November 14, 2006

Liberal Studies Program Assessment Plan

The aim of the Liberal Studies Program is to enable students to intelligently address important personal, social, and global issues from multiple perspectives.

All Liberal Studies goal courses must include a statement in the syllabus and course outline which explains how the course fits within the appropriate Liberal Studies goal area.

All Liberal Studies goal courses must include an assessment plan that:

a)  Identifies the student learning outcomes designated below by the Liberal Studies Program Committee (LSPC) within the relevant Liberal Studies goal area.

b)  Identifies a means and standard by which to assess if the outcomes have been successfully met.*

c) Will make assessment results available for review according to the timetable prepared by the LSPC. **

d)  Will provide, along with results, an action plan, if necessary, to modify the course to better produce student outcomes.

* A single course assessment plan agreed to by all faculty who teach the course is preferred; however, if not all faculty members agree upon the same plan, individual faculty members may also submit their particular assessment plan and selected criteria. 

** See attached timetable.

Six Critical Goal Areas

Six blocks of courses reflect the Liberal Studies Program’s six critical goals, broadly representing contemporary domains of intellectual inquiry. These goals are directly related to the Slippery Rock University’s Outcomes for Student Learning and Development. Two university outcomes, Communication and Critical Thinking, will be developed in all Liberal Studies courses.

Basic Requirements

Intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and communication provide the foundation upon which a student’s education is built.  The hallmark of an educated person is the ability to locate, evaluate, organize, and present information, using the appropriate technology. In addition to fundamental skills, it is also important to appreciate the aesthetic value of language (oral and written) through analysis, interpretation, and discussion.

For courses to be included in the Basic Requirements block, the syllabi must incorporate evidence of a focus on the student outcomes listed below, which connect the course to the following university outcomes: Communication, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, and Personal Development. 

The student will:

___Locate, evaluate, and organize information.

___Present information in oral or written formats.

___Conduct independent research on a topic of the student’s choosing.

___ Analyze, interpret, and develop an aesthetic understanding of literature.

The Arts

Artists, through a creative process, express and/or challenge human values within a social and historic context.  An understanding of one’s own and other cultures can be explored through interaction with artists, works of art, and their respective creative processes.  Goal and enrichment courses in the Liberal Studies Program Arts Block will provide students with an appreciation of the creative processes, as well as the ability to analyze, interpret, and enjoy the creation, performance, and exhibition of works of art.

For courses to be included in the Arts block, the syllabi must incorporate evidence of a focus on the student outcomes listed below, which connect the course to the following university outcomes: Aesthetic Perception and Ability, Communication, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, and Personal Development. 

The student will:

___ Identify the genres, periods, media, and styles of music, dance, theatre, literature, and the visual arts.

___ Be able to draw interpretive conclusions about the creative processes and artistic media used by artists. 

___ Critically analyze works of art and the contexts in which they were produced. 

Global Community

Students will gain knowledge and understanding of and respect for the historical and contemporary interconnections evolving among peoples, cultures, societies, and the environment in our national and global communities. Understanding global interdependence requires critical thinking, an expanded appreciation of diverse cultures, and a sense of civic responsibility in local, national, and international contexts. Students will develop an awareness of the values and forces that have shaped our national experience within the global context.

For courses to be included in the Global Community block, the syllabi must incorporate evidence of a focus on the student outcomes listed below, which connect the course to the following university outcomes: Global Interdependence, Communication, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Values and Ethics, and Social Awareness and Civic Responsibility.

The student will:

Non-U.S. Courses

___ Describe how values, attitudes, and beliefs affect the ability of people to relate to that which is different.

___ Evaluate general theories, models, arguments, or perspectives that explain the contemporary or historical relationships among social, political, economic, or environmental systems.

___ Communicate an understanding of how language or culture affects one’s perception of the world.

The student will:

U.S. Courses

___ Explain the relationships between the major actors and institutions in the American and global political and economic systems.

___Explain the core values of American society, how these have arisen, and how they influence beliefs and behavior.

Human Institutions and Interpersonal Relationships

Human relationships and behavior are the basis of social, economic, and political institutions. Students will examine and critically assess individual and societal values, social issues, and interpersonal relationships. This examination and assessment will result in students understanding their own role in maintaining and improving human life through developing strategies for cooperation and collaboration in globally diverse environments.

For courses to be included in the Human Institutions and Interpersonal Relationships

block, the syllabi must incorporate evidence of a focus on the student outcomes listed below, which connect the course to the following university outcomes: Social Awareness and Civic Responsibility, Values and Ethics, Personal Development, Communication, and Critical Thinking and Problem Solving.

The student will:

___ Identify and evaluate issues and problems within human institutions and interpersonal relationships using ethical criteria.

___ Demonstrate how ethical criteria can be used to foster cooperation and promote respect for diversity.

___ Evaluate social, emotional, cognitive, and/or biological aspects of personal development within human institutions and interpersonal relationships and explain how these affect human beliefs and behavior in everyday life.

___ Analyze and evaluate how globally diverse contexts affect beliefs and behaviors of individuals, groups, organizations, and human institutions and how these contexts influence civic engagement.

Science, Technology, and Mathematics

Through the study of science and mathematics students not only master specific disciplinary content, but also understand the modes of thought, reasoning, and methods of inquiry of the scientist and mathematician. Rigorous, disciplined inquiry enables students to utilize scientific facts, mathematical principles, and the scientific method to analyze issues and problems of the world.

Courses in the Science, Technology, and Mathematics block must be from disciplines recognized by the National Science Foundation’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program.  For a list of Slippery Rock University departments in the STEM program check the STEM Classifications document on the Liberal Studies folder on the I-Drive. If a course comes from a department outside the STEM program, the department must explain how the course meets the student outcomes relevant to the Science, Technology, and Mathematics block.

For courses to be included in the Science, Technology, and Mathematics block, the syllabi must incorporate evidence of a focus on the student outcomes listed below, which connect the course to the following university outcomes: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving andCommunication.  

The student will:

____ Demonstrate basic knowledge of facts, terms, concepts, and theories central to STEM programs.

____ Develop skill in using materials, techniques, tools, and technology central to STEM programs.

____ Demonstrate synthesis and integration of information and ideas.

____ Analyze and interpret experimental data and results effectively.

 Challenges of the Modern Age

In a rapidly changing world that demands making difficult decisions, students must have the ability to weigh alternatives and make thoughtful choices.

For courses to be included in the Challenges of the Modern Age block, the syllabi must incorporate evidence of a focus on the student outcomes listed below, which connect the course to the following university outcomes: Communication, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, and Values and Ethics.

The student will:

____ Analyze a contemporary challenge from an ethical perspective.

____ Evaluate problems using multiple viewpoints.

____ Locate, synthesize, and evaluate information to make thoughtful decisions.

Slippery Rock University 

Liberal Studies Program Course Assessment Plan 

In the forms that follow, write the specific student outcome within the appropriate goal area and describe the course assessment instrument you plan to use in your course.