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University of Wyoming

Student Learning Outcomes


A Course-Embedded Assessment Mechanism for Measuring Student Learning Outcomes in Sociology

  • Students will understand basic concepts and theoretical perspectives in sociology and how they are used in sociological explanations of social behavior Students will understand how to collect, analyze, and interpret empirical evidence in sociological research.
  • Students will gain familiarity with and develop an understanding of core substantive areas of sociological inquiry.

Responsibility of assessment: Assessment will be done by sociology faculty who teach the required SOC 4090 Sociological Research course, which will be taught as a Capstone course for Sociology majors.  

The instructor of SOC 4090 will fill out an assessment form for each sociology major in the class at the end of the course, with the student's identity kept confidential. The assessment forms will be given to the Sociology secretary to duplicate for the office permanent Assessment files. The Secretary will then give the assessment forms to the Head of the department. The latter will arrange to analyze the information on the forms and discuss results with members of an Assessment committee (membership will rotate in the dept on an annual basis). The Head of the department will then report the discussion/findings to the department. The report should include areas of strength and weakness on the measurable objectives, with suggestions for improvement. 

The assessment criteria are itemized in rubrics of learning outcomes and measured on a 4-point scale: 

0     Unknown
1     Unsatisfactory
2     Satisfactory
3     Very Good

  

SOCIOLOGY ASSESSMENT SCHEME: GOALS and MEASUREMENTS  


GOAL 1. Students will understand basic concepts and theoretical perspectives in sociology and how they are used in sociological explanations of social behavior. 
 

MEASUREMENT
   Unsatis Satis Very Good Unknown
a. Student understands basic concepts such as culture and social structure 1 2 3 UK
b. Student understands the role of theory in building sociological knowledge.  1 2 3 UK
c. Student understands basic theoretical  perspectives and can identify their strengths and weakness. 1 2 3 UK
d. Student can apply sociological theories to substantive topics. 1 2 3 UK
e. Student understands relationship between theory and research.  1 2  3 UK

 

 GOAL 2. Students will understand how to collect, analyze, and interpret empirical  evidence in sociological research.
 

MEASUREMENT
   Unsatis Satis Very Good Unknown
a. Student understands basic research methods for collecting data. 1 2 3 UK
b. Student can identify strengths and limitations of particular research methodologies 1 2 3 UK
c. Student can design research project. 1 2 3 UK
d. Student has quantitative/stats skills to analyze social data. 1 2 3 UK
e. Student can interpret empirical evidence in sociological research  1 2  3 UK


GOAL 3. Students will gain familiarity with and develop an understanding of core  substantive areas of sociological inquiry.
 

MEASUREMENT
   Unsatis Satis Very Good Unknown
a. Student can discuss the basic issues in the substantive area/course 1 2 3 UK
b. Student can discuss the basic concepts and theoretical perspectives of area/course. 1 2 3 UK
c. Student can offer alternative viewpoints on sociological issues. 1 2 3 UK
d. Student can summarize relevant research  in the area/course 1 2 3 UK
e. Student can identify policy implications of research in the area/course.  1 2  3 UK


GOAL 4. Students can express sociological ideas clearly  and coherently both in writing and in oral presentations. 
 

MEASUREMENT
   Unsatis Satis Very Good Unknown
a. Student can express ideas clearly and coherently in writing 1 2 3 UK
b. Student can express ideas clearly and coherently in oral presentation.  1 2 3 UK

 
Graduate Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will develop broad knowledge of the theory and methods of the discipline and in-depth knowledge of a specific area of concentration
  2. Students will develop advanced analytical, writing, and oral communication skills
  3. Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct original research in a substantive area of sociology


M.A. Program Assessment Procedures

 
The assessment procedures for the M.A. program include both indirect and direct measures of the identified graduate learning outcomes. 
 
Indirect Measures
1) The department chair will conduct exit interviews with graduating M.A. students to assess the degree to which they think their graduate experience enhanced their education on the three aforementioned learning outcomes. 
2) The graduate committee will track subsequent career accomplishments of M.A. graduates to determine the degree to which graduatelearning outcomes translate into specific career tracks.
 
Direct Measures:
 1) The M.A. candidate will distribute the thesisprospectus electronically to sociology faculty, each of whom will assess it using the Thesis Prospectus Assessment Form below.
2) The committee of the M.A. candidate will assess the thesis using the M.A. Thesis and Oral Defense Assessment Form.
 
The graduate committee will compile these data and present them to the faculty at the beginning of each academic year. The faculty will discuss any concerns and make alterations in our program as needed.
 
 
Thesis Prospectus Assessment Form

Please evaluate the quality of the M. A. thesis prospectus (excellent = 4 to unsatisfactory =1) submitted by ____________________(student name) in terms of the following dimensions and evaluation categories:
 
  1. Quality of theoretical reasoning. 
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Effectiveness in communicating clearly the theoretical relevance of the research project.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Appropriateness of research methodology for questions posed in the prospectus. 
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Evidence of methodological competence provided by the proposed research protocol.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Evidence of judiciousness in selection of potentially fruitful topic(s) for sociological inquiry.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Logical organization of research prospectus.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Overall quality of writing.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Overall quality of sociological reasoning evident in the prospectus.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Quality of oral communication skills evident during the oral defense of the prospectus.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____ unsatisfactory
    ______unknown (committee members only)
 
10. Additional observations and comments:
 

M. A. Thesis and Oral Defense Assessment Form

Please evaluate the quality of the M. A. thesis (excellent = 4 to unsatisfactory = 1) submitted by _______________ (student name) in terms of the following dimensions and evaluation categories:
 
  1. Quality of theoretical reasoning evident in the thesis.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Effectiveness in communicating clearly the theoretical significance of the research and research findings.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Evidence of methodological competence exhibited by the execution of the research project.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
    _____not applicable (theoretical thesis)
 
  1. Quality of the written presentation of findings.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Logical organization of thesis report.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Overall quality of writing.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Evidence of student's mastery of area of specialization represented by the thesis and oral defense.
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 
  1. Quality of oral communication skills evident during the oral defense of the thesis. 
    _____excellent _____good _____satisfactory _____unsatisfactory
 

 

Last Updated on 5/28/2009 3:35:44 PM