Saint Vincent College
Academic Program Assessment Plan
Psychology Department

November 18, 1999

Mission Statement/Program Purpose
The mission of the Psychology Department is to provide a quality educational experience to students who are interested in pursuing careers or further study in psychology and related fields. By emphasizing psychology as being both a scientific research-based field and an applied field, we seek to provide students with the skills necessary for entry into psychology and related fields; the skills necessary for the successful completion of graduate study in those fields; and the ability to continue their learning, both on their own and in cooperation with others.
Program Objectives/Outcomes
Assessment Strategies and Criteria
Impelementation Progress
1. Psychology majors will develop oral, written, and technological communication skills that will allow them to communicate in an effective and professional manner. 1. Faculty readers of theses, critical review papers, and internship papers will evaluate the written products using a rating instrument that is based on the 6 principles of good writing (possibility of using a second reader of papers, who would review specifically from the point of view of assessment).

2. Oral presentations in Experimental Psychology and Psychological and Educational Testing will be evaluated by the faculty teaching those courses. (Criteria for effective presentations still need to be refined, but will likely be based upon a rubric that Dr. Walker employs in the Testing class.)

3. Junior and senior psychology students will be encouraged to participate in undergraduate research conferences and poster sessions at which they present the results of work done on projects in Experimental Psychology, their theses, and their critical review papers. (We would like to see at least one-quarter of the thesis students participating in these opportunities.)

 		 
2. Graduates will have the necessary background and skills to gain entry-level positions in their chosen fields, to gain admission into graduate programs, and to successfully complete programs of graduate study. 1. Employment rates of graduates, based on surveys by Career Services. (Among students seeking employment following graduation, 75% to find jobs, 60% to be placed in psychology related work, within one year of graduation.)

2. Graduate school acceptance rates, based on exit interviews/surveys and alumni surveys. (Among students seeking admission to graduate school, 90% to be accepted by at least one program.)

3. Graduate school completion rates, based on alumni surveys. (Among students who begin graduate study, 90% to successfully complete those programs.)

 		 
3. Students will have knowledge of the ethical issues and guidelines for professional behavior in the field of psychology. 1. Evaluations conducted within Experimental Psychology, Introduction to Counseling, and Psychological and Educational Testing. (Evidence from course syllabi; student performance on in-class assessments of ethical issues.)

2. "Employer Evaluation of Student" form, used by Career Services for evaluating interns. (No students will receive unsatisfactory ratings in areas relating to ethics and professional behavior.)