Bachelor of Science in Political Science

Assessment Report, 2014-2015

CLASS, Political Science

Assessment Identifiers

College / School:
Savannah State University

Department:
Political Science and Public Affairs

Program / Major / Certificate:
Political Science

Assessment Coordinator(s)
Geoff Bowden

M. Donald Bell

Has there been a change to the Assessment Coordinator(s) since the last assessment plan? Yes

Person(s) responsible for writing and/or submitting this report:
Geoff Bowden

Program Mission Statement

The political science major seeks to advance the historic mission of Savannah State University by preparing students who are respectful of the past, competent to handle the present, and prepared for the future in public service in Georgia and beyond. The Department of Political Science and Public Affairs offers a Bachelor’s Science in Political Science with concentrations in one of the three areas of pre-law, public administration, or international/comparative politics.
A well-qualified faculty offers courses on the African American political experience, comparative politics, international relations, the American judicial system, research methods, political theory, and constitutional law. At the undergraduate level, students may elect to focus on public administration, pre-law, or international comparative politics. Students may pursue their graduate studies within the department by choosing either the Master of Public Administration (MPA) or the Master of Science in Urban Studies and Planning (MSUS) degree programs. The Master of Public Administration is fully accredited by The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The Master of Science in Urban Studies and Planning is a full member of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP).

The Bachelors of Science in Political Science seeks to prepare leaders in public service to Georgia and beyond, and who are able to:
• Demonstrate an understanding of American governmental structures, as well as comparative political systems;
• Exhibit knowledge of the political science literature and have the ability to retrieve information and acquire knowledge on their own;
• Communicate effectively about the impact of political science in society and the significance of the discipline in the social sciences;
• Pursue graduate and professional schools;
• Compete successfully for entry-level jobs in the domestic and international arenas in Georgia and beyond; and
• Perform at higher levels of economic productivity, social responsibility, and moral excellence in their chosen field.

Has this mission statement been revised since the last plan? No

PSLOs

1. Research Methods in Political Sciences: Students will develop in-depth knowledge in research procedures consistent with Political Science.

2. Problem Solving: Students will understand the various processes and methods of decision making involved in problem solving.

3. Understanding Global Issues: Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the challenges of a rapidly changing world community; be able to appreciate other people's cultures. 

4. Understanding American Political Issues: Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the ideologies, institutions, and processes of American politics.

5. Effective Communication: Students will demonstrate effective communication in written essays to the instructor, and written communication to other members of the class.

LINK TO: Assessment Report, 2014-2015 – Supporting Documents

Assessment Results (PSLOs)

SSU Strategic Plan Goal	PSLO	Semester	Professor	Courses	Assessment Artifacts and Instruments	Target Levels	Results and Analysis of Results	Actions in Response to Results
Academic Engagement and Achievement	1. Research Methods in Political Sciences: Students will develop in-depth knowledge in research procedures consistent with political Science	Fall 2013	Jayaraman	POLS 3301 Research Methods in Political Science	Lit Review - Information Literacy Rubric	≥ 75% of students will meet milestone 2 or higher.	TARGET 1 MET Milestones 2 and 3 (88%).  More students were in the Milestone 2 range, so the new target should be to increase the percentage of students in Milestone 3.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGET 1: The program will increase the number of upper level sections that go to the Library training for research. Also, we will introduce research in POLS 1101, 2401. Set new target, perhaps, within the program. TARGET 2: The program will develop exercises to show reliability of sources, and critically engaging sources on a small scale for repetition within the program. Set new target, perhaps.
		Spring 2014	Richardson	POLS 3301 Research Methods in Political Science	Research Methodology Paper - Information Literacy Rubric		TARGET 2 MET (93%) Need to work on evaluating sources critically.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	2. Problem Solving: Students will understand the various processes and methods of decision making involved in problem solving.	Fall 2013	Bowden	POLS 4201 Political Theory	Gorgias paper - Problem Solving Rubric	≥ 75% will achieve milestone 2 or higher.	TARGET 1 MET Milestones 2 and 3 (84%). More students were in the Milestone 2 range, so the new target should be to increase the percentage of students in Milestone 3. We need to increase the number of students who develop their own opinions in argumentation.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGET 1: The program will introduce more opinion pieces in all upper level sections, to focus on the art of logical argumentation within the program. TARGET 2: The program will increase the number of variables in global politics assignments within the program. TARGET 3: The program will increase the number of variables in global politics assignments within the program.
			Naniuzeyi	POLS 3131 International Organizations	International Org final paper - Problem Solving Rubric	≥ 75% will achieve milestone 2 or higher.	TARGET 2 MET (92%) Work on increasing the complexity of the problems to be solved in the global theatre.
				POLS 3141 African Government & Politics	African Pol Assignment 10 - Problem Solving Rubric		TARGET 3 MET (92%) Work on increasing the complexity of the problems to be solved in the global arena.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	3. Understanding Global Issues: Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the challenges of a rapidly changing world community; be able to appreciate other people's cultures.	Fall 2013	Agbehonou	POLS 3141 African Government & Politics	Political Significance Essay - Global Politics Rubric	≥ 75% of students will meet the basic standard.	TARGET 1 MET (90%) Perhaps consider ways to make the assignment more complicated and challenging	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: TARGET 1: The program will introduce more variables into the writing assignments in the Global politics sections within the program. TARGET 2: The program will develop ways to increase global context of the issues of politics within the program. TARGET 3: The program will develop ways to increase global context of the issues of politics within the program.
		Spring 2014	Naniuzeyi	POLS 3101 International Politics	African Pol Paper - Global Politics Rubric		TARGET 2 MET (82%) Need to work on increasing the number of students who exceed the standard
		Fall 2013		POLS 3131 International Organizations	International Org Assignment 10 - Global Politics Rubric		TARGET 3 MET (82%) Increase the number who exceed standard
Academic Engagement and Achievement	4. Understanding American Political Issues: Students will demonstrate prominent political ideologies in U.S. politics and describe their respective beliefs, values, and goals; be able to discuss how advertising and the mass media influence political behavior in the U.S.; be able to compare and contrast the powers of the U.S. Congress, the Presidency, and the Supreme Court.	Fall 2013	Bongang	POLS 4601 American Foreign Policy	Final Research Paper - American Politics Rubric	≥ 75% of students will meet the basic standard.	TARGET MET (90%) Consider ways of making the assignment more complex	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: The program will introduce more variables into the writing assignments in the upper level American politics assignments within the program.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	5. Effective Communication: Students will demonstrate effective communication in written essays to the instructor, and the written communication to other members of the class.	Spring 2014	Agbehonou	POLS 3101 International Politics	Ukranian Crisis paper - Written Communication Rubric	≥ 75% will achieve milestone 2 or higher.	TARGET MET Milestones 2 and 3 (88%). More students were in the Milestone 2 range, so the new target should be to increase the percentage of students in Milestone 3	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: The program will increase the percentage of students who reach Milestone 3 by working on drafts of smaller essays, to increase feedback within the program.

Assessment Results (POs)

SSU Strategic Plan Goal	PO Goal	Enabling Strategies	Measures	Targets	Results and Analysis of Results	Actions in Response to Results
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Increase enrollment in major	a. Attend campus Open Marketplace Events in Fall and Spring to recruit new students b. Visit local high schools	Track enrollment of POLS majors in Blackboard Analytics.	135 students	TARGET NOT MET Enrollment 112 Target shortfall 23 students.	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: The program will develop recruitment strategies for lower level classes. Attending functions off campus need to be targeted to right demographic and right age to be efficient.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Improve retention by identifying struggling students early.	a. Attend GradesFirst trainings b. Use GradesFirst as early alert system	Track number of students who fail classes	5% decrease in failure rates	TARGET NOT MET Slight decrease in failure rates (3%) Target shortfall 2%	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: The program will continue to use early alert resources to find struggling students.