History B.A. Outcomes

Program Outcome Direct assessment measure Satisfactory performance standard 

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

 Student performance with respect to this outcome will be measured by:

Satisfactory student performance on the direct assessment measure will consist of:

1.  Demonstrate a general knowledge of United States and World History.

Written examinations/quizzes on material covered in US History 1107 and1108 and World Civilization 2111, 2112, 2113 which may include both objective and essay style questions, classroom/oral questions and answer quizzes on material from preceding class, critical book essays or review essays on selected supplementary readings, and/or written textbook chapter summaries.

  Written examinations should produce a passing grade. Essays will be graded for content and style which includes acceptable composition, syntax, grammar and spelling.  Essays will need to be completed at a passing grade.  Class participation will be graded for quality, thoroughness, content and clarity and be at a passing grade. Critical reviews/essays will receive a minimum grade of  passing.
2. Demonstrate the ability to think critically about and to analyze primary and secondary historical materials. 

Examinations will include inductive and deductive type questions requiring students to read, evaluate and critically analyze primary and secondary historical materials offered in their assigned readings.  Research papers will also reflect the above.

 Examinations, essays and research papers shall be completed at a passing grade.
 3. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively both in written and oral forms. Possess the ability to understand historical debate and controversy.   Written and oral communications skills will be assessed by student performance on written examinations and oral class participation and presentations.  Class presentations by student may also be used to assess students’ ability to argue both sides of debatable historical topics.  Written argumentative essays and research papers may also be used to test the above.  Written exams, oral quizzes, class participation, written argumentative essays and research papers shall be completed at a passing grade
 4. Possess an understanding that although the past tends to be viewed in terms of present values, a proper perception of the past requires a serious examination of values of that time.  Examination questions demanding that students draw conclusions as to the moral values, ethics and principles to be learned based on the philosophical and religious standards of historical periods.  Students will be able to compare these with analogous problems from our own day.  Essays and class participation will reinforce and reflect this ability.  Assigned research papers will test the skill mentioned here as well   
Exams, class participation and research papers shall reflect a passing grade.
5. Demonstrate a knowledge of geography as it relates to history.  Maps tests and quizzes on the geography of the period/world region being studied will supplementary examinations and class participation.   Map tests, quizzes, supplementary exams and class participation shall be completed at a passing grade.
 
6. Possess an understanding of how society, economics, international relations, culture and politics combine to have an impact on history and its creation.

 Discrete portions of examinations will focus on economics, the social setting, including culture and politics and international relations.  Research papers will also test these subjects.

Exams and research papers shall reflect a passing grade. 

7. BA: Possess a working knowledge of one foreign language.

 Completion of a minimum 4 courses and their requirements for French or Spanish language skills at Fairmont State or equivalent college course credits, both in written and verbal skills.  Other languages may be used to fulfill this requirement depending on the availability of instructors.

 Language credits shall average a passing grade; instructors who test for knowledge of languages not offered at Fairmont State University shall require a passing  grade when testing the student.
8. BS: Possess a working knowledge of how quantitative methods can be used to study history.

Completion of POLI 2240, Non-parametric Statistics at Fairmont State or equivalent college course credits.

 POLI 2240 shall be completed with a passing grade.

Page last updated on April 13 2008.