Graduate students who complete the MA program in Sociology will demonstrate the appropriate array of sociological research skills.
Objective
1. Sociological Competency In Research And Analysis
M.A. Sociology students will demonstrate competence in advancing sociologically-informed arguments by producing a research paper that achieves the following: identification of patterns of social behavior; discernment of sociology's three major theoretical paradigms (structural functionalism, conflict, and symbolic interactionism); utilization of one or both of the two major sociological methods (positivism and interpretive).
Indicator
Professional Paper
All MA sociology students enrolling prior to Spring 2014 were required to write the professional paper, but could choose to take the Comprehensive Exams or write the Thesis if still enrolled after Spring 2014.
M.A. Sociology students writing the professional paper enrolled in SOCI 5099: Professional Paper Practicum bringing with them a self-chosen candidate paper from a previously taken class. That paper was presented to the director of graduate students for certification of eligibility for use in SOCI 5099.
Student papers deemed proficient by graduate director review were then made the official object of student SOCI 5099 participation and forwarded to the SOCI 5099 professor of record for the given semester.
At the end of participation in SOCI 5099, students failing to demonstrate the required level of content and writing mastery were to be assigned one of two courses of action: (1) work independently to complete the professional paper; and (2) to re-enroll subsequently in SOCI 5099.
Criterion
Professional Paper
All participating MA candidates will demonstrate proficiency as defined by the associated 4-point grading rubrics (see Attachments #1, #2, and #3). Minimum accepttable proficiency is defined by scoring an overall average of 2.0 of all graded rubric items as determined by a committee of SOCI faculty. Committee members will not have been professors of record for SOCI 5099 in the semester under evaluation.
Finding
Professional Paper Results
Six students enrolled in SOCI5099: Professional Paper during Fall 2014 and Spring 2015. All six completed the Professional Paper successfully. Subsequently, the papers were evaluated by a panel of two Sociology faculty. The results of the evaluation reveal that all six papers met the minimum criteria for all evaluation areas.
Indicator
Thesis
M.A. Sociology students enrolling in the Spring 2014 and after have the option to choose the thesis-track.
Criterion
Thesis
A successful SOCI MA thesis will be not less than 50 and not more than 100 printed pages of referenced, original SOCI research or a meta-analysis of existing research literature including primary and/or secondary data analysis.
Finding
Thesis
There were no students who started the Thesis option during this reporting period.
Action
Competency Sociological Research
The data indicate the desired result is satisfied in the professional paper. Although the professional paper is phasing out, the Sociology Graduate Studies will continue to ensure that students who take the professional paper track have competence in sociological research. Regarding Thesis, the department Graduate Committee will meet and develop criteria and protocol for details of thesis assessment.
Goal
2. Comprehensive Exams
SOCI MA students will sit for comprehensive examination as a powerful tool for demonstrating overall student learning outcomes.
Objective
1. Comprehensive Exams
MA SOCI students will demonstrate competence in applying sociological theories, sociological research methodologies and statistics, and research literature reviews of a selected, substantive sociological field.
Indicator
Comprehensive Examination
M.A. Sociology degree candidates will complete a written comprehensive exam.
The specialty area will be assessed by an in-depth exploration of sociological literature on a topic of the students choosing, written answers to questions pertaining to sociological theoretical perspectives and appropriate research methodologies. In each case, an examination committee will be convened to discuss the performance of the students. A panel of at least two graduate faculty per each of the three examination areas will assess the quality of the written examination to determine student sociological mastery. Students failing to demonstrate the required level of content mastery will be allowed to retake that area of the exam in the subsequent semester. A second failure will result in termination from the program.
Criterion
Comprehensive Exam
Possible examination grading outcomes are: High Pass, Pass, and Fail (see Attachment #1).
All M.A. candidates taking the comprehensive exam will complete all components of the examination with a score of High Pass or Pass.
Finding
Comprehensive Exams Results
In Fall 2014 two students took the exam. One student passed and one student failed all three areas of the exam. The student who failed re-took the exam in Spring 2015 and passed. In Spring 2015 five students took the exam. Three students passed and two students failed. One student failed the Methods/Statistics component and the other student failed the Sociological Essay Component (see Attachment #2).
Action
Comprehensive Understanding Of Sociological Theory, Research Methods, And Substantive Sociological Field
Two out of five students who took the exam could not complete a written comprehensive exam by failing one area of the exam. The Sociology Graduate Committee will meet and discuss the ways to help students to improve their understanding sociological theories and research methods, as well as their application to substantive social issues.