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Academic Assessment Program	World Languages
University of Central Arkansas

Scroll or click to view assessment plans for the following programs:

BA in French
BA in Spanish
Departmental Honors (French or Spanish)
MSE in Spanish [no longer an active program]

Statement of Departmental Purpose
The Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures [formerly Department of Foreign Languages] of the University of Central Arkansas fulfills its mission by providing effective teaching of foreign language, culture, literature, and pedagogy, and by promoting cross-cultural understanding. Members of the department also provide service to University and wider communities in both foreign language and general academic areas. In order to fulfill the preceding mission, members have a responsibility to renew their professional knowledge and expertise through research and other professional activities which enhance their ability to function effectively as foreign language educators.

Statement of Departmental Purpose

The Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures [formerly Department of Foreign Languages] of the University of Central Arkansas fulfills its mission by providing effective teaching of foreign language, culture, literature, and pedagogy, and by promoting cross-cultural understanding. Members of the department also provide service to University and wider communities in both foreign language and general academic areas. In order to fulfill the preceding mission, members have a responsibility to renew their professional knowledge and expertise through research and other professional activities which enhance their ability to function effectively as foreign language educators.

BA in French

Most recent assessment report: October 1998

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. Students obtaining the Bachelor of Arts degree in French will develop functional control of the four fundamental language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.	1a. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Intermediate High level or above on an oral proficiency interview exit examination generated by the department. 1b. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Advanced level or above on a listening proficiency exit examination generated by the department generated by the department. 1c. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Advanced High level or above on a reading exit examination generated by the department. 1d. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Intermediate High level or above on a writing exit examination generated by the department.
2. Students obtaining the Bachelor of Arts degree in French will expand and deepen their knowledge of francophone cultures, civilizations, and literatures.	2a. At least 80% of the majors will pass a department-generated examination on the cultural/literary developments of the countries represented by the target language. 2b. Students will present a "best work" portfolio of examinations, projects, and papers (selected by the student) which best represent the objectives of the major program concerning the French language and French and Francophone cultures and literatures.
3. Students obtaining the Bachelor of Arts degree in French will increase their awareness of the applications of French as a second language to career objectives.	3. Eighty (80) percent of students who respond to a survey of graduates will state that they were made aware of a variety of career possibilities associated with their major.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives

Assessment Procedures and Criteria

1. Students obtaining the Bachelor of Arts degree in French will develop functional control of the four fundamental language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

1a. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Intermediate High level or above on an oral proficiency interview exit examination generated by the department.

1b. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Advanced level or above on a listening proficiency exit examination generated by the department generated by the department.

1c. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Advanced High level or above on a reading exit examination generated by the department.

1d. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Intermediate High level or above on a writing exit examination generated by the department.

2. Students obtaining the Bachelor of Arts degree in French will expand and deepen their knowledge of francophone cultures, civilizations, and literatures.

2a. At least 80% of the majors will pass a department-generated examination on the cultural/literary developments of the countries represented by the target language.

2b. Students will present a "best work" portfolio of examinations, projects, and papers (selected by the student) which best represent the objectives of the major program concerning the French language and French and Francophone cultures and literatures.

3. Students obtaining the Bachelor of Arts degree in French will increase their awareness of the applications of French as a second language to career objectives.

3. Eighty (80) percent of students who respond to a survey of graduates will state that they were made aware of a variety of career possibilities associated with their major.

BA in Spanish

Most recent assessment report: October 1998

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. Students obtaining the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish will develop functional control of the four fundamental language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.	1a. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Intermediate High level or above on an oral proficiency interview exit examination generated by the department. 1b. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Advanced level or above on a listening proficiency exit examination generated by the department. 1c. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Advanced High level or above on a reading exit examination generated by the department. 1d. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Intermediate High level or above on a writing exit examination generated by the department.
2. Students obtaining the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish will expand and deepen their knowledge of Spanish and Spanish American cultures, civilizations, and literatures.	2a. At least 80% of the majors will demonstrate advanced knowledge of the cultural and literary developments of the countries represented by the target language on an examination generated by the department. 2b. Students will present a "best work" portfolio of projects and papers (selected by the student) which best represent the objectives of the major program concerning the culture and literature.
3. Students obtaining the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish will increase their awareness of the applications of Spanish as a second language to career objectives.	3. Eighty (80) percent of students who respond to a survey of graduates will state that they were made aware of a variety of career possibilities associated with their major.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives

Assessment Procedures and Criteria

1. Students obtaining the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish will develop functional control of the four fundamental language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

1a. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Intermediate High level or above on an oral proficiency interview exit examination generated by the department.

1b. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Advanced level or above on a listening proficiency exit examination generated by the department.

1c. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Advanced High level or above on a reading exit examination generated by the department.

1d. At least 80% of the majors will score at the Intermediate High level or above on a writing exit examination generated by the department.

2. Students obtaining the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish will expand and deepen their knowledge of Spanish and Spanish American cultures, civilizations, and literatures.

2a. At least 80% of the majors will demonstrate advanced knowledge of the cultural and literary developments of the countries represented by the target language on an examination generated by the department.

2b. Students will present a "best work" portfolio of projects and papers (selected by the student) which best represent the objectives of the major program concerning the culture and literature.

3. Students obtaining the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish will increase their awareness of the applications of Spanish as a second language to career objectives.

3. Eighty (80) percent of students who respond to a survey of graduates will state that they were made aware of a variety of career possibilities associated with their major.

Departmental Honors

Minimal Requirements for Graduating with Honors
During the junior year, a student majoring in French or Spanish may be invited to become a candidate for departmental honors.
Achievement of a 3.25 GPA overall and a 3.40 in the major Demonstration of advanced level proficiencies in all four skills on a senior exit examination Successful completion of course 4310 demonstrated by submission and approval of a research paper on a literary, cultural, or linguistic topic Presentation of an oral defense of the research paper before a committee
Assessment
Departmental honors students will achieve a minimum rating of "advanced" on each of the four skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) of the senior exit examination. These skills will be assessed by a committee of no fewer than two faculty members of the appropriate language section. Departmental honors students will successfully present an oral defense of a research paper on a literary, cultural, or linguistic topic before a committee of no fewer than two faculty members of the appropriate language section of the department.

MSE in Spanish [program no longer active]

Most recent assessment report: October 1998

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. Students obtaining the MSE degree in Spanish will demonstrate advanced proficiency or above in the four fundamental language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.	1. Eighty (80) percent of graduates will pass a comprehensive exit examination, generated by the department, with a rating of Advanced or above in oral proficiency, listening, and writing, and Advanced High or above in reading.
2. Students obtaining the MSE degree in Spanish will gain advanced knowledge of and appreciate for the literatures, cultures, and civilizations of Spain and Spanish America.	2. Students will pass a department-generated comprehensive exit examination based on cultural and literary topics, with both oral and written components.
3. Students obtaining the MSE degree in Spanish will develop higher-level functions such as evaluation, synthesis, and analysis of literary and cultural discourse.	3. Students will demonstrate the ability to evaluate, synthesize, and analyze literary and cultural discourse on a department-generated, comprehensive exit examination.
4. Students obtaining the MSE degree in Spanish will demonstrate a knowledge of current principles, methodologies, and technology as they relate to the second language curriculum.	4. Students will present a portfolio of papers and oral presentations which demonstrate a knowledge of research methods and resources.
5. Students obtaining the MSE degree in Spanish will gain knowledge of research methods and resources.	5. Ninety (90) percent of students surveyed after graduation will state that they agree with the following: "I have increased my knowledge of current principles, methodology, and technology as they relate to second language acquisition during my master's program."

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