Economics Department Learning Goals and Assessment of Learning Goals

Department of Economics
Learning Goals (LG) & Assessment of Learning Goals

For Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) Economics Majors, we expect graduating students will meet the following learning goals:
(LG1) communicate effectively in oral presentations and writing
(LG2) apply basic quantitative skills to business problems
(LG3) acquire basic skills in information and business technology
LG4) possess a basic knowledge of accounting, economics, finance, legal environment of    business, management and marketing
(LG5) recognize how ethical decision making and globalization affect organizations
(LG6) utilize general and management-specific knowledge and skills in analysis business and
   economic problems
(LG7) possess a basic knowledge of economic concepts and tools including scarcity,    opportunity costs, and supply and demand
(LG8) possess a basic knowledge of macroeconomics concepts including national income    accounting, inflation, unemployment, and the monetary system
(LG9) possess a basic knowledge of microeconomics concepts such as consumer decision    making, elasticity, costs, market structure, and labor markets
(LG10) possess a basic knowledge of international economic concepts including trade and
   exchange rates
(LG11) apply knowledge of economic concepts to strategies for addressing public policy issues
(LG12) demonstrate an ability to generate and interpret descriptive statistics

For International Economic Affairs Majors (B.A.), we expect graduating students will meet learning goals LG1, LG3, LG7- LG12 and the following:
(LG13) possess a basic knowledge of at least one foreign language
(LG14) possess a basic knowledge of global issues from a multidisciplinary
  perspective (economics, geo-political, historical, etc.)

For Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Economics Majors, we expect graduating students will meet learning goals LG1, LG3, LG7-LG12 and the following:
(LG15) possess a basic knowledge of at least one area of study outside of economics or    business (e.g. political science, psychology, computer science).

For Bachelors in Science (B.S.) in Economics (with Secondary Education Certification), we expect graduating students will meet learning outcomes LG1, LG3, LG7-LG12 and the following:
(LG16) ) possess a basic knowledge of current education issues, educational psychology, diversity issues, special education, and instructional strategies for the teaching of economics and other social studies subjects at the secondary level
(LG17)practical teaching experience in a secondary social studies classroom
(LG18) practical teaching experience in a secondary social studies classroom

Assessment of Learning Goals

Graduates of each economics program (B.B.A, B.S. and B.A.) must satisfy all the requirements set out for that particular degree. Students must satisfy the college core requirements, Area F requirements, and the major course requirements. One-hundred percent of all graduates have completed these requirements.

The assessment process for Learning Goal 1-6 in the B.B.A. program above are described in detail on the Richards College of Business homepage ( http://www.westga.edu/~busn ). Assessment results for these learning goals are posted after the data is collected and summarized. These six learning goals are assessed by selecting a learning objective embedded in a core course and collecting data on an assignment that measures a student's ability to complete the learning objective. All Area F and upper division business courses have common learning objectives across sections. The ETS Major Field Test in Business is a primary assessment tool for the RCOB B.B.A. degree program. Based on a limited sample, B.B.A. economics students taking the exam thus far have scored above the median score of all RCOB B.B.A. students.

All economics majors must make a presentation as part of the senior seminar Class (ECON 4484). This provides an additional assessment of learning goal 1 for all economics majors nearing graduation. A summary of the assessment of oral communication skills for majors in each degree program is provided below. All economics majors met or exceeded expectations for oral presentations during 2008-09.

Oral Presentation Assessment of Economics Majors: Summarized by Degree Program (2008-2009)

In addition to individual course assessment, the primary tool for assessing learning goals 7-12 for all economics degree programs is the assessment exam given and graded by a committee of faculty members in the Economics Department. The assessment exam counts 10% of the grade in the senior seminar course (ECON 4484). Questions on the exam match up with each of these learning goals. The first table below summarizes the results of the department's assessment exam for the most recent 7 years. The examination assesses student comprehension of basic economics, macroeconomics, microeconomics, economic policy and international economics. Six students taking the test during Spring 2009 earned a score “High Pass” while three studentsfailed” the assessment exam. The second table summarizes the Spring 2009 results by degree program

B.S. Economics students who are seeking Secondary Education Certification must satisfy the same major course requirements as a regular B.S. Economics major as well as the admission, retention, and completion requirements of the UWG Teacher Education Program. Admission requirements include a 2.5 GPA, the successful completion of three introductory education courses, and the satisfactory completion of a basic skills test (GACE). Retention in the program requires the maintenance of a satisfactory GPA as well as the successful completion of all field experiences. In addition to completing all degree and field experience requirements, Economics with Secondary Ed. Certification majors must achieve a satisfactory score on the GACE Economics test. During 2008-09, one student graduated from UWG with the B.S. Economics with Secondary Certification degree.

Economics degree programs are reviewed annually. Student input on the effectiveness of our degree programs is obtained each year from a department evaluation distributed to all graduating seniors. Twenty-two graduating (or soon to be graduating) seniors filled out a departmental evaluation as part of the required senior seminar class (ECON 4484) during Spring 2009. A brief summary of the responses follows: