Bachelor of Science in Political Science

Assessment Report, 2013-2014

CLASS, Political Science

Assessment Identifiers

College / School:
Savannah State University, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Department:
Political Science and Public Affairs

Program / Major / Certificate:
Political Science

Assessment Coordinator(s):
Geoff Bowden

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 Bachelor’s 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 be able to identify prominent political ideologies in U.S. politics and describe their respective beliefs, values and goals; discuss how advertising and the mass media influence political behavior in the U.S.; compare and contrast the powers of the U.S. Congress, the Presidency, and the Supreme Court.

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, 2013-2014 – 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 2014	Jayaraman	POLS 3301 Research Methods in Political Science	Literature Review - Information Literacy Rubric	≥ 40% achieve Milestone 3	TARGET NOT MET (7% achieved milestone 3)	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: Have each professor in upper level classes take students to the library for sessions on how to use library resources at least one time per semester.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	2. Problem Solving: Students will understand the various processes and methods of decision making involved in problem solving.	Spring 2015	Bongang	POLS 4901 Senior Seminar	Senior Thesis - AAC&U Critical Thinking Rubric	≥ 40% achieve Milestone 3	TARGET 1 MET (46% achieved milestone 3).	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: TARGETS 1 & 2: Professors will research ways in which to improve problem-solving skills in the classroom and thru assignments.
Academic Engagement and Achievement		Fall 2014	Bongang	POLS 4601 American Foreign Policy	CRL final paper - Problem Solving Rubric	≥ 40% achieve Milestone 3	TARGET 2 MET (46% achieved milestone 3).
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 2014	Agbehonou	POLS 3121 International Law	CRL Final Paper - Global Politics Rubric	≥ 90% meet Milestone 2 or higher.	TARGET NOT MET (87% achieved milestone 2).	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: Faculty decided to keep the same targets, and to focus a bit more on Global Dynamics, including the complexity of global politics.
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 2014	Bongang	POLS 4601 American Foreign Policy	AFP Research Paper - American Politics Rubric	≥ 80% meet Milestone 2 or higher	TARGET NOT MET (62% achieved milestone 2).	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: The program will adjust the target to have 20% exceed the standard.
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.	Fall 2014	Owens	POLS 3811 Urban Politics	Analytical Essay - QEP Writing Rubric	≥ 40% achieve excellent (3 on the rubric)	TARGET NOT MET Only 4% achieved excellent (3 on the rubric) average.	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: The program will keep the target at 40% for rubric rating of 3 (excellent), and work on writing POLS electives. The program will also have professors do research in all upper-level classes.

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	Collect Student Work Artifacts Digitally	Trainings on D2L	Attendance at D2L trainings	10 professors attend trainings total	TARGET PARTIALLY MET 4 trainings, with an average of 6 professors from our program attending each training.	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: The program will continue to emphasize D2L trainings, and mandate that professors collect artifacts digitally.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Improve student advising by using DegreeWorks	Trainings on DegreeWorks	Attendance at DegreeWorks trainings	8 advisors attend	TARGET NOT MET We had 2 trainings on DegreeWorks, with 2 professors attending in total	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: We only have 2 advisors. We need to see who is eligible to advise students. We need more advisors.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Increase enrollment in major	Attend campus Open Marketplace Events in Fall and Spring to recruit new students	Track enrollment of POLS majors in Blackboard Analytics.	120 students	TARGET MET 124 students enrolled Target exceeded by 4 majors.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: The program will continue attending Marketplace events, and recruit in lower level classes.