Sample of Changes Attributable to Learning Assessment in Major Programs
(Fall 2007-Spring 2010)
Prepared by Paul Reichardt, VPAA
Department of Modern Language
Developed a new cultural learning rubric to track development of majors’ knowledge of target language cultures. The rubric is embedded in the assignments of a new course, Study Abroad Seminar (approved 2009; first offered Fall 2010).
Department of English
Based on review of senior portfolios of work produced over time in the program and evaluation of senior seminar papers, the department found majors weak in discussing literary theory and literary analysis. As a result, the course content of
ENGL 211 Principles of Literary Study was changed from history of literary criticism to theory and practice of criticism.
Department of Religion and Philosophy
The Religion program was dissatisfied with the quality of its majors’ senior research papers. As a result, the program began to emphasize the importance of thesis statements in all courses leading up to the senior seminar and it instituted “more rigorous oversight” of senior research and writing by requiring submission of early drafts of research papers and by settling deadlines for submission of thesis statements, outlines, and drafts.
Department of Communication, Media and Theater
The department was concerned that the quality of student work in senior seminar was eroding. In the past, student work in the seminar was advanced to regional and national competitions. More recently, fewer student work products have been advanced due to the fact that much of the projects were “not related well to current trends in the higher levels of the fields of study in the department.” As a result, the department is experimenting with a new requirement in the senior seminar.
Students are required to present their seminar work in an extended poster session to faculty members. This requirement introduces a visual communication element
(the posters) into the evaluation. The department also is placing more emphasis on the expectation that seminar students must “be able to define a meaningful issue or problem” as they design their seminar projects.
Department of Economics, Account and Business
In order to improve oral communication skills of senior majors, which the department felt were not meeting expectations, a new goal was added to its senior seminar for business, international business, and economic majors. The new goal is
“Graduates will be able to offer cogent comments during discussions and/or formal and informal presentations with their professors/peers that demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively.”

Department of Biology
Senior Biology majors sit for the Educational Testing Service’s Major Achievement
Test and the department analyzes the resulting patterns of scores and subscores in various specialize areas of the field of Biology. A pattern of low subscores in ecology, genetics, and cell physiology sections of the ETS exam has prompted the department to adjust its curriculum so that all majors are required to complete coursework related to these areas of weaker ETS test performance.
Department of Geology
Results from the program’s exist exam (based on a discontinued GRE advanced subject test) showed low scores in the subsections dealing with earth structure and geophysics. The department is considering changing the geology field camp required for majors so that it is completed prior to taking the exist exam. The program believes that this re-sequencing will better prepare students for the earth structure portion of the exist exam. A new course, Introduction to Geophysics, is being introduced into the curriculum to prepare students more effectively for the geophysics section of the exit exam. These adjustments are in line with program’s goal of graduates who are well-prepared in each of the major subfields of the discipline.
Department of Political Science
A survey of the program graduates indicated that data analysis skills should be emphasized more in classes. Graduates felt that these skills were important to success in careers related to Political Science. The program is working to integrate more data analysis content into their classes. Graduates also indicated that more emphasis should be placed on internships and other experiences that would prepare them more effectively for employment and career advancement. The program will review course content to determine how to meet this need. For example, the department plans to develop more internships and other experiences that would prepare them more effectively for employment and career advancement.
The program will review course content to determine how to meet this need. For example, the department plans to develop more internship opportunities for students and bring outside speakers to campus who can discuss with students the expectations of employers.
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
The program was not satisfied with its students’ ability to meet the three criteria by which performance in the senior capstone is evaluated: mastery of theory, sociological imagination, and research methods. Searching for sources of students’ inability to meet expectations, faculty discovered that these criteria do not necessarily appear in the learning objectives of the course, which prepare students for their senior seminar. As a result, faculty have begun integrating more sociological theory, disciplinary methods of analysis and problem solving, and research methods into the content of the pre-seminar courses.

Department of Psychology
Based on its evaluation of senior seminar research projects, the Psychology program concluded that its majors were not as strong as it had expected in the areas of developing research topics, statistical analysis, and writing the results of research in manuscript form. To improve student performance in these areas, the program now requires a series of Power Point presentations during the year-long senior studies course sequence. This enables faculty to critique the development of research topics and requires students to organize their thoughts for oral presentation as the research process progresses. To improve statistical analysis abilities, the program is incorporating reviews of statistical methods and use of SPSS in courses leading up to the senior seminar. Students are also now required to submit drafts of research papers during the senior studies sequence so that faculty can suggest improvements as the final version of the paper takes shape.
Department of History
Concerned with the level of research skills exhibited in senior seminar projects, the
History faculty has decided to reinstitute the practice of having the library staff offer a library and research skills session at the beginning of each semester for students working on their seminar projects. The faculty is also considering the creation of a new course in Historical Methods in order to prepare students more effectively for the senior seminar. This new course will directly address research and methodology skills.
Criminal Justice Interdisciplinary Program
In order to improve performance on the comprehensive examination the program administers to its senior majors, additional review sessions will be added in order to help students prepare for the comprehensive exam by synthesizing content from their coursework. The examination will now be linked to the student’s grade for the senior Practicum course. This linkage is intended to enhance student motivation to perform well on the comprehensive examination.