Appendix: Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes: PhD in Political Science

Graduate Program Learning Objective #1

To prepare students to achieve their professional goals and prepare them to pursue professional careers.

Graduate Student Learning Outcomes

• Students demonstrate expertise in appropriate concepts, theories and emerging methodologies in political science.
• Students demonstrate professional skills such as creating high quality curriculum vitae, learning above theories of teaching, ethics associated with human subjects research and how to get published in disciplinary based journals .
• Students present original research in peer-reviewed journals or in conference papers given at regional and national professional association meetings.

Data Gathered, Sources, When Collected

• Performance on written preliminary examinations, course grades, and instructor comments on performance in PS 501 (The Scope of Political Science) and PS 539 (Professionalization Practicum).
• Course grades in core methodology seminars, PS 501, 502 (Seminar in Political Theory), 503 (Intro. To Political Science Research Methods), and PS 504 (Quantitative methods in Political Science).
• Conference presentations and publications by graduate students gathered from vitas.
• Completion of online training in ethics and human subjects research.

Graduate Program Learning Objective #2

To prepare students to be effective researchers in the disciplines of Political Science or Philosophy.

Graduate Student Learning Outcomes

• Students read and synthesize the literature in a variety of subfields in Political Science or Philosophy.
• Students identify research questions and generate hypotheses that are appropriate to an original research problem.
• Students gather, organize, analyze, and report data on an original research topic.
• Students communicate research effectively in both written and oral forms.

Data Gathered, Sources, When Collected

• Seminar grades and annual evaluations of students.
• Rubrics that will be filled in by each committee member at student’s oral defense.

Graduate Program Learning Objective #3

To improve students competitiveness for job placement through program training, quality, and reputation.

Graduate Student Learning Outcomes

• Students receive effective mentoring from faculty leading to successful completion of graduate education in a timely manner.
• Students are hired into faculty positions in their desired field of study after graduation.

Data Gathered, Sources, When Collected

• Data from student applications (number of applicants, last school attended, etc.) provided by the Graduate School.
• Time to degree data provided by Graduate School.
• Job placement data provided by the Graduate Director.
• Unit Productivity Report provided by the Director of the School.

---

Learning Outcomes: MA in Political Science with Global Justice and Security Studies Certificate

Graduate Program Learning Objective #1

To prepare students to achieve their professional goals and prepare them to pursue professional careers.

Graduate Student Learning Outcomes

• Students develop expertise in appropriate concepts, theories and emerging methodologies in Political Science and Criminal Justice.
• Students develop skills in interdisciplinary social science and its utility in public policy analysis.
• Students learn the functions of the security system, policy making process, and issues, problems, and consequences of policy implementation both domestically and internationally.

Data Gathered, Sources, When Collected

• Grades in core courses, PS 531 (Seminar in National Security), CJ 505 (Comparative Criminal Justice Systems); 572 (Comparative Policing) and PS 424, U.S. National Security).
• Assessment of their preparation during their final oral exam.

Graduate Program Learning Objective #2

To prepare students to be effective researchers in the disciplines of Political Science and Criminal Justice.

Graduate Student Learning Outcomes

• Students read and synthesize the literature in a variety of subfields in Political Science and Criminal Justice.
• Students identify research questions and generate hypotheses that are appropriate to an original research problem.
• Students gather, organize, analyze, and report data on an original research topic.
• Students communicate research effectively in both written and oral forms.

Data Gathered, Sources, When Collected

• Seminar grades and annual evaluations of students.
• Rubrics that will be filled in by each committee member at student’s oral defense.

Graduate Program Learning Objective #3

To improve students’ competitiveness for job placement through program training, quality, and reputation.

Graduate Student Learning Outcomes

• Students receive effective mentoring from faculty leading to successful completion of graduate education in a timely manner.
• Students are hired into public policy positions or research analyst positions in domestic and/or international government or private organizations related to global justice and security.

Data Gathered, Sources, When Collected

• Data from student applications (number of applicants, last school attended, etc.) provided by the Graduate School.
• Time to degree data provided by Graduate School.
• Job placement data provided by the Graduate Director.
• Unit Productivity Report provided by the Director of the School.

---

Learning Outcomes: MA in Political Science (General)

Graduate Program Learning Objective #1

To prepare students to achieve their professional goals and prepare them to pursue professional careers.

Graduate Student Learning Outcomes

• Students develop expertise in appropriate concepts, theories and emerging methodologies in Political Science.
• Students develop skills in interdisciplinary social science and its utility in public policy analysis.
• Students learn the functions of the policy making process, and issues, problems, and consequences of policy implementation domestically and internationally.

Data Gathered, Sources, When Collected

• Grades in core courses, PS 501 (Scope of Political Science), PS 503 (Research Methods); and 502 (Political Theory) or 504 (Quantitative Methods).
• Assessment of their preparation during their final oral exam.

Graduate Program Learning Objective #2

To prepare students to be effective researchers in the disciplines of Political Science and Criminal Justice.

Graduate Student Learning Outcomes

• Students read and synthesize the literature in a variety of subfields in Political Science. (American politics and institutions, global politics, political theory).
• Students identify research questions and generate hypotheses that are appropriate to an original research problem.
• Students gather, organize, analyze, and report data on an original research topic.
• Students communicate research effectively in both written and oral forms.

Data Gathered, Sources, When Collected

• Seminar grades and annual evaluations of students.
• Rubrics that will be filled in by each committee member at student’s oral defense.

Graduate Program Learning Objective #3

To improve students competitiveness for job placement through program training, quality, and reputation.

Graduate Student Learning Outcomes

• Students receive effective mentoring from faculty leading
• to successful completion of graduate education in a timely manner. Students are hired into public policy positions or research analyst positions in domestic and/or international government or private organizations.

Data Gathered, Sources, When Collected

• Data from student applications (number of applicants, last school attended, etc.) provided by the Graduate School.
• Time to degree data provided by Graduate School.
• Job placement data provided by the Graduate Director.
• Unit Productivity Report provided by the Director of the School.