The Sociology MA Program provides students with the scientific tools to understand the core concepts of the discipline of Sociology and those of one or more specialty areas.
Objective
Methodology Component
Graduate Students who complete the Sociology MA Program will be competent sociologists and will be able to apply the core concepts of the discipline of Sociology.
Indicator
Evaluation Of Methodology
The evaluation of the Graduate Program mirrors that of the Undergraduate Program. However, it is qualitatively more rigorous. The first part of the Evaluation Program (EP) consists of the evaluation of one research paper written by each graduating student in his/her specialty area. The second part of the EP consists of a questionnaire that measures the students' perception of their acquired knowledge of Sociology. Because of the limited number of students this component of the EP has not been implemented yet. However, the Graduate Students who completed the program have all gone on to Doctoral Programs. These indicators are evaluated by a three member committee of the Graduate Faculty appointed by the chair. Employing their professional expertise, the committee evaluates students' papers assigning a maximum of two point for the use of sociological theory, a maximum of one point for the use of methodology and a maximum of two point for the articulation of the student's research. Samples are collected in the Fall and Spring and results evaluated at the end of each Spring semester. The selection of this indicator responds to disciplinary standards and conforms to contemporary techniques of evaluation research. It was developed in a meeting of the entire faculty in which various options were discussed and critically reviewed.
Criterion
Desired Results--Methodology
At least 80% of papers should be rated 3 or better on the 5 point-scale. Two points can be given for methodology.
Finding
Findings Aplly Core Concepts
100 percent of students performed satisfactorily
Action
Actions Apply Core Concepts
This marks the first year that the MA program is offered online. The department is developing new strategies to effectively interact with this new group of students. We initiated discussion to perfect these new strategies.
Goal
Understand Core Concepts
The Sociology MA Program provides students with the scientific tools to understand the core concepts of the discipline of Sociology and those of one or more specialty areas.
Objective
Theory Component
Graduate Students who complete the Sociology MA Program will be competent sociologists who will be able to use the disciplinary scientific tools (theories).
Indicator
Evaluation Of Theoretical Knowledge
The evaluation of the Graduate Program mirrors that of the Undergraduate Program. However, it is qualitatively more rigorous. The first part of the Evaluation Program (EP) consists of the evaluation of one research paper written by each graduating student in his/her specialty area. The second part of the EP consists of a questionnaire that measures the students' perception of their acquired knowledge of Sociology. Because of the limited number of students this component of the EP has not been implemented yet. However, the Graduate Students who completed the program have all gone on to Doctoral Programs. These indicators are evaluated by a three member committee of the Graduate Faculty appointed by the chair. Employing their professional expertise, the committee evaluates students' papers assigning a maximum of two point for the use of sociological theory, a maximum of one point for the use of methodology and a maximum of two point for the articulation of the student's research. Samples are collected in the Fall and Spring and results evaluated at the end of each Spring semester. The selection of this indicator responds to disciplinary standards and conforms to contemporary techniques of evaluation research. It was developed in a meeting of the entire faculty in which various options were discussed and critically reviewed.
Criterion
Desired Results-Theory
At least 80% of papers should be rated 3 or better in the 5 point scale. A paper can be given two points for Theory.
Finding
Findings Understand Core Concepts
100 percent of students performed satisfactorily
Action
Actions: Understand Core Concepts
As stated previously, this marks the first year that the MA program is offered online. The department is developing new strategies to effectively interact with this new group of students.
Goal
Communicate Results
The Sociology MA Program provides students with the scientific tools to be able to communicate the results obtained through the application of the core concepts of the discipline of Sociology and those of one or more specialty areas.
Objective
Communicate Results
Graduate students who complete the Sociology MA Program will competent and able to communicate the scientific results obtained through the application of the core concepts of the discipline
Indicator
Evaluation Of Communication Skills
The evaluation of the Graduate Program mirrors that of the Undergraduate Program. However, it is qualitatively more rigorous. The first part of the Evaluation Program (EP) consists of the evaluation of one research paper written by each graduating student in his/her specialty area. The second part of the EP consists of a questionnaire that measures the students' perception of their acquired knowledge of Sociology. Because of the limited number of students this component of the EP has not been implemented yet. However, the Graduate Students who completed the program have all gone on to Doctoral Programs. These indicators are evaluated by a three member committee of the Graduate Faculty appointed by the chair. Employing their professional expertise, the committee evaluates students' papers assigning a maximum of two point for the use of sociological theory, a maximum of one point for the use of methodology and a maximum of two point for the articulation of the student's research. Samples are collected in the Fall and Spring and results evaluated at the end of each Spring semester. The selection of this indicator responds to disciplinary standards and conforms to contemporary techniques of evaluation research. It was developed in a meeting of the entire faculty in which various options were discussed and critically reviewed.
Criterion
Desired Results--Communication
At least 80% of papers should be rated 3 or better on the 5 point scale. One point may be given for the articulation of the ideas.
Finding
Findings: Communicate Results
100 percent of students performed satisfactorily.
Action
Actions: Communicate Results
This first year of offering the MA program online has been challenging. The department is developing new strategies to effectively interact with this new group of students, and we have initiated discussion to perfect new strategies.