Bachelor of Science in Sociology

Assessment Report, 2014-2015

CLASS, Sociology

Assessment Identifiers

College / School:
College of Liberal arts and sciences

Department:
Social and Behavioral Sciences

Program / Major / Certificate:
Sociology

Assessment Coordinator(s):
Larry Stokes

Has there been a change to the Assessment Coordinator(s) since the last assessment plan?
No

Person(s) responsible for writing and/or submitting this report:
Larry Stokes

Program Mission Statement

The baccalaureate degree in Sociology provides students with the necessary foundation for graduate school in the Social Sciences, and/or for entry level professional careers in Research, the Criminal Justice system, Social Work, Advertising, Banking, Business, Education, Government, Journalism, and Public Relations as well as other types of employment within governmental agencies, private foundations, and a wide range of businesses. The Sociology program seeks to develop students' ability to think critically about a wide range of social issues and social patterns within our society, and throughout the world for the purpose of bringing about positive change.

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

PSLOs

1. The students will be able to understand sociological theories and core concepts:

- Understand the role of theory

- Understand the basic concepts of sociology

2. The students will be able to understand the sociological perspective:

- Understanding sociology as a distinct discipline and the role the sociological imagination plays in contributing to understanding social reality

3. The students will be able to understand sociology as a science and ethical issues in research:

- Understand the role of evidence and research methods in sociology

- Understanding ethical issues in research

4. The students will be able to understand and value diversity:

- Understanding diversity in American society

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. Students will be able to understand sociological theories and core concepts.	Fall 2014	Diogo Pinheiro	SOCI 4312 Contemporary Sociological Theory	Tests - Answer Key	70% of students will score level 2 (minimal proficiency) or above. Percentage will be calculated as the sum of students to score level 2- minimal proficiency, 3- Average proficiency and 4- high Proficiency.	TARGET 1 NOT MET 12%) demonstrated limited proficiency, 3 (9%) demonstrated minimal proficiency, 6 (18%) demonstrated average proficiency, and 20 (60%) demonstrated high proficiency. One of the biggest challenges is getting students to connect social theory and its concepts to real world phenomena.	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2014-2015 academic year: The group project was substituted for an individual research proposal, with the idea that the research proposal would be conducted during Senior Seminar. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: The textbook will be changed to help improve this PSLO. The program will include at least 1 presentation to improve student knowledge on the various subjects leading to greater understanding of theory, basic concepts in sociology, and diversity in American society.
		Spring 2015	Diogo Pinheiro	SOCI 4312 Contemporary Sociological Theory	Test - Answer Key		TARGET 2 MET 4 (44%) achieved average proficiency, 5 (55%) achieved high proficiency.
		Fall 2014	Larry Stokes	SOCI 4901 Senior Seminar	Final Paper Score		TARGET 3 MET 68% exceeded expectation, and 32% met expectation.
			Stephanie Alexander	SOCI 3036 Social Stratification	Student paper, assignments (a quiz, and 6 book assignments) - detailed grade book		TARGET 4 NOT MET 60% of students met the minimum (30%), average (19%) or high (11%) proficiency scores. This is an increase from 2013, but still short of the target. 38% had limited proficiency
			Stephanie Alexander	SOCI 3201 Classical Theory	Student paper, assignments (a quiz, and 6 book assignments) - detailed grade book		TARGET 5 MET Students met the 70% target rate.  95% of students met the minimum (18%), average (50%) or high (27%) proficiency scores. 4% had limited proficiency
Academic Engagement and Achievement	2. Students will be able to understand and apply the sociological perspective or the sociological imagination.	Spring 2015	Diogo Pinheiro	SOCI 4312 Contemporary Sociological Theory	Tests - Answer Key	70% of students will score level 2 (minimal proficiency) or above. Percentage will be calculated as the sum of students to score level 2- minimal proficiency, 3- Average proficiency and 4- high Proficiency.	TARGET 1 MET (12%) demonstrated limited proficiency, 3 (9%) demonstrated minimal proficiency, 6 (18%) demonstrated average proficiency, and 20 (60%) demonstrated high proficiency	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2014-2015 academic year: Faculty worked with the library to have more training on the databases available to students, as well as the creation of the following reference websites: savannahstate.libguides.com/soci 4312 and savannahstate.libguides.com/soci 3401. Arranged to have members of the library staff come to class to present research techniques and how to construct a reference list. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: The program will continue showing students the British video of what is sociology and how social factors influence their lives, and following up with similar questions that related to America.  We will continue to partner with library.
		Fall 2014	Diogo Pinheiro	SOCI 3401 Social Research Methods	Tests - Answer Key		TARGET 2 MET            4 (44%) achieved average proficiency, 5 (55%) achieved high proficiency.
			Larry Stokes	SOCI 1101 Introduction to Sociology	Tests - Answer Key		TARGET 3 MET          4 (10%) demonstrated minimal proficiency, 9 (23%) demonstrated minimal proficiency, 15 (38%) demonstrated average proficiency and 11 (28%) demonstrated high proficiency.
			Larry Stokes	SOCI 4901 Senior Seminar	Final Paper Scores		TARGET 4 MET 68% exceeded expectation, and 32% met expectation.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	3. Student will be able to understand sociology as a science and ethical issues in research.	Fall 2014	Diogo Pinheiro	SOCI 3401 Social Research Methods	Tests - Answer Key	70% of students will score level 2 (minimal proficiency) or above. Percentage will be calculated as the sum of students to score level 2- minimal proficiency, 3- Average proficiency and 4- high Proficiency.	TARGET 1 MET            4 (44%) achieved average proficiency, 5 (55%) achieved high proficiency	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2014-2015 academic year: The program introduced a component to the Social Statistics class that sought to help students understand the rules and limitations of statistical inference. This component was a semester-long creation of a statistical report using real world data from the General Social Survey. The goal was to help students understand how statistical principles allowed them to make arguments about the real world. Guidelines for this report are attached. As a result of engaging in this hands on process of crafting statistical arguments, a substantial improvement in student understanding of statistical basis of hypothesis testing was verified to obtain future goals of the program. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: Methods will be continued within the program.
		Spring 2015	Diogo Pinheiro	SOCI 2101 Social Statistics	Tests - Answer Key		TARGET 2 MET 71% average proficiency or better.
		Fall 2014	Kenneth Jordan	SOCI 2101 Social Statistics	Tests - Answer Key		TARGET 3 MET          16 (51%) achieved minimal proficiency, 14 (45%) achieved average proficiency and 2 (6%) achieved high proficiency.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	4. Students will be able to understand issues regarding diversity in American society.	Fall 2014	Diogo Pinheiro	SOCI 3401 Social Research Methods	Tests - Answer Key	70% of students will score level 2 (minimal proficiency) or above. Percentage will be calculated as the sum of students to score level 2- minimal proficiency, 3- Average proficiency and 4- high Proficiency.	TARGET 1 MET            4 (44%) achieved average proficiency, 5 (55%) achieved high proficiency	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: Methods will be continued within the program.
		Spring 2015	Diogo Pinheiro	SOCI 4312 Contemporary Sociological Theory	Tests - Answer Key		TARGET 2 MET (12%) demonstrated limited proficiency, 3 (9%) demonstrated minimal proficiency, 6 (18%) demonstrated average proficiency, and 20 (60%) demonstrated high proficiency
		Fall 2014	Larry Stokes	SOCI 1101 Introduction to Sociology	Tests - Answer Key		TARGET 3 MET           4 (10%) demonstrate limited proficiency, 9 (23%) demonstrated minimal proficiency, 15 (38%) demonstrated average proficiency and 11 (28%) demonstrated high proficiency.
		Fall 2014	Stephanie Alexander	SOCI 3201 Classical Theory	Student paper, assignments (a quiz, and 6 book assignments) - detailed grade book		TARGET 4 MET 95% of students met the minimum (18%), average (50%) or high (27%) proficiency scores. 4% had limited proficiency.

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	Enhance program curriculum	a. Faculty will meet to discuss programmatic changes and develop new courses b. Faculty members will revise required major courses to create a more flexible curricula for students to graduate in a timely manner without any special arrangements	Curriculum proposals	i. To drop one major required course to provide greater flexibility in meeting graduation requirements. ii. To add a minimum of two new major elective courses (at least one 3000 level special topics course)	TARGET MET   Curriculum modifications enacted.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year:  There was no action necessary, since target was met.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Increase the use of technology to enhance instructional delivery	Encourage faculty to become trained in the application of D2L teaching techniques for both hybrid and fully online course	Number of fully online courses taught	2 courses taught fully at a distance	TARGET PARTIALLY MET                                        Only one course was taught fully at a distance and one upper-level course (SOCI 3631) was taught as a hybrid.	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: The faculty determined that continued and possibly expansion of hybrid and fully at a distance are essential for delivery of courses and program growth.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Increase or maintain the enrollment in Sociology	Encourage faculty to recruit students in large section introductory courses	Track the number of majors in Blackboard Analytics	118 students enrolled (baseline, AY 2012-2013)	TARGET MET                                                                  The total number of majors enrolled in the program was 118, which is an increase of 3 students. During this academic year, we had 19 graduates, which will impacted our enrollment numbers for next year.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: The faculty determined that we should continue to recruit from our lower level sociology courses. Most of these have yet to declare a major. The faculty discussed the possibility of including recruitment strategies by including statements in the syllabus that encourage to consider sociology as a major.