Assessment of Student Outcomes: Component/Course/Program Level
Component Area/Program/Discipline: Criminal Justice, M.S. YEAR: 2008-2009
Component / Course / Program Level
Student Outcome Person or Office
Responsible
Assessment Tool or Approach
Standards/Benchmark Results/Analysis Action Taken Upon completion of the M.S. program in
Criminal Justice, students will be able to:
1. Critically examine and apply master‟s level criminal justice knowledge base in the following areas: Criminological Theory, Research Methods and Statistics, Planning, Criminal Law &
Procedure, and one area of concentration
Graduate faculty in CJ
Written and oral comprehensive examinations or thesis defense Mean rating of 2 (satisfactory) on a three-point scale (3 being exemplary) 6/6 students successfully passed written and oral comprehensive examinations in 2007-2008 AY Graduate faculty in
CJ
Written and oral reports of original research
Mean evaluation score of 3 on a four-point scale on each section of the research document scoring rubric pertaining to writing Not assessed in 2007-08 AY Assessment rubric will be developed in 2008-09 AY for implementation in 2009-2010 AY CJ Graduate Director and Department Chair Relevant questions from exit surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on a five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
6/6 students who graduated in 2007- 08 AY indicated they were satisfied with their abilities to examine and apply master‟s level content in relevant areas.
Component / Course / Program Level
Student Outcome Person or Office
Responsible
Assessment Tool or Approach
Standards/Benchmark Results/Analysis Action Taken
2. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills at the master‟s level relevant to criminal justice
Department Chair Relevant questions from alumni surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
22/22 respondents were satisfied (7) or very satisfied (15) with course content.20/23 (87%) respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of instruction. Department Chair Relevant
questions from employer surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on a five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
Not assessed in 2007-08 AY
Employers identified from alumni surveys will be surveyed in 2008-09 AY Graduate faculty in
CJ
Written and oral comprehensive examinations or thesis defense Mean rating of 2 (satisfactory) on a three-point scale (3 being exemplary) 6/6 students successfully passed written and oral comprehensive examinations in 2007-2008 AY Graduate faculty in
CJ
Written and oral reports of original research
Mean evaluation score of 3 on a five-point scale on each section of the research document scoring rubric pertaining to writing Not assessed in 2007-08 AY Assessment rubric will be developed in 2008-09 AY for implementation in 2009-2010 AY CJ Graduate Director and Department Chair Relevant questions from exit surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
6/6 students were very satisfied with the critical thinking and problem solving skills in CJ
Component / Course / Program Level
Student Outcome Person or Office
Responsible
Assessment Tool or Approach
Standards/Benchmark Results/Analysis Action Taken
3. Use appropriate social science research methodology to complete substantial evidence-based research in criminal justice
Department Chair Relevant questions from employer surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
Not assessed in 2007-08 AY
Employers identified from alumni surveys will be surveyed in 2008-09 AY Graduate faculty in
CJ
Written and oral comprehensive examinations or thesis defense Mean rating of 2 (satisfactory) on a three-point scale (3 being exemplary) 6/6 students successfully passed written and oral comprehensive examinations in 2007-2008 AY Graduate faculty in CJ Conduct original research and report findings in a research document
Mean evaluation score of 3 on a five-point scale on each section of the research document (rubric attached) Not assessed in 2007-08 AY Assessment rubric will be developed in 2008-09 AY for implementation in 2009-2010 AY CJ Graduate Director and Department Chair Relevant questions from exit surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on a five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
6/6 students were very satisfied with their education in this area.
Department Chair Relevant questions from employer surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on a five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
Not assessed in 2007-08 AY
Employers identified from alumni surveys will be surveyed in 2008-09 AY Graduate faculty in
CJ
Written and oral comprehensive examinations or thesis defense Mean rating of 2 (satisfactory) on a three-point scale (3 being exemplary) 6/6 students successfully passed written and oral comprehensive examinations in 2007-2008 AY
Component / Course / Program Level
Student Outcome Person or Office
Responsible
Assessment Tool or Approach
Standards/Benchmark Results/Analysis Action Taken
4. Effectively communicate at the master‟s level in both oral and written formats using discipline- appropriate vocabulary and dialogue
5. Examine, evaluate, and apply ethical principles of the discipline in regard to research, use of sources, collaboration with colleagues, and principled decision/policy making
Graduate faculty in CJ
Research
papers/documents
Mean evaluation score of 3 on a four-point scale on each section of the research document scoring rubric pertaining to writing (rubric attached) Not assessed in 2007-08 AY Assessment rubric will be developed in 2008-09 AY for implementation in 2009-2010 AY Graduate faculty in CJ Oral presentation of research Mean rating of 2 (satisfactory) on a three-point scale (3 being exemplary) Not assessed in 2007-08 AY Assessment rubric will be developed in 2008-09 AY for implementation in 2009-2010 AY CJ Graduate Director and Department Chair Relevant questions from exit surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on a five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
6/6 students were very satisfied with their abilities to communicate at the master‟s level. Department Chair Relevant
questions from employer surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on a five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
Not assessed in 2007-08 AY
Employers identified from alumni surveys will be surveyed in 2008-09 AY Graduate faculty in
CJ
Written and oral comprehensive examinations or thesis defense Mean rating of 2 (satisfactory) on a three-point scale (3 being exemplary) 6/6 students successfully passed written and oral comprehensive examinations in 2007-2008 AY Graduate faculty in CJ Conduct original research and report findings in a research document
Mean evaluation score of 3 on a four-point scale on each section of the research
proposal scoring rubric pertaining to writing (rubric attached) Not assessed in 2007-08 AY Assessment rubric will be developed in 2008-09 AY for implementation in 2009-2010 AY
Component / Course / Program Level
Student Outcome Person or Office
Responsible
Assessment Tool or Approach
Standards/Benchmark Results/Analysis Action Taken
6. Successfully enter into discipline- appropriate employment as a professional in criminal justice or, if desired, continue education in a doctoral program and/or law school
7. Demonstrate comprehension of and effectively use discipline- appropriate technology, including computer hardware and software
CJ Graduate Director and Department Chair Relevant questions from exit surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on a five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
6/6 students were very satisfied with their abilities in this area.
Department Chair Relevant questions from employer surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on a five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
Not assessed in 2007-08 AY
Employers identified from alumni surveys will be surveyed in 2008-09 AY Department Chair Relevant
questions from alumni surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on a five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
17/23 respondents (74%) are currently employed in a criminal justice related profession. 5/22 respondents (23%) had obtained a degree beyond the master‟s degree. Department Chair Relevant
questions from employer surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on a five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
Not assessed in 2007-08 AY
Employers identified from alumni surveys will be surveyed in 2008-09 AY Graduate faculty in
CJ
Written and oral comprehensive examinations or thesis defense Mean rating of 2 (satisfactory) on a three-point scale (3 being exemplary) 6/6 students successfully passed written and oral comprehensive examinations in 2007-2008 AY CJ Graduate Director and Department Chair Relevant questions from exit surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on a five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
6/6 students were satisfied or very satisfied with their abilities in this are.
Component / Course / Program Level
Student Outcome Person or Office
Responsible
Assessment Tool or Approach
Standards/Benchmark Results/Analysis Action Taken Department Chair Relevant
questions from employer surveys
Mean rating of at least 4 (satisfied) on a five- point satisfaction scale on survey questions related to this outcome
Not assessed in 2007-08 AY
Employers identified from alumni surveys will be surveyed in 2008-09 AY