DRAFT

The Department of Communication Arts & Sciences
Undergraduate Assessment Objectives

Upon completion of their program, students of the Department of CommunicationArts and Sciences will demonstrate:

 ~an ability to apply to specific areas of interest major theoretical knowledge of and core skills in rhetoric and communication science;

Assessment Measure
Comprehensive exam; evaluation of internship projects; evaluation of
research projects; alumni surveys

~both individually and collectively, abilities in critical, creative, and ethical thinking in approaches to decision-making and problem-solving using communication solutions;

Assessment Measure
Comprehensive exam; evaluation of internship projects; evaluation of research projects; alumni surveys

~an ability to construct effective arguments and to express them with confidence and presentational expertise to a variety of audiences;

            Assessment Measure
            Major gpa; number of Communication Excellence certificates

~an ability to locate, synthesize, and assimilate new information from a variety of sources;

Assessment Measure
Student participation in independent research projects; evaluation of independent research projects
                   

~an active interest, understanding, and engagement in diverse communities, both local and global;

Assessment Measure
Participation in Education Abroad and/or Cross Cultural Internship; student entrance/exit surveys; alumni surveys

~an ability to function as a member of a democratic community.

Assessment Measure
Student entrance/exit surveys; alumni surveys

Summary of Tools for Measuring Student Mastery of Learning Outcomes

Collection of Raw Data

                    Numbers and percent of:                   

                    -Honors and Fellows graduates

                    -Overall and major gpa

                    -Students with second majors

                    -Study abroad experiences

                    -Internship experiences

                    -Communication Excellence Certificates

                    -Independent research projects

Collection of Student Opinion

                    Entrance surveys

                    Exit surveys

                    Alumni surveys (2, 5, 10 year; to be developed by students & faculty)

                                       
Direct Testing

               Comprehensive Exam – would serve only as diagnostic tool, results will not 

               affect students’ ability to graduate; taken on-line