Program Assessment
BA in American Studies
MA in American Studies
BA in American Studies
Program orientation and goal:
American Studies emphasizes the integration of the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences in the study of American experience, past and present. Students develop individual programs of study, with their advisors, to understand and engage American cultures.
Assessment:
Assessment of desired program outcomes in American Studies is direct, with few exceptions, reviewing portfolios of majors’ work in courses they share in American Studies, filed by course and semester. Student work is filed after receiving students’ permission to collect their work for the purposes of assessment and advising. Assessment of student success in internships or field-based learning experiences (see outcome #4 below) is based directly on any documents students produce in the course of the learning experience, or indirectly on reports or presentations following field-based or internship experiences.
Program outcomes and assessment rubrics:
Outcome 1: Students interpret American cultural experience and creative expression, using a variety of objects and ideas important in American cultural life, past and present, not encompassed by any one academic discipline.
Assessment:
Student work demonstrates mastery of, proficiency with, or failure to understand the cultural significance of the following formations in American cultural study:
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words
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narratives
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images
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material objects
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communities
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built environments
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cross-cultural comparisons
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continuities and discontinuities with the past
Outcome 2: Students understand the processes of diversity in American cultural life, including within their own experience.
Assessment: Student work demonstrates mastery of, proficiency with, or failure in describing the following diversity-related processes, with regard to cultural groups, and students themselves:
identity formation
performance of identity
stereotyping
cultural contact
cultural memory
national identity
Outcome 3: Students demonstrate critical analysis, interpretation, or insight, through effective communication primarily in writing, but also in speaking. When appropriate, performance or display may be assessed for these qualities as well.
Assessment: Student work demonstrates mastery of, proficiency with, or failure in the following communication skills:
analytically coherent interpretive writing
authoritative, informed oral presentation
well-documented, visually effective display (where appropriate)
Outcome 4: Students apply American Studies methods in field-based courses and/or internships.
Assessment: Student use of American Studies approaches and competencies (outlined in Outcomes #1-3 above) may be assessed directly in any documents or presentations produced in the course of completing field-based courses or internships, or indirectly in reports or presentations produced following field-based or internship experiences for which no other documentation of student work exists.
MA in American Studies
Program orientation and goal:
American Studies emphasizes the integration of the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences in the study of American experience, past and present. Students develop individual programs of study to understand and engage American cultures with professional expertise in preparation for work or further graduate study.
Assessment:
Assessment of desired program outcomes in American Studies is primarily direct, based on portfolios of student work in 5500, 5510, American Studies electives at the 4xxx and 5xxx levels, on the thesis or Plan B exam and papers, public MA oral presentations, and MA defenses. Course-related portfolio material is filed after receiving students’ permission to collect their work for the purposes of assessment and advising. Assessment of student success in connecting American Studies MA work with further education or work after the MA (see outcome #4 below) is indirect, based on exit interviews and periodic post-graduation surveys.
Program outcomes and assessment rubrics:
Outcome 1: Students interpret a variety of objects significant to the study of American cultures.
Assessment: Student work demonstrates mastery of, proficiency with, or failure to understand the cultural significance of a variety of formations in American cultural study, including:
words
narratives
images
material objects
communities
built environments
identities
cross-cultural and/or international perspectives
continuities and discontinuities with the past
Outcome 2: Students demonstrate professional competence in writing and speaking.
Assessment: Student work demonstrates mastery of, proficiency with, or failure to accomplish the following indicators of graduate-level work:
error-free expository prose
authoritative oral presentation
insightful use of relevant source material reflecting critical reading skill
prose style commensurate with professional responsibility
Outcome 3: Students produce professional research for a well-defined community (scholarly, public, or an appropriate combination).
Assessment: Student work demonstrates mastery of, proficiency with, or failure to accomplish the following indicators of professional research for a well-defined community:
identifying and using primary sources
Outcome 4: Students prepare themselves for work beyond the MA in various capacities.
Assessment: Student plans and achievements build on American Studies competencies (as outlined in #1-3) in work or further graduate study.
