PUBLIC AFFAIRS MAJOR: STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT INDICATORS

August 2007

1. PUBLIC AFFAIRS MISSION STATEMENT

The Public Affairs major seeks to produce well-informed graduates who are capable of organizing their knowledge into sound arguments for moral public policies. The major focuses primarily but not exclusively on the U.S. environment. Its graduates will be prepared to undertake further graduate study in areas relevant to policy (such as political science, philosophy, or law), beginning level careers in government, and to be responsible and involved citizens.

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2. GOALS OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS MAJOR

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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4.  Public Affairs Assessment Goals and the Mission of Wells College

Goals of Mission Statement

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 U.S. political system, such as the separation of powers, federalism, and the electoral process.

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 U.S. government works, particularly the judiciary. Students with a particular interest in this area can go on to the elective course POLS 360.

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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

 

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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 U.S.

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.

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6. HOW ASSESSMENT MATERIALS WILL BE GATHERED

A. Examples of A, B, and C level course work will be gathered electronically and stored in relevant course file folders.

B. Records will be kept of scores on reasoning tests and for PHIL 114

C. Hard copies of all theses will be collected and stored

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7. HOW ASSESSMENT INFORMATION WILL BE USED TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING

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