ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES IN GENERAL EDUCATION
SOCIAL SCIENCES  2003-2004

The current assessment of social sciences is based upon best practices and the expertise of faculty from anthropology, economics, geography/urban planning, political science, psychology and sociology.

General Education social sciences requirement:

• All freshmen must take 2 social science courses from a designated list of courses that meet the learning outcome.
• All freshmen must take the 2 social science courses from two different academic disciplines.

I.	Outcomes/Objectives:
	A.	Students will demonstrate an understanding of the methods social scientists use to explore social phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence and employment of mathematical and interpretive analysis.
		Students will demonstrate understanding of observational techniques as a method for exploring social phenomena through at least one of the disciplines in the social sciences. Students will demonstrate understanding of hypothesis development as a method for exploring social phenomena through at least one of the disciplines in the social sciences. Students will demonstrate an understanding of measurement and data collection related to the exploration of social phenomena through at least one of the disciplines in the social sciences. Students will demonstrate an understanding of research design and evaluation of evidence as it applies to the exploration of social phenomena through at least one of the disciplines in the social sciences. Students will demonstrate understanding of the necessary mathematical and interpretive analysis needed in the explication of outcomes related to social sciences research in at least one of the disciplines in the social science.
	B.	Students will demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, models and issues of at least one discipline in the social sciences.
		Students will demonstrate knowledge of major concepts in at least one discipline in the social sciences. Students will demonstrate knowledge of models in at least one discipline in the social sciences. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the issues in at least one discipline in the social sciences.
II.	Student Performance
	Objective/multiple-choice type exams with embedded questions or out-of-class assignments will be used to measure the learning objectives.  These questions/assignments will be developed to directly measure all learning objectives.  (See attached example.)
III.	Assessment Criteria/Standards
	The multiple choice exam questions will be evaluated according to the correctness of the answers. The standards are: 4.  Exceeds the standard:  Score of 80% or more correct answers 3.  Meets the standard:  Score of 70% – 79% correct answers 2.  Approaches the standard:  Score of 60% – 69% correct answers 1.  Below the standard:  Score of below 60% correct answers
IV.	Students Assessed
	All students enrolled in 100 level courses taught in one social science department, rotating each semester will be assessed.  This will result in a full cycle of assessment every three years.
V.	Feedback
	The results of this assessment activity will be discussed annually at meetings of the social science faculty.  Changes/improvements will be made in response to the results where deemed appropriate.