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Academic Assessment Program	History
University of Central Arkansas

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BA/BS in History
BSE in Social Studies (History Emphasis)
Departmental Honors in History
MA in History: under review

Statement of Departmental Purpose
The Department of History serves several constituencies. These include undergraduate and graduate students, the scholarly community at large, and the public of its university and state. The Department of History is pledged to respect the validity of different historical cultures, to promote the values of good citizenship, to recognize the variety of professional and pedagogical methodologies, to follow the principles of collegiality and professionalism, and to honor the practice of academic freedom. The goals of the History Department shall be (1) to strive for pre-eminence in undergraduate and master's level instruction; (2) to strengthen our offerings to undergraduate and graduate students by continual reassessment of existing programs and review of new areas that require attention, new faculty additions, and new course offerings; (3) to provide necessary internal service to the University; (4) to sustain and develop continuing outreach programs, including a network of supporting institutions, extracurricular student organizations, and public service activities, as ways of sharing professional expertise to the student body and the community at large; and (5) to encourage and support professional development through research and publication, and through membership and active participation in appropriate professional organizations.

Statement of Departmental Purpose

The Department of History serves several constituencies. These include undergraduate and graduate students, the scholarly community at large, and the public of its university and state. The Department of History is pledged to respect the validity of different historical cultures, to promote the values of good citizenship, to recognize the variety of professional and pedagogical methodologies, to follow the principles of collegiality and professionalism, and to honor the practice of academic freedom. The goals of the History Department shall be (1) to strive for pre-eminence in undergraduate and master's level instruction; (2) to strengthen our offerings to undergraduate and graduate students by continual reassessment of existing programs and review of new areas that require attention, new faculty additions, and new course offerings; (3) to provide necessary internal service to the University; (4) to sustain and develop continuing outreach programs, including a network of supporting institutions, extracurricular student organizations, and public service activities, as ways of sharing professional expertise to the student body and the community at large; and (5) to encourage and support professional development through research and publication, and through membership and active participation in appropriate professional organizations.

BA/BS in History

Most recent assessment report: October 1999

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. Students completing the baccalaureate program in history will be able to demonstrate knowledge of past cultures and civilizations.	la. Eighty (80) percent of the department's majors will complete the program with a minimum GPA of 2.7 in the major. lb. Eighty (80) percent of the department's majors who earned a grade of "B" or better in the sophomore methods course, HIST 2320 Introduction to Historical Research, will earn the same or a higher grade in HIST 4300, the department's senior research seminar.
2. Students completing the baccalaureate program in history will be able to complete a well-written research paper using both primary and secondary sources.	2a. Seventy-five (75) percent of the students will earn a grade of B or better in HIST 4300, the department's undergraduate research seminar. 2b. Every graduating senior will submit one copy of the research paper written for HIST 4300, the senior research seminar for history majors, to the department's Assessment Committee. Seventy-five (75) percent of the papers will receive a rating of "B" or above from two readers chosen by the committee from the senior faculty other than the student's instructor.
3. Students completing the baccalaureate program in history will demonstrate an interest in history beyond classroom activities.	3a. A third of the department's majors will join Phi Alpha Theta, the History Honor Society. 3b. Five (5) percent of the department's majors will present a paper at a state, regional, or national conference. 3c. Five (5) percent of the program's graduates will join a local historical society.
4. Students completing the baccalaureate program in history will have the necessary analytical and writing skills to successfully complete a master's degree in history or a related discipline.	4a. Eighty (80) percent of the department's graduates who apply for a master's degree program in history or a related discipline will be admitted. This information will be obtained from a survey of alumni conducted every five years. 4b. Ninety (90) percent of the alumni who complete the master's degree will "strongly agree" with the statement that "The UCA History BA/BS program prepared me well for graduate study in history or a related discipline." This information will be obtained from a survey of alumni conducted every five years.

BSE in Social Studies (History Emphasis)

Most recent assessment report: October 1999

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. BSE Social Studies graduates with an emphasis in history will have the knowledge and analytical skills needed to teach American, Arkansan, and World History in addition to all other Social Studies in America's middle and secondary schools.	1. Eighty (80) percent of the graduating seniors will earn a "B" or better in six hours of American, six hours of world, and three hours of Arkansan history in upper-division courses.
2. BSE Social Studies graduates with an emphasis in history will be able to qualify for Arkansas teacher certification.	2. Eighty (80) percent of the graduating students will pass the NTE Social Studies test. The test will be administered in the senior year and results sent to the department by the testing service.
3. BSE Social Studies graduates with an emphasis in history will be able to obtain a teaching position in Social Studies.	3. Seventy (70) percent of the BSE graduates seeking employment in Social Studies will obtain positions there. The data will be obtained from an alumni survey completed every five years.
4. BSE Social Studies graduates with an emphasis in history will be prepared to continue studies in education at the graduate level.	4. Eighty (80) percent of the BSE graduates seeking admission to graduate school will be successful. This information will be obtained from an alumni survey administered every three to five years.
5. BSE Social Studies graduates with an emphasis in history will have the knowledge and understanding of the principles, methodologies, and technologies related to the teaching of social studies to prepare lesson plans and examinations and lead classroom discussions.	5. Ninety (90) percent of the graduating students will earn a grade of "B" or better in HIST 4310: Teaching Social Studies and in Directed Teaching.

Departmental Honors in History

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Criteria and Procedures
1. Students completing the departmental honors program will demonstrate in-depth mastery of a limited subject of their special interest.	1. Students will successfully compete one of the tutorial studies courses HIST 3388 or 3389 with a grade of B or better.
2. Students completing this program will produce a substantive well-written paper on their subject of interest.	2. Students will complete an acceptable honors thesis.
3. Students who complete the honors program will have better training and skills in historical research and writing which will facilitate admission into postgraduate educational programs.	3. Graduates with departmental honors will successfully gain admission into graduate programs at a higher rate than non-honors graduates.

MA in History

Under review.

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