UCA Home \| P & A Home \| Assessment Index \| Plan Library Index
Academic Assessment Program	Computer Science
University of Central Arkansas

Statement of Departmental Purpose
Mission Statement The primary goal of the University of Central Arkansas is teaching. The university seeks to provide a liberal education for the youth of Arkansas. This liberal education has three major goals: (1) all students should comprehend the broad dimensions of human knowledge; (2) all students should study some subject intensely enough to realize the infinite complexities of knowledge; (3) all students should acquire those intellectual skills and competencies needed to apply knowledge to new problems and to acquire additional information when needed. The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics seeks, through general education courses, to present students with opportunities to discover the principles of scientific and mathematical investigation, to explore divergent problem-solving techniques, to observe the wonders of nature, and to share new findings with others. By majoring in the college, students find opportunities to work in depth in an area as they assess data, hypothesize relationships, test ideas, and revise opinions.
Goal The purpose of the major in computer science is twofold: (1) to prepare the student for a programmer/analyst position with respect to the design and implementation of computer systems, and (2) to prepare the student for entry into a program of graduate study in computer science.

Statement of Departmental Purpose

Mission Statement

The primary goal of the University of Central Arkansas is teaching. The university seeks to provide a liberal education for the youth of Arkansas. This liberal education has three major goals: (1) all students should comprehend the broad dimensions of human knowledge; (2) all students should study some subject intensely enough to realize the infinite complexities of knowledge; (3) all students should acquire those intellectual skills and competencies needed to apply knowledge to new problems and to acquire additional information when needed.

The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics seeks, through general education courses, to present students with opportunities to discover the principles of scientific and mathematical investigation, to explore divergent problem-solving techniques, to observe the wonders of nature, and to share new findings with others. By majoring in the college, students find opportunities to work in depth in an area as they assess data, hypothesize relationships, test ideas, and revise opinions.

Goal

The purpose of the major in computer science is twofold: (1) to prepare the student for a programmer/analyst position with respect to the design and implementation of computer systems, and (2) to prepare the student for entry into a program of graduate study in computer science.

BS in Computer Science

Most recent assessment report: January 1999

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. Baccalaureate graduates of the computer science program will be well grounded in the theory of computer science.	1, 2. A majority of our students will score above average on the MFAT (Major Field Achievement Test) in computer science.
2. Baccalaureate graduates of the computer science program will have mastered the basic algorithms and programming techniques related to the development of computer systems.
3. Baccalaureate graduates of the computer science program who are interested in graduate studies will be well prepared for entering graduate school.	3a. All students who apply to graduate school will be accepted. 3b. Seventy-five percent of the students who apply to graduate school will be awarded financial assistance.
4. Students completing the baccalaureate program in computer science will be well prepared for their first position in the field and quickly find employment in the field as compared to those students completing a similar program nationally.	4a. Eighty percent of computer science graduates will have received a job offer in a computer-related field by the close of the semester in which they are graduating. 4b. Eighty percent of the graduates of our computer science program will "agree" or "strongly agree" with the statement "I am well prepared for my first position" contained in our university's Graduating Students Questionnaire. 4c. After one year of employment, graduates of our program will respond to the question "How well were you prepared for your first position?" with an average rating of 7.5 or more (on a scale of 10).
Departmental Honors Program
1. Honor graduates will have demonstrated their ability to pursue a computer science topic by independent study in collaboration with a computer scientist.	1. A grade is given in a three hour undergraduate research course.
2. Honor graduates will have produced a well written paper using a high standard of technical writing.	2. The departmental honors committee, in consultation with the director of the honors project, accepts the paper as meeting part of the requirement for graduation with honors.
3. Honor graduates will demonstrate the ability to make an oral presentation of the results of their research.	3. The departmental honors committee, in consultation with the director of the honors project, will judge the oral presentation as being acceptable or not.
4. Some honor graduates will give presentations outside the Computer Science department.	4. At least 50% of the honor graduates will present their results at the College Symposium or at a meeting of a professional organization.

Return to top of page.

Disclaimer \| Planning and Assessment Home \| E-mail