Purpose
The College of Human Sciences has established core learning outcomes to provide the unifying foundation critical to personal and professional success for all College of Human Sciences undergraduate students.
Four components
The core identifies the expected minimum outcomes for each undergraduate in the college, organized into four components:
Communication
Core learning outcomes
Communicate with clear purpose, workable organization, and effective style in written, oral, visual, and electronic (WOVE) formats without distracting errors in usage or convention.
Curriculum expectations
Demonstrate the appropriate level of competence in each area of WOVE (as defined by ISU COMM) in at least one significant educational activity embedded in coursework at introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels.
Self-assessment/self-reflection
Core learning outcomes
Consistently and realistically analyze and evaluate one's own knowledge, abilities, and actions in comparison to professional standards and create action plans to enhance personal and professional efficacy.
Curriculum expectations
Demonstrate the appropriate level of competence in at least one significant educational activity embedded in coursework at introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels.
Critical thinking
Core learning outcomes
Generate, acquire and evaluate information based on scientific evidence, creative processes, and logical and ethical reasoning to make decisions and solve problems in one's personal, professional and community endeavors.
Curriculum expectations
Demonstrate the appropriate level of competence in at least one significant educational activity embedded in coursework at introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels.
Social justice
Core learning outcomes
Articulate and demonstrate a clear concept of a just society in which individuals and groups equitably share in societal benefits within a global community.
Curriculum expectations
Demonstrate the appropriate level of competence in at least one significant educational activity embedded in coursework at introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels.
Expectations for departments and programs
Departments and programs are expected to identify courses at three levels where the learning outcomes will be assessed. At least one significant educational activity will be embedded in introductory, intermediate, and advanced coursework for each outcome.
Core learning outcomes (PDF)
Assessment
The College of Human Sciences Outcomes Assessment Committee has developed an assessment process for the CHS core outcomes that, rather than focusing on certifying individual undergraduate students' achievement level for the outcomes, focuses on improving curriculum and co-curricular experiences to support student learning in the core outcome areas.
Assessment of College of Human Sciences core learning outcomes will measure student competence in the four areas (communication, self-assessment/self-reflection, critical thinking, and social justice). Assessment results will be used by CHS students, faculty and staff to enhance student learning experiences.
Approval
Core learning outcomes were approved by faculty in an electronic vote on April 20-24, 2009.