The Department of History and Political Science reviews its assessment data annually and subsequently makes minor adjustments to relevant courses as needed. Every three years, the Department does a more extensive review of the accumulated assessment data, and makes recommendations for larger changes to the curricula or programs.
After conversations with faculty and students and a review of the data available, the Department determined the need for capstone courses to assist in bringing together the total of what majors have learned in a more cohesive way. As a result, Senior Seminar capstone courses were added for all three majors.
The Department of History and Political Science assesses how successful we are in achieving our learning outcomes through several instruments. Exit interviews are used to determine the progression of students’ skills, knowledge, and views of the discipline. The faculty in the Department also annually assess the program learning outcomes through several instruments, such as in-class exam questions and research papers. Internships and study abroad opportunities are assessed in collaboration with mentors and program advisors.