Student Achievement Assessment Committee

October, 2000

At the completion of baccalaureate degree studies in Philosophy, students are expected to:

• read and comprehend sophisticated philosophical texts
• critically evaluate philosophical arguments
• construct and defend philosophical arguments in well-organized, clear, and concise prose
• demonstrate mastery of basic philosophical concepts and methods in both oral and written contexts
• apply critical thinking and argument-evaluation skills to those philosophical issues and arguments that present themselves in everyday life
• engage in rational, civil, discourse about complex and emotionally laden topics in a manner that is respectful of the other

At the completion of baccalaureate degree studies in Geography, students are expected to:

• know and apply geographic concepts in identifying, analyzing, and explaining spatial/global issues and processes
• identify and analyze the past and present processes that contribute to the world's constantly changing cultural and  physical environments
• ascertain the interrelationships and interactions between and among regions
• collect, integrate, analyze, display, and communicate spatial information and data sources by using mapping skills, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and other tools and techniques such as air photo interpretation, remote sensing, statistics, and computers
• apply spatial dimensions in analyzing issues and determining how human perceptions and actions contribute to distinct global identities and regional variations

At the completion of baccalaureate degree studies in Popular Culture, students are expected to:

• recognize that the materials of popular culture are not neutral; that they are both shaped by aesthetic and social history and by cultural forces, and that the materials of popular culture influence these forces as well
• apply critical analysis to the popular culture environment, both in the present and in its various historical manifestations, in order to discuss such matters as how popular culture shapes/reflects our personal and social experiences, how popular culture shapes/reflects diversity in a multicultural society, and how popular culture shapes/reflects American culture’s relationship to global culture(s)
• describe basic theories and methodologies relevant to popular culture scholarship, and apply those theories and methodologies in their own research
• recognize the existence of alternative aesthetic systems, and be able to describe variations in aesthetic systems from genre to genre or from medium to medium recognize that aesthetic systems are not intrinsically good or bad and that each aesthetic system is based on its own set of standards and has its own challenge

At the completion of baccalaureate degree studies in Theatre, students are expected to:

• analyze diverse performance texts (theatrical, no theatrical, literary, non literary) from various historical periods and cultural backgrounds in order to make effective artistic decisions in a theatrical context
• understand the cultural and social contexts that shape a theatrical text and performance throughout history and apply this understanding in a theatrical context
• research and communicate ideas in written, visual, and/or oral forms in order to develop appropriate concepts for theatrical production in traditional and non traditional venues
• work collaboratively to solve specific production requirements as actor, director, designer, and/or technician
• present one’s skills and knowledge in a professional format

At the completion of baccalaureate degree studies in Criminal Justice, students are expected to:

• identify, investigate, and propose solutions to problems/issues facing the criminal justice system
• critically evaluate policies and practices of the criminal justice system
• communicate effectively, both verbally and in written form

At the completion of baccalaureate degree studies in Economics, students are expected to:

• demonstrate a command of basic characteristics of American and world economy by their ability to use this information to evaluate economic outcomes
• demonstrate a command of basic economic theory by using this theory to make predictions and to analyze economic policy issues
• demonstrate the ability to communicate in both oral and written forms by presenting arguments and evidence clearly and concisely

In addition to the learning outcomes demonstrated in one’s major field of study, students enrolled in the Honors Program are expected to:

• recognize and develop connections among different disciplines
• draw appropriate and sophisticated inferences from data, other information, and texts, including inferences with regard to authorial values and assumptions
• demonstrate intellectual independence, including the ability to ask innovative questions, develop innovative answers to questions, and articulate alternative perspectives on experience
• communicate clearly, forcefully, and persuasively, both orally and in writing
• work cooperatively with others and recognize the social implications of ideas and individual behaviors