Undergraduate Learning Outcomes

The Teaching Committee, an elected standing committee of the College of Arts and Sciences, has identified the specific learning outcomes/objectives of the Arts and Sciences core requirements, the distributed majors and the self-designed undergraduate major offered by the College.  The following are the learning outcomes/objectives that the committee hopes to see achieved by students when they graduate.  The Teaching Committee is beginning an active assessment of the core requirements and these majors to ensure that learning outcomes are met.

College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Core Curriculum Assessment

 Arts and Sciences Core Requirements are:

• Two courses (or the equivalent of two semesters) of a single foreign language

• One approved course in non-western perspectives

• Two science courses in different areas with laboratories

• Nine hours of upper division courses outside the students' major

 Purpose and Goals

The General Bulletin states that "graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences are expected to be liberally educated-to have the knowledge and skills to deal with the unexpected and to see opportunities from multiple perspectives.  A liberal education enhances the intellectual flexibility needed to find new applications for knowledge and to offer varied solutions to complex problems."

 Student Learning Outcomes

 A.  Students learn that people view their lives, communities, and place in the world from different perspectives, which may be expressed through language, culture, religion, art and other modes of thought and action. (foreign language and non-western requirement)

Objective A1 Students use the vocabulary and grammar of a foreign language and compare it to their native language.

Objective A2   Students examine the culture, religion, and other ways of thinking and behaving outside of the European (and Judeo-Christian) tradition.

B.  Students learn the scientific process and its application to societal issues from the perspective of at least two major divisions of scientific thought. (two sciences with laboratories requirement)

Objective B1 Students understand the scientific process, and can differentiate between hypotheses, theories and laws.

Objective B2  Students recognize the application of science to societal issues.

Objective B3  Students demonstrate mastery of subject content and knowledge base in each class.

C.  Students gain sufficient breadth of knowledge outside their areas of specialization that they understand that learning new and complex ideas from multiple perspectives enhances flexibility and is a life-long process. (upper division requirement)

Objective C1  Students complete upper division coursework outside the major, allowing them to augment their area of study or explore additional areas.

Objective C2  Students balance coursework inside and outside the major appropriately.

Objective C3  Students understand that their careers may include information and skills from many sources and disciplines.

A&S Distributed Majors Degree Program Assessment

Three degree programs are covered in this document: Humanities/Fine Arts; Social Sciences; and Mathematics/Science.  Each is a multidisciplinary concentration in related divisions, allowing students to major in connected fields without selecting one.  Each student sets up his/her own program with the help of a faculty advisor, however, there is no common experience or coursework required.  Required distribution of courses in these majors is set by heads of the cooperating departments and listed in the General Bulletin under the College of Arts and Sciences entry.

 Program Goals

• To allow students to take courses in related fields when their interests are not specific to a major
• To allow transfer students to complete degrees expeditiously when more specialized majors are not available at community colleges, UWCC or the Outreach School.

 Student Learning Outcomes and Objectives

• Students understand connections between related disciplines

• Students complete 48 hours in the major, allowing appropriate breadth and depth
• Students complete coursework according to their interests as supervised by the advisor
   

A&S Self-Designed Major Assessment

The Self-Designed Major is a special degree program in the College of Arts and Sciences described under the College entry in the General Bulletin and on the College Website.  Students must have a GPA of 3.0 and submit a 1-2 page proposal for study and list of courses when they seek admission to the program.  A permanent faculty council representing the divisions in the College as well as an individualized supervisory committee guides the students through the process of obtaining their degree.

Program Goals

• To allow students to develop intellectual interests not addressed by traditional and/or available  majors and minors
• To encourage diversity and flexibility in coursework while requiring a clear academic focus and unifying purpose

Student Learning Outcomes/Objectives

• Students learn several interrelated content areas from multiple disciplinary perspectives
• Students learn to synthesize materials from a variety of sources
• Students learn writing, research and/or creative activity skills relevant to their interests and future careers

• Under faculty supervision, students design their own cohesive and coherent curriculum and complete work in its various areas.
• Students gain ability to do independent work, formulate a research design or a plan for creative activity, and present their research and/or creative activity effectively.