The political science faculty will begin the task of identifying educational competencies by surveying former students who are now in Law School or practicing law regarding how well the political science curriculum served their educational needs. This objective will be achieved by the end of AY l999-2000. A survey of PSc graduates is currently being developed. This will be assessed as part of the exit questionnaire process. Currently, there are courses for Freshmen and Sophomores that provide knowledge at a level required for them to move on to the 300 and 400 level courses.
Competence is assessed through graded tests and assignments.
The Department has no single course dedicated to developing research skills other than the Research Methods course for graduate students. Rather, these skills are developed in most upper division courses through the use of research papers and projects. These are assessed by course instructors according to the extent to which research skills are demonstrated. Currently, most courses require assignments involving expository writing, and several require oral presentations. These are assessed by individual instructors in their respective courses.