Direct Measures
All sociology majors will either complete Sociology 379 Social Survey or Sociology 490 Directed Research, both 3 credit hour courses. Both options require 20 to 25 page sociological writing what will integrate theory with methods to test a hypothesis. In completing the paper, the students will need to demonstrate their skills in computing, writing, organizing, and critical thinking.
The papers will be judged by two faculty neither which was the instructor of the course or directed the Directed Research project. The Social Survey course is typically offered twice every three semesters while students can enroll in the Directed Research project any semester during the later hours of their program.
All sociology majors complete the course: Soc 468 Senior Seminar. Students are required to write essays that require critical thinking, demonstrate an understanding of sociological knowledge and their relationship to it, and insights into the reciprocal relationships between the individual and society.
As in the senior research paper, the assessment will be conducted by two faculty members who are not instructing the Senior Seminar.
As part of the requirements of the course: Soc 468 Senior Seminar, all majors will complete an oral exam. Students are to demonstrate that they can engage in a sociological discourse in which they apply major sociological concepts. The exam would be facilitated by the instructor of the course with two additional faculty in attendance to assess the learning outcomes that are to be included in the discussion.
Indirect Measures
The focus group is conducted by a faculty member outside of the department. Each spring, an upper division course is selected where the class period is devoted to the gathering of information through the focus group process. As a preliminary to the focus group session, a memo is read in all upper division sociology courses inviting all upper division students to attend the session. The recorder will draft a report of the focus group. The facilitator and recorder will collectively edit the draft. The final report will be submitted to the Chair of the Department of Sociology to be included in the yearly assessment report. (Sample questions)
Objective
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Participants
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Evaluators
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8
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some majors
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conducted by a faculty member outside of the department, a recorder
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As part of the Five Year Program Review process, a survey is sent to the graduates from the previous five years seeking information about their experiences in the program. This survey asks the alumni to report on how well their training has served them in preparing them for graduate/professional education and/or for their current work activities.
Objective
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Participants
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Evaluators
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8
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alumni
using Alumni Survey
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department
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