Assessment Goals of the Communications Major
The communication major requires that students complete eighteen credit hours in core courses. These include SSPH 301 Theories and Principles of Human Communication, SJOU 301 Survey of Mass Communication, SSPH 340 Voice & Diction, STHE 375 Theatre History (or STHE 301 Dramatic Criticism), SJOU 304 Writing for the Mass Media and SCOM 490 Senior Seminar. Students must complete an additional number of credit hours in one of three concentration areas: journalism (18 hours), speech (21 hours) or theatre (15 hours). Finally, students must complete four cognate courses and four supporting courses for a total of 120 credit hours. The faculty assigned to teach senior seminar also has the responsibility of compiling an assessment report for the semester.
Based on the communication major mission and vision statements, the goals and method of assessment are as follows:
Goal One
Provide general education, which emphasizes communicative and quantitative competence; knowledge of natural and social environments; appreciation of language, literature, and the arts, awareness of history, values, diverse cultures; understanding of changing technologies; and personal responsibility for life-long learning and physical well-being
Method of Assessment
Students participating in SCOM 490 will compile a senior portfolio that includes a major research project, internship evaluations, a completed senior survey, a resume and faculty critiques of their work. Students are assigned an outside reader (project advisor) who will assist them in the development and completion of their project. Based on the final research project, students must also defend their work in an oral presentation using audiovisual technology. Following the oral defense, students will be cross-examined and critiqued by members of the faculty and outside reviewers. Senior seminar presentations are videotaped and archived for ten years.
Goal Two
Emphasize experiential learning to prepare students for employment upon graduation.
Method of Assessment
During senior seminar, students must complete a survey that attempts to determine how many students have completed or plan to complete an internship prior to graduation. The questionnaire also contains questions designed to assess the value of experiential learning for communication majors. Additionally, evaluations of onsite (non-faculty) supervisors and faculty supervisors are used to measure student achievement levels.
Goal Three
Encourage curricular and co-curricular activities of a multidisciplinary nature so as to promote the integration of knowledge and address the complexities of contemporary life.
Method of Assessment
During senior seminar, students must complete a survey that attempts to determine how many students have participated in curricular and co-curricular activities. The questionnaire also contains questions designed to assess the value of such activities and the effectiveness of "seamless" learning for communication majors.
Goal Four
Educate students in methods of finding and evaluating information, and resources.
Method of Assessment
All communication majors must complete major research projects. Two core courses (SSPH 301 Theories and Principles of Human Communication and SCOM 490 Senior Seminar) require students to write a paper that is based on scholarly sources, and is evaluated