How Philosophy Has Closed the Assessment Loop
The Department of Philosophy's assessment is based upon essays written by students majoring in Philosophy when enrolled in the five main required "content" courses within the major (PHIL 205: Ancient Philosophy; PHIL 207: Modern Philosophy; PHIL 330: Ethical Theory; PHIL 340: Theory of Knowledge; PHIL 355: Metaphysics). In response to our several years' worth of assessment results, the Department has initiated the two following responses:
1. Students are given clearer guidelines concerning the structure of philosophical writing and argumentation. The Department has developed a writing guide for this purpose; instructors distribute this writing guide to students.
2. Students are given clearer guidelines concerning the nature of philosophical research. The Department has developed an instruction guide to the main research tool (The Philosopher's Index) for this purpose; instructors distribute this instruction guide to students and, on occasion, instructors lead tutorial demonstrations of the proper use of this research tool.