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Academic Assessment Program	Music
University of Central Arkansas

Note: A proposal by the Department of Music to use NASM accreditation review as the primary means of doing and reporting assessment was approved in April 2000. The following assessment plans--at least in their details--will likely be of primarily historical interest. An NASM site visit is scheduled for April 2001.

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

BM in Performance
BM in Music Education
Departmental Honors Program
MM in Performance
MM in Music Education
MM in Choral Conducting
MM in Instrumental Conducting
MM in Music Theory

Statement of Departmental Purpose
In consonance with the mission of the University and of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, the mission of the Department of Music is (1) to provide a professional course of study to undergraduate and graduate students with aptitude for and interest in careers in music or music education; (2) to provide pre-professional training to those who are not musicians, but who will use music as an important part of their professional lives; (3) to provide opportunities for students in all disciplines to enrich their own general education by taking courses in music; (4) to participate in the life of the University, the City of Conway, and the State of Arkansas through professional and volunteer service; and (5) to contribute the enrichment of the cultural life of the University's extended community through intellectual discourse and musical performances of high quality.

Statement of Departmental Purpose

In consonance with the mission of the University and of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, the mission of the Department of Music is (1) to provide a professional course of study to undergraduate and graduate students with aptitude for and interest in careers in music or music education; (2) to provide pre-professional training to those who are not musicians, but who will use music as an important part of their professional lives; (3) to provide opportunities for students in all disciplines to enrich their own general education by taking courses in music; (4) to participate in the life of the University, the City of Conway, and the State of Arkansas through professional and volunteer service; and (5) to contribute the enrichment of the cultural life of the University's extended community through intellectual discourse and musical performances of high quality.

BM in Performance

Most recent assessment report: April 2001.

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. Students completing the baccalaureate degree in music with a performance emphasis will demonstrate at a professional level competence in performance in their chosen applied area.	1a. Ninety-five (95) percent of performance majors will complete semester juries with a grade of C or higher. 1b. 95 percent of performance majors will complete junior and senior recitals with a grade of C or higher. 1c. Randomly selected tapes of recitals by performance majors will be judged among the top 50 percent of those ranked by outside evaluators.
2. Students completing the baccalaureate degree in music with a performance emphasis will demonstrate a working knowledge of the pedagogy and repertoire of their chosen applied area.	2a. Ninety (90) percent of students will complete classes in pedagogy and repertoire with a grade of C or higher at the first attempt. 2b. Ninety (90) percent of students will demonstrate effective applied teaching, as indicated by a grade of C or higher, in the supervised setting of the pedagogy and repertoire class at the first attempt.
3. Students completing the baccalaureate degree in music with a performance emphasis will demonstrate computer literacy.	3. Ninety (90) percent of students will pass a technology class with a grade of C or higher.
4. Students completing the baccalaureate degree in music with a performance emphasis will demonstrate preparedness to pursue graduate studies in music performance or demonstrated preparedness to enter some facet of the music profession.	4a. Seventy-five (75) percent of music students who graduate from UCA and who apply for graduate studies in music will be accepted into a program. 4b. Of those graduate directors surveyed, 75% will "strongly agree" or "agree" with the statement, "This graduate of UCA's program in music performance was well prepared for entering a graduate program."

BM in Music Education

Most recent assessment report: April 2001

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. Students completing the baccalaureate program in Music Education will demonstrate preparedness to teach music at the elementary and secondary level.	1a. Ninety (90) percent of students will complete coursework in music methods and pedagogy with a grade of C or higher at the first attempt. 1b. Ninety (90) percent of students will achieve a passing score on the National Teachers Examination (PRAXIS II). 1c. Students will complete supervised student teaching with a grade of C or higher. 1d. In the opinion of 75% of school principals surveyed, students finding employment in their schools will have potential for successful teaching.
2. Students completing the baccalaureate program in Music Education will demonstrate competence in their chosen performance, research, or project area.	2a. Ninety (90) percent of randomly selected tapes of recitals by Music Education majors will be judged competent in the demonstration of appropriate stylistic qualities and performance practice by departmental faculty members selected to evaluate them. 2b. Ninety percent of projects or research problems appropriate to each student's area of emphasis will be judged to be of a level adequate to a beginning professional musician by a committee of at least three faculty members, "adequate" being defined as a grade of C or higher. 2c. Ninety-five (95) percent of culminating senior projects or recital program notes will demonstrate the students' capacity to write in a professional manner as demonstrated by correct use of grammar, citation procedures, and content. 2d. Ninety-five (95) percent of culminating senior projects or recital program notes will demonstrate the students' familiarity with appropriate reference materials and other professional resources.
3. Students completing the baccalaureate program in Music Education will demonstrate preparedness to assume the extra-instructional responsibilities of employment in an educational setting.	3a. In the opinion of cooperating teachers in student teaching assignments, ninety (90) percent of student teachers will demonstrate a capacity for assuming non-instructional duties in an educational setting. 3b. In the opinion of 75% of school principals surveyed, graduates will have demonstrated competence for assuming extra-instructional responsibilities in an actual job settings.
4. Students completing the baccalaureate program in Music Education will demonstrate computer literacy.	4a. Ninety (90) percent of students will pass a technology course with a grade of C or higher. 4b. Ninety (90) percent of students will demonstrate effective application of computer programs through the completion of projects in music theory, music history, music education, arranging, and composition. 4c. Students will assemble a portfolio of representative work for use in professional settings.
5. Students completing the baccalaureate program in Music Education will become involved in the activities of pertinent professional organizations.	5. Seventy-five (75) percent of students will participate in local student chapters of professional organizations.

Departmental Honors Program

Goals
The goals of the Departmental Honors Program in Music are to provide an opportunity for advanced students to undertake independent research on a topic not otherwise covered in the undergraduate curriculum; to encourage independent creative work in some area of the discipline of music; to encourage academic writing according to a prescribed style manual; to provide an opportunity for public presentation of work where appropriate; and to encourage professional involvement with the field of music at the undergraduate level.
Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment
Successful applicants for participation in Departmental Honors will complete an honors project in an approved area, including, but not limited to, the following: Research/Writing, Composition, Lecture-Recital, Computer Programming or another facet of Music Technology. As appropriate for the project, students will submit a proposal, describing the need for the project, the methodology to be used, limitations, genre, performing forces, and other pertinent information. Specific objectives for each project will be derived by the student and the project committee.	Students will turn in the completed project in an agreed-upon format and, if appropriate to the project, present results of the project publicly. Each student's work will be judged by the faculty members serving on his or her Honors Committee (1) according to professional standards for writing, performance, and creative/technical endeavor in music, and (2) in consideration of the student's success in fulfilling the objectives defined in the project proposal.

MM in Performance

Most recent assessment report: April 2001

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. Students completing the Master of Music program in Performance will demonstrate, at a professional level, competence in performance in their chosen applied areas.	1a. Ninety (90) percent of performance majors will complete semester juries with a grade of B or higher. 1b. Ninety (90) percent of performance majors will complete the graduate recital with a grade of B or higher.
2. Students completing the Master of Music program in Performance will demonstrate preparedness to compete at professional auditions with students completing similar programs.	2a. Fifty (50) percent of students will compete in appropriate competitions. 2b. Fifty (50) percent of students will compete in appropriate auditions.
3. Students completing the Master of Music program in Performance will demonstrate advanced knowledge of the literature and pedagogy of their chosen instrument or voice.	3a. Ninety (90) percent of students in pedagogy classes will teach effectively in their applied areas, as judged by the music faculty members supervising the classes. 3b. Ninety (90) percent of students will complete course work in pedagogy and literature with a grade of B or higher. 3c. In oral examinations, 85% of students will be able to discuss pedagogical methods appropriate for a given practical situation and literature appropriate for a given type of student, as determined by the faculty committees administering the examinations.
4. Students completing the Master of Music program in Performance will demonstrate preparedness to enter a doctoral program in music performance or to enter some facet of the music profession.	4a. Fifty (50) percent of those applying for doctoral studies will be accepted into doctoral performance programs. 4b. Randomly selected tapes of recitals by graduate students will be judged among the top 50% of those heard by outside evaluators. 4c. Of graduates surveyed, 60% will indicate that they are pursuing some facet of the music profession as a career.

MM in Music Education

Most recent assessment report: April 2001

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. Students completing the Master of Music program in Music Education will maintain a high level of presence in pertinent professional organizations.	1. Sixty (60) percent of surveyed graduates who are employed in the field of music will sustain membership in an appropriate professional organization.
2. Students completing the Master of Music program in Music Education will demonstrate competence in the use of microcomputers for work in Music Education.	2a. Ninety (90) percent of students will demonstrate effective application of computer programs through the completion of projects in Music Theory, Music History, Music Education, or in Directed Studies. 2b. Ninety (90) percent of students will assemble a portfolio of representative work for use in professional settings.
3. Students completing the Master of Music program in Music Education will demonstrate competence beyond that required at the baccalaureate level in lecture/presentation skills.	3. Ninety (90) percent of students will demonstrate effective lecture/presentation skills in theory, history, literature, and music education classes, "effective" being defined as work earning a grade of C or higher.
4. Students completing the Master of Music program in Music Education will demonstrate competence beyond that required at the baccalaureate level in conducting.	4. In the Advanced Conducting class, ninety (90) percent of students will demonstrate effective advanced conducting and rehearsal techniques, "effectiveness" being indicated by a grade of C or higher.
5. Students completing the Master of Music program in Music Education will demonstrate preparedness to enter a doctoral program in Music Education if they desire to do so.	5a. Ninety (90) percent of students who graduate from UCA and who apply for doctoral programs in Music Education will be accepted into a program. 5b. Of those graduate directors surveyed, 75% will "strongly agree" or "agree" with the statement, "This graduate of UCA's MM/Music Edu-cation program was well prepared for doctoral studies."

MM in Choral Conducting

Most recent assessment report: April 2001

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. Students completing the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting will demonstrate advanced skills in (a) conducting technique, (b) score reading, and (c) ensemble rehearsal technique.	1a. In a supervised conducting practicum, 90% of students will demonstrate technical skills sufficient to conduct choral works of varying degrees of sophistication successfully. 1b. Ninety (90) percent Students will demonstrate the ability to choose music for, prepare, and bring to fruition a concert of choral music at the advanced level. 1c. Seventy (70) percent of students will demonstrate the ability to coordinate performances which require combined vocal and instrumental forces. 1d. Seventy-five (75) percent of students will demonstrate the ability in practical settings, as well as in score reading, to isolate and identify problem areas in ensemble music. 1e. Seventy-five (75) percent of students will recommend appropriate strategies for addressing problem areas in the music under preparation. 1f. Ninety (90) percent of students will complete the graduate conducting recital with a grade of B or higher.
2. Students completing the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting will demonstrate sufficient knowledge of Music History and Music Theory for admission to doctoral studies in choral conducting with a minimum of deficiencies.	2a. Eighty (80) percent of students will pass course work in Music History and Music Theory with a grade of B or higher. 2b. Ten (10) percent of students will pass admission tests in Music History and Music Theory with a score sufficient for admission to a doctoral program in Choral Conducting with no deficiencies.
3. Students completing the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting will demonstrate preparedness to enter a doctoral program in choral conducting.	3a. Fifty (50) percent of those applying for doctoral studies will be accepted into a doctoral choral conducting program. 3b. Of those graduate directors surveyed, 75% will "strongly agree" or "agree" with the statement, "This graduate of UCA's MM/Conducting program was well prepared for doctoral studies in choral conducting."

Intended Outcomes/Objectives

Assessment Procedures and Criteria

1. Students completing the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting will demonstrate advanced skills in (a) conducting technique, (b) score reading, and (c) ensemble rehearsal technique.

1a. In a supervised conducting practicum, 90% of students will demonstrate technical skills sufficient to conduct choral works of varying degrees of sophistication successfully.

1b. Ninety (90) percent Students will demonstrate the ability to choose music for, prepare, and bring to fruition a concert of choral music at the advanced level.

1c. Seventy (70) percent of students will demonstrate the ability to coordinate performances which require combined vocal and instrumental forces.

1d. Seventy-five (75) percent of students will demonstrate the ability in practical settings, as well as in score reading, to isolate and identify problem areas in ensemble music.

1e. Seventy-five (75) percent of students will recommend appropriate strategies for addressing problem areas in the music under preparation.

1f. Ninety (90) percent of students will complete the graduate conducting recital with a grade of B or higher.

2. Students completing the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting will demonstrate sufficient knowledge of Music History and Music Theory for admission to doctoral studies in choral conducting with a minimum of deficiencies.

2a. Eighty (80) percent of students will pass course work in Music History and Music Theory with a grade of B or higher.

2b. Ten (10) percent of students will pass admission tests in Music History and Music Theory with a score sufficient for admission to a doctoral program in Choral Conducting with no deficiencies.

3. Students completing the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting will demonstrate preparedness to enter a doctoral program in choral conducting.

3a. Fifty (50) percent of those applying for doctoral studies will be accepted into a doctoral choral conducting program.

3b. Of those graduate directors surveyed, 75% will "strongly agree" or "agree" with the statement, "This graduate of UCA's MM/Conducting program was well prepared for doctoral studies in choral conducting."

MM in Instrumental Conducting

Most recent assessment report: April 2001

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. Students completing the Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting will demonstrate advanced skills in (a) conducting technique, (b) score reading, and (c) ensemble rehearsal technique.	1a. In a supervised conducting practicum, 90% of students will demonstrate technical skills sufficient to conduct instrumental works of varying degrees of sophistication successfully. 1b. Ninety (90) percent Students will demonstrate the ability to choose music for, prepare, and bring to fruition a concert of instrumental music at the advanced level. 1c. Seventy (70) percent of students will demonstrate the ability to coordinate performances which require combined instrumental and vocal forces. 1d. Seventy-five (75) percent of students will demonstrate the ability in practical settings, as well as in score reading, to isolate and identify problem areas in ensemble music. 1e. Seventy-five (75) percent of students will recommend appropriate strategies for addressing problem areas in the music under preparation. 1f. Ninety (90) percent of students will complete the graduate conducting recital with a grade of B or higher.
2. Students completing the Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting will demonstrate sufficient knowledge of Music History and Music Theory for admission to doctoral studies in instrumental conducting with a minimum of deficiencies.	2a. Eighty (80) percent of students will pass course work in Music History and Music Theory with a grade of B or higher. 2b. Ten (10) percent of students will pass admission tests in Music History and Music Theory with a score sufficient for admission to a doctoral program in Choral Conducting with no deficiencies.
3. Students completing the Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting will demonstrate preparedness to enter a doctoral program in instrumental conducting.	3a. Fifty (50) percent of those applying for doctoral studies will be accepted into a doctoral instrumental conducting program. 3b. Of those graduate directors surveyed, 75% will "strongly agree" or "agree" with the statement, "This graduate of UCA's MM/Conducting program was well prepared for doctoral studies in instrumental conducting."

Intended Outcomes/Objectives

Assessment Procedures and Criteria

1. Students completing the Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting will demonstrate advanced skills in (a) conducting technique, (b) score reading, and (c) ensemble rehearsal technique.

1a. In a supervised conducting practicum, 90% of students will demonstrate technical skills sufficient to conduct instrumental works of varying degrees of sophistication successfully.

1b. Ninety (90) percent Students will demonstrate the ability to choose music for, prepare, and bring to fruition a concert of instrumental music at the advanced level.

1c. Seventy (70) percent of students will demonstrate the ability to coordinate performances which require combined instrumental and vocal forces.

1d. Seventy-five (75) percent of students will demonstrate the ability in practical settings, as well as in score reading, to isolate and identify problem areas in ensemble music.

1e. Seventy-five (75) percent of students will recommend appropriate strategies for addressing problem areas in the music under preparation.

1f. Ninety (90) percent of students will complete the graduate conducting recital with a grade of B or higher.

2. Students completing the Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting will demonstrate sufficient knowledge of Music History and Music Theory for admission to doctoral studies in instrumental conducting with a minimum of deficiencies.

2a. Eighty (80) percent of students will pass course work in Music History and Music Theory with a grade of B or higher.

2b. Ten (10) percent of students will pass admission tests in Music History and Music Theory with a score sufficient for admission to a doctoral program in Choral Conducting with no deficiencies.

3. Students completing the Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting will demonstrate preparedness to enter a doctoral program in instrumental conducting.

3a. Fifty (50) percent of those applying for doctoral studies will be accepted into a doctoral instrumental conducting program.

MM in Music Theory

Most recent assessment report: April 2001

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. Students completing the Master of Music program in Music Theory will demonstrate sufficient command of theory pedagogy to qualify for professional teaching positions or for doctoral teaching assistantships.	1a. Ninety (90) percent of students will complete course work in theory pedagogy with a grade of B or higher. 1b. Ninety (90) percent of students will effectively teach undergraduate theory courses under the supervision of a faculty member in the Theory area. 1c. Fifty (50) percent of those who apply will achieve professional teaching positions.
2. Students completing the Master of Music program in Music Theory will demonstrate sufficient knowledge of Music History for admission to doctoral studies with a minimum of deficiencies.	2a. Fifty (50) percent of students will pass coursework in Music History with a grade of B or higher. 2b. Ten (10) percent of students will pass admission tests in Music History with a score sufficient for admission to a doctoral program in Music Theory with no deficiencies in Music History.
3. Students completing the Master of Music program in Music Theory will demonstrate competence in the use of microcomputers for work in Music Theory and in Composition.	3a. Students will demonstrate effective application of computer programs through the completion of projects in Music Theory, Arranging, and Composition. 3b. Ninety (90) percent of students will use computers and applicable computer software in Music Theory instruction.
4. Students completing the Master of Music program in Music Theory will demonstrate preparedness to enter a doctoral program in Music Theory if they wish to do so.	4a. Fifty (50) percent of those applying for doctoral studies will be accepted into a doctoral theory program. 4b. Of those graduate directors surveyed, 75% will "strongly agree" or "agree" with the statement, "This graduate of UCA's MM/Theory program was well prepared for doctoral studies."

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