PUBLIC
AFFAIRS MAJOR: STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES AND
ASSESSMENT INDICATORS
August 2007
The Public Affairs Major encourages students to think
critically and constructively about contemporary social issues.
Students in the Public Affairs Major:
A. acquire a foundation
informed by both Philosophy and Political Science to support the analysis of
social problems and possible solutions
B. incorporate
theories, knowledge, social analysis, and moral reasoning in the examination of
social issues
C. gain an understanding of the governmental role in
developing of public policy
D. learn about women’s
roles in social issues and public policy by the incorporation of research on
women and politics and feminist scholarship in Public Affairs courses
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3. STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES (SLOs)
A. Acquire and assess
information about social problems from a variety of sources
B. Using knowledge about
politics and governmental processes to address social problems
C. Analyze social problems
using critical thinking and moral reasoning
D. Demonstrate knowledge of the
role of the U.S. Constitution and the federal system in public policy
E. Construct and present
persuasive arguments about social problems and possible solutions
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Goals of
|
Goals of Public Affairs
|
think critically and reason wisely |
emphasis on developing critical perspectives. argumentation in written work that demonstrates
reasoning skills and logical analysis. |
act humanely and respond ethically |
emphasis in course work on moral problems raised by
contemporary social and political conditions focus on social practices and policy issues |
appreciate complexity and difference |
study an array of philosophical and political ideas
and issues |
embrace new ways of knowing and creativity |
senior thesis projects draw from diverse
perspectives and sources and encourage creative problem-solving and analysis |
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5. OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT
OF STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES (SLOs)
A: Acquire
and assess information about social problems from a variety of sources
HOW STUDENTS MEET THIS STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME |
EVIDENCE OF STUDENT LEARNING |
WHEN STUDENT LEARNING IS ASSESSED |
1. Students will incorporate material acquired from
both mainstream and non-mainstream sources. 2. Information literacy skills, using both traditional
and online skills for library research. |
1a. Bibliographies and citations that draw on
wide range of sources and in proper form. 1b. Use of scholarly resources for the
analysis of policy issues and solutions. 2a. Demonstrations of the ability to assess
sources for reliability. 2b. An annotated bibliography that
demonstrates knowledge of scholarly skills |
1a. Continuous – all written assignments. 1b. Senior thesis – usually in the spring
semester. 2a. Continuous – all written assignments. 2b. Completed as part of the proposal for the
senior theses. |
B. Analyze social problems using
critical thinking and moral reasoning
HOW STUDENTS MEET THIS STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME |
EVIDENCE OF STUDENT LEARNING |
WHEN STUDENT LEARNING IS ASSESSED |
3. Demonstrate the ability to practice critical
thinking. 2. Complete a required course in ethics. 3. Complete a required course in logic and critical
thinking. |
1a. All written work for courses at the 300
level in the major field are evaluated for analytic strength. 2. An essay that demonstrates the ability to
develop a thesis about a social problem that builds on a set of premises to
form a logically bound conclusion. 3. Proposed: completion of an objective test of
reasoning ability at the time of declaring the major and then again as part
of the Comprehensive Exam |
1. Duration of 300 level coursework. 2. Successful completion of PHIL 240 (with a
grade of at least B) before the beginning of the junior year, or as soon as
possible for transfer students. A grade of B represents a good ability to
develop a moral argument, taking account of objections, and integrating
relevant facts. 3a. Successful completion of PHIL 114 (with a grade
of at least B) by the end of the junior year, at the latest. A grade of B
represents the ability to recognize fallacious reasoning and grasp the
logical relations between claims. 3b. During remaining coursework and the last
semester of the senior year. |
C. Use knowledge about politics and
governmental processes to address social problems
HOW STUDENTS MEET THIS STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME |
EVIDENCE OF STUDENT LEARNING |
WHEN STUDENT LEARNING IS ASSESSED |
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the major
characteristics of the 2. Incorporate relevant information about
governmental processes and agencies in arguments developed about social
problems. |
1. Successful completion of POLS 165. 2a. All students who major in Public Affairs
develop a legislative history, which examines the proposal, development, and
passage of laws in Congress. 2b. Senior theses in Public Affairs will
include a discussion of relevant governmental, actors, and decisions. |
1. No later than the end of the sophomore year; or,
for transfer students, by transfer credit. 2a. Completion of POLS 235 (with a grade of
at least B) no later than spring of
the junior year. A grade of B represents a good grasp of how Congress works,
especially with respect to policy formation. 2b. Completion of the senior thesis in the
spring of the senior year. |
D. Demonstrate knowledge of the role
of the U.S. Constitution and federal system in public policy
HOW STUDENTS MEET THIS STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME |
EVIDENCE OF STUDENT LEARNING |
WHEN STUDENT LEARNING IS ASSESSED |
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the role
of the judicial system in public policy. 2. Demonstrate familiarity with the Supreme
Court’s determination of the constitutionality of laws and governmental
actions. |
1a. Successful completion of POLS 165 with at
least a B. A grade of B represents a good grasp of the principles of
political science and how the . 2. Students enrolled in PHIL 310 will learn
to morally evaluate a court opinion bearing on a policy issue. |
2. No later than the end of the sophomore year; or,
for transfer students, by transfer credit. 2. Completion of PHIL 310 (with at least a B)
no later than spring of the junior year. A grade of B represents the ability
to formulate an argument (as in PHIL 240), and show some understanding of
relevant legal issues. |
E. Construct and present persuasive
arguments about social problems
HOW STUDENTS MEET THIS STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME |
EVIDENCE OF STUDENT LEARNING |
WHEN STUDENT LEARNING IS ASSESSED |
Students will demonstrate their ability to meet E
in their senior year, as part of the capstone experience, which is
constituted by: 1. Participation in the Public Affairs Senior
Seminar (PUBL401) 2.
Enrollment in the Public Affairs Thesis (PUBL 402) 3. Comprehensive Exam . . |
1a. Students will engage in study of a broad theme
or topic that pulls together prior learning 1b. Students will produce a 15 page paper on a related
issue or the topic of their choice; it will have a well-developed thesis
statement and argument for a new policy or change in an existing policy in
the 2a. Completed senior thesis project with a
well-developed thesis and argument., based on 1b. Length: 25-50 pages,
depending on credit earned. 2b. A public presentation of the senior
thesis. Students will lay out their thesis statement and provide a brief
summary of their argument and conclusion 3. Successful completion of Comprehensive
Examination; this is an oral examination on a set of questions distributed in
the fall semester and may include followup questions about their theses. |
1. Completed in the fall semester of the
senior year. 2. Completed in the spring semester of the senior
year. 3. Completed at the end of the spring semester of
the senior year. |
On an annual basis, the Public Affairs faculty will
meet to review student learning in the major. In addition to reviewing
the indicators of student learning, faculty will review representative student
work, including written work, student web pages, and portfolios, and discuss
with students their experience as learners in the Public Affairs Major.
The information gathered will be used to improve student learning by:
A. refining student learning
outcomes
B. assessing
and revising course materials
C. identifying
and sharing successful instructional strategies
D. revising major requirements
The Major
will prepare a brief written report on its findings the following year by
October 31.
Laura
Purdy,
Professor
of Philosophy