SACS Reaffirmation
| Objective | Methodology Component | |
| Graduate Students who complete the Sociology MA Program will be competent sociologists and will be able to apply the core concepts of the discipline of Sociology. Associated Goals: Apply Core Concepts |
| Indicator | Evaluation Of Methodology The evaluation of the Graduate Program mirrors that of the Undergraduate Program. However, it is qualitatively more rigorous. The first part of the Evaluation Program (EP) consists of the evaluation of one research paper written by each graduating student in his/her specialty area. The second part of the EP consists of a questionnaire that measures the students' perception of their acquired knowledge of Sociology. Because of the limited number of students this component of the EP has not been implemented yet. However, the Graduate Students who completed the program have all gone on to Doctoral Programs. These indicators are evaluated by a three member committee of the Graduate Faculty appointed by the chair. Employing their professional expertise, the committee evaluates students' papers assigning a maximum of two point for the use of sociological theory, a maximum of one point for the use of methodology and a maximum of two point for the articulation of the student's research. Samples are collected in the Fall and Spring and results evaluated at the end of each Spring semester. |
| Criteria | Desired Results--Methodology At least 80% of papers should be rated 3 or better on the 5 point-scale. Two points can be given for methodology. |
| Finding | Apply Core Concepts, Use appropriate Methodology 100% of the students were able to apply core concepts and use appropriate methodology. |
| Action | Apply Core concepts The department will increase interaction between graduate students and faculty, and include more students in faculty research. |
| Objective | Communicate Results | |
| Graduate students who complete the Sociology MA Program will competent and able to communicate the scientific results obtained through the application of the core concepts of the discipline Associated Goals: Communicate Results |
| Indicator | Evaluation Of Communication Skills The evaluation of the Graduate Program mirrors that of the Undergraduate Program. However, it is qualitatively more rigorous. The first part of the Evaluation Program (EP) consists of the evaluation of one research paper written by each graduating student in his/her specialty area. The second part of the EP consists of a questionnaire that measures the students' perception of their acquired knowledge of Sociology. Because of the limited number of students this component of the EP has not been implemented yet. However, the Graduate Students who completed the program have all gone on to Doctoral Programs. These indicators are evaluated by a three member committee of the Graduate Faculty appointed by the chair. Employing their professional expertise, the committee evaluates students' papers assigning a maximum of two point for the use of sociological theory, a maximum of one point for the use of methodology and a maximum of two point for the articulation of the student's research. Samples are collected in the Fall and Spring and results evaluated at the end of each Spring semester. |
| Criteria | Desired Results--Communication At least 80% of papers should be rated 3 or better on the 5 point scale. One point may be given for the articulation of the ideas. |
| Finding | Communicate Results 100% of students were able to communicate core concepts |
| Action | Communicate results The department will increase interaction between graduate students and faculty. |
| Objective | Theory Component | |
| Graduate Students who complete the Sociology MA Program will be competent sociologists who will be able to use the disciplinary scientific tools (theories). Associated Goals: Understand Core Concepts |
| Indicator | Evaluation Of Theoretical Knowledge The evaluation of the Graduate Program mirrors that of the Undergraduate Program. However, it is qualitatively more rigorous. The first part of the Evaluation Program (EP) consists of the evaluation of one research paper written by each graduating student in his/her specialty area. The second part of the EP consists of a questionnaire that measures the students' perception of their acquired knowledge of Sociology. Because of the limited number of students this component of the EP has not been implemented yet. However, the Graduate Students who completed the program have all gone on to Doctoral Programs. These indicators are evaluated by a three member committee of the Graduate Faculty appointed by the chair. Employing their professional expertise, the committee evaluates students' papers assigning a maximum of two point for the use of sociological theory, a maximum of one point for the use of methodology and a maximum of two point for the articulation of the student's research. Samples are collected in the Fall and Spring and results evaluated at the end of each Spring semester |
| Criteria | Desired Results-Theory At least 80% of papers should be rated 3 or better in the 5 point scale. A paper can be given two points for Theory. |
| Finding | Use scientific tools (theory) 100% of the students were able to use scientific tools. |
| Action | Understand Core Concepts The department will increase interaction between graduate students and faculty, and include more students in faculty research. |