Bachelor of Science in Sociology

Assessment Report, 2015-2016

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, 2015-2016 – 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.	Spring 2016	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 6 (13%) limited proficiency, 1 (2%) minimal proficiency, 12 (27%) average proficiency and 24 (55%) high proficiency	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: Additional presentations, including a power point, where the book is required to complete the task, will be added to the program.
		Fall 2015	Diogo Pinheiro	SOCI 3401 Social Research Methods	Tests - Answer Key		TARGET 2 MET (8%) achieved average proficiency and 22 (91%) achieved high proficiency
		Fall 2015	Stephanie Alexander	SOCI 3201 Classical Theory	Student paper, assignments (a quiz, and 6 book assignments) - detailed grade book		TARGET 3 NOT MET 57% of students had limited proficiency, while only 41% met the minimum (30%) or average (11%) proficiency scores, and 2% were not assessed due to missing scores.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	2. Students will be able to understand and apply the sociological perspective or the sociological imagination.	Fall 2015	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 2 (8%) achieved average proficiency and 22 (91%) achieved high proficiency	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: No changes needed. The program will continue the practices that allowed this target to be met.
Academic Engagement and Achievement		Spring 2015	Diogo Pinheiro	SOCI 4312 Contemporary Sociological Theory	Tests - Answer Key		TARGET 2 MET 6 (13%) limited proficiency, 1 (2%) minimal proficiency, 12 (27%) average proficiency and 24 (55%) high proficiency
Academic Engagement and Achievement	3. Students will be able to understand sociology as a science and ethical issues in research.	Fall 2015	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 2 (8%) achieved average proficiency and 22 (91%) achieved high proficiency	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: No changes needed. The program will continue the practices that allowed this target to be met.
Academic Engagement and Achievement		Fall 2015	Diogo Pinheiro	SOCI 2101 Social Statistics	Tests - Answer Key		TARGET 2 MET 1 (2%) demonstrated limited proficiency, 12 (32%) demonstrated average proficiency and 24(64%) demonstrated high proficiency
Academic Engagement and Achievement	4. Students will be able to understand issues regarding diversity in American society.	Fall 2015	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 2 (8%) achieved average proficiency and 22 (91%) achieved high proficiency	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: Adding additional presentations, including a power point, where the book is required to complete the task will be considered. Changing the text will also be considered within the program.
		Spring 2016	Diogo Pinheiro	SOCI 4312 Contemporary Sociological Theory	Tests - Answer Key		TARGET 2 MET 6 (13%) limited proficiency, 1 (2%) minimal proficiency, 12 (27%) average proficiency and 24 (55%) high proficiency
		Fall 2015	Stephanie Alexander	SOCI 3201 Classical Theory	Student paper, assignments (a quiz, and 6 book assignments) - detailed grade book		TARGET 3 NOT MET 57% of students had limited proficiency, while only 41% met the minimum (30%) or average (11%) proficiency scores.

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 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 NOT MET Although the program emphasized an increase online courses, there was only one course that was offered online (as a hybrid).	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: At the program level, faculty determined that continued and expansion of hybrid and fully at a distance courses are essential for delivery of courses and program growth. Next year we will have to plan more efficiently to meet this goal or to re-evaluate.
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 Student major increased to a total of 131 Target exceeded by 13 majors	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of projected use of results from the 2014-2015 academic year that is being addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: At the program level faculty determined informally that we should continue to recruit from our lower level sociology courses. Most of these have yet to declare a major. Faculty discussed the possibility of including recruitment strategies by including statements in the syllabus that encourage to consider sociology as a major.

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 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 NOT MET Although the program emphasized an increase online courses, there was only one course that was offered online (as a hybrid).

OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET

Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: At the program level, faculty determined that continued and expansion of hybrid and fully at a distance courses are essential for delivery of courses and program growth. Next year we will have to plan more efficiently to meet this goal or to re-evaluate.

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 Student major increased to a total of 131

Target exceeded by 13 majors

OVERALL: TARGET MET

Description of projected use of results from the 2014-2015 academic year that is being addressed in the 2015-2016 academic year: At the program level faculty determined informally that we should continue to recruit from our lower level sociology courses. Most of these have yet to declare a major. Faculty discussed the possibility of including recruitment strategies by including statements in the syllabus that encourage to consider sociology as a major.