Pre-test was conducted in Soci 116 (Global Society) which is a Core GE, Area D3 and required for all sociology students. Most students took this course in their sophomore, or junior year if they were transferred from a community college. For the comparative purpose, we only selected sociology majors, even though other majors were in Soci 116.
Post-test was conducted in Soci 181 (Internship) which was required for all sociology students. All students took in their senior years after they completed Soci 100W and Soci 101 (Social Theory).
Two sets of questions were assessed, each of which had sub-questions based on Sociology Department’s Undergraduate Program Learning Objectives.
A set of t-tests were conducted to compare pre- and post-tests.
There were 62 students in Soci 116 in Fall 2010, 48 of them were sociology majors (78.7%), while there were 25 students in Soci 181 in Fall 2010.
your major?
(4=very important, 3=somewhat important, 2=somewhat less important, 1=not important)
Table 1
1. I enjoyed the first course I had in sociology.
2. I think it will prepare me for a job helping people.
3. My coursework in sociology at a community college.
4. I am looking for a more general major rather than one focused on a specific career.
5. I think I might like to go into some aspect of social research or research analysis.
7. I think it might help me to change the society.
8. I heard it was not a difficult major.
9. I think it might help me understand more about myself.
10. I heard good things about the sociology department at SJSU.
11. I think it might help me to understand my place in a global and international world.
Results
Based on Table 1, students indicated that their appreciation of the first sociology course increased as they progressed from sophomore/junior to senior year (Question 1, p=.005).
Although the result was not statistically significant (p=0.64), their interest in preparing to teach at the high school or college level also increased from as they moved from sophomore/junior to senior year (Question 6).
(B) We have established several educational goals and learning expectations for sociology majors. These goals and expectations are listed below. For each goal, indicate the extent to which you believe it was attained for your self.
(1=significantly attained, 2= somewhat attained, 3=attained to a small degree, 4=not attained at all)
Table 2
Post 1.48 (25) 0.77
1. Understanding social reality and society.
2. Research and statistical skills for evaluating and gathering evidence about social life and social relations.
3. Knowledge about basic concepts such as culture, socialization stratification, institution, self and deviance.
4. Knowledge about applying sociological theories to explain social issues.
5. Understanding how institutions like the family, education, and the economy are interrelated.
6. Understanding the significance of variations by race, social class, gender and age.
7. Ability to think critically about social events and to present opposing viewpoints and alternative hypothesis on various social issues.
8. Basic computer skills necessary to find, communicate, create and apply sociological knowledge and information.
9. Understanding the internal diversity of American society.
10. Understanding cultures different from our own.
11. Understanding the place of American society in the international and global world.
12. Ability to understand how to be involved as a citizen in a democratic society.
13. Ability to communicate sociological knowledge orally.
14. Ability to communicate sociological knowledge in writing.
Results
Table 2 indicates that their basic computer skills necessary to find, communicate, create and apply sociological knowledge and information increased as they progressed from sophomore/junior to senior year (Question 8, p=.048). Two additional questions (Questions 2 and 3) produced almost statistically significant results (p=.072, 0.88, respectively). Students showed improvement for their research and statistical skills for evaluating and gathering evidence about social life and social relations from their sophomore/junior to senior year. Also, their knowledge about basic concepts such as culture, socialization, stratification, institution, self and deviance has increased.
Program: MA Sociology College: Social Sciences Date: 1/15/08
When is your next self-study due? ___FALL 2010__________________________________
Your PP schedule is posted at: http://www.sjsu.edu/ugs/docs/PP/. The self-study is generally due the spring before year of the external visit and committee reviews, e.g. if your next program plan cycle is scheduled for 2010-11 then your self-report should be due spring 2010)
The column headers in Table 2 should match the semesters in your current Program Planning cycle.
Most programs have a five year schedule, if you have a different schedule to coincide with accreditation please add (or subtract) columns.Table 2: Schedule of Planned Assessment Activities
C = Collect data D = Discuss results I = Implement changes (if any) Semester
→
F05 S06 F06 S07 F07 S08 F08 S09 F09 S10
SLO↓
#1 CD CD CDI CDI CD CD CD CD CD CD
#2 CD CD CDI CDI CD CD CD CD CD CD
#3 CD CD CDI CDI CD CD CD CD CD CD
#4 CD CD CDI CDI CD CD CD CD CD CD
#5 CD CD CDI CDI CD CD CD CD CD CD
IF YOUR PROGRAM IS ACCREDITED: You may choose to align your assessment activities with your accreditation self-study rather than the program planning self-study.
_____ Check if aligned with accreditation rather than Program Planning
Once you submit this table electronically, it will be posted to the Assessment Website. You will not have to submit the schedule again until it changes.
Revised 11/13/07
Program: MA SOCIOLOGY Prepared by: PETER CHUA
Date: 1/15/08 phone: 4-5330
Email: [email protected]
Where multiple program curricula are almost identical, and SLOs and assessment plans are identical, it is acceptable to list more than one program in this report.
Electronic and hard copy due to your college facilitator January 15, 2008. Digital version of this form available at: http://www.sjsu.edu/ugs/assessment/forms/
Please report any activity (collect data, analyze data, discuss results among faculty, implement changes) you completed prior to the fall 2007 semester that is not already posted on the Web (http://www.sjsu.edu/ugs/datareports/assess_report/). Please describe the content or results of the activity.
Are samples, results, rubrics, etc for this report archived in the location listed on the Cover page?
X_____________ YES _______________ NO
C=Collect data D=Discuss data among faculty I=implement program changes based on data SLO
#
C, D, or I
Content or results of activity 1, 2,
3, 4, 5
CDI
See previous self-study and assessment reports.
Revised 11/13/07
data, discuss results among faculty, or implement changes. This table should match planned activities for fall 2007 in Table 2.
C=Collect data D=Discuss data among faculty I=implement program changes based on data SLO
#
C, D, or I
Content or results of activity 1, 2,
3, 4, 5
C
The department compiled measures of quality learning based on:
- Pre-test student survey on knowledge and perceptions - Internship supervisor surveys
- Forty percent of capstone written work submitted for SOCI 298 Special Study, or SOCI 299 Master’s Thesis or Project.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
D
During meetings, the department faculty analyzed the quality of student learning and discussed approaches to improve students’ sociological research and communication skills and to enhance curricular offering by hiring two new faculty
members and improving course scheduling. Unfunded and incremental increases in inapt responsibilities on faculty were determined as major barriers to quality in graduate
instruction.
Revised 11/13/07
Spring 2008 assessment plan (should match schedule in Table 2):
SLO Planned Execution of plan
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 C