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Political Science

Assessment

The Political Science department continually strives to improve curricula for our students. This not only benefits our students, but it also fulfills statute and accreditation requirements placed upon the University. To meet these goals, the department has implemented an assessment program which consists of two parts: the Senior Exit Exam and the Student Portfolio. Completion of both parts is required of seniors in order to graduate.

Senior Exit Exam

Students majoring in Political Science are required to take a two-part exit exam in their last semester before they will be allowed to graduate.

  • Part 1: This exam contains 40 randomized questions from P SC 101 Global Politics, P SC 110 American Politics, P SC 210 State and Local, P SC 250 Political Inquiry, and P SC 442 / P SC 445 Theory Courses. Students of all Political Science study options answer these questions.
  • Part 2: This exam contains 40 randomized questions from the Global Option courses, American / Public Administration / Public Law Options courses, and finally, General Option courses. The questions a student is presented in this section are customized according to the student's study option within the major.

The exit exam is an online assessment tool used by the department solely to improve its curricula. It is important to understand that students will in no way be personally evaluated through the test results; rather the scores derived from all exams are aggregated to provide data that will allow the department to better meet the needs of future students through curriculum enhancement. Scores in no way affect students' grade point averages (GPA), nor do they appear on transcripts. They do not become part of permanent student academic records. It is very important to realize, however, that a student's failure to take the two-part exam means that the student will not graduate.

Because the exam is online, it can be taken when convenient for the student in the last semester. 110 minutes are allowed for completion of the exam, and only one session is allowed - students will not be able to go back and finish it at another time.

In order to take the exam, students will need to contact Mary McGill in the Department's administrative office to obtain a password which will grant access to the exam. She can be reached at mmcgill@uccs.edu, telephone 255-3016, or in the administrative office in Columbine Hall 2011. For any other questions regarding the exam, please contact Dr. Paul Sondrol, Political Science Assessment Coordinator at psondrol@uccs.edu or telephone 255-4008.

Students with disabilities will need to contact Mary McGill in the Political Science administrative office if accommodations are required for the exam.

Portfolio

Students are required to compile a portfolio before they will be allowed to graduate. This portfolio must be representative of the student's work.

  • Students must have their portfolio completed before graduating. Failure in completing the portfolio means that the student will not graduate.
  • The student portfolio must be provided to Dr. James Null, department Chair, in order for the student to graduate.
  • Begin work on your portfolio starting in your sophomore year and no later than your junior year.
  • Note that certain student work is required - do not dispose of your work before checking to make sure whether or not it is required in your portfolio.
  • Include an important sample of your written work.

"Truth gains more even by the errors of one who, with due study, and preparation, thinks for himself, than by the true opinions of those who only hold them because they do not suffer themselves to think." John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) British philosopher, political theorist, political economist