goal 3: Geography plans to formulate a structure in which PhD degree candidates
teach freshman or sophomore courses under the guidance of a faculty member. Typically,
each LER geography course will have a faculty member serving as the coordinator to
oversee and guide the instructional activities of PhD degree candidates.
Objective: Geography will form an instructional structure in which all PhD degree
candidates will teach with assistance and guidance by faculty members serving as
coordinators of LER courses.
Objective: Geography will encourage PhD degree candidates to recognize the
opportunities in the field of Geography and related fields.