Undergraduate Studies
at
Washington State University

Assessment

Student Learning Objectives (SLOs)
Each semester, we ask students to identify the learning objectives that were emphasized in each of their sociology courses. This information tells us how students perceive course learning objectives. Instructors can use this information to help them guage whether students are getting the message that they seek to convey, and can adjust their teaching accordingly. We have developed a search engine that will allow you to search for SLO information by course name or instructor, or by a particular SLO. To access these data, please go to our SLO Assessment Search Page. Your search will pull up data collected within the past two years. For information about the specific SLOs and their alignment with WSU's six learning goals, click here.
SLO Assessment Search Page

Actual Learning Outcomes (ALOs)
In addition to assessing students' perceptions of the learning objectives in their sociology courses, we also measure the extent to which they successfully achieve those objectives. We focus on three SLOs that are central to the discipline of sociology: Evaluating and Conducting Empirical Research, Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning, and Critical Thinking. We assess students' actual learning in these areas by administering assessment instruments in three of our core courses – Development of Sociological Theory (Soc 310), Introduction to Social Research (Soc 320), and Quantitative Techniques in Sociology I (Soc 321). We currently have results for Evaluating and Conducting Empirical Research. To access these data, please go to our
ALO Results Page

BA and Beyond Survey
In 2005 the American Sociological Association surveyed graduating seniors in colleges and universities across the country. The WSU Department of Sociology participated in this study. The results provide student demographic information as well as student evaluations of the WSU sociology program. It also allows us to compare the results for our program with those of others around the country. The American Sociological Association will conduct a follow-up survey with these graduates to obtain information about their career trajectory after leaving WSU. The data that we report here reflect the program before 2005 and do not reflect changes made since that time.
BA and Beyond Survey Results

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    Sociology Department, PO Box 644020, Washington State University, Pullman, WA  99164-4020 USA