Category 5: History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences

Goal: To increase students' knowledge of how historians and social and behavioral scientists discover, describe, and explain the behaviors and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, events and ideas. To challenge students to examine the implications of this knowledge and its interconnection with action and living an informed life.

Objectives/Outcomes:
Following the Completion of Category 5 of the General Education Program, students can:
1. Employ the methods and data that historians and social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition.
2. Examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.
3. Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.
4. Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.

Population:

Sample sections of Category 5 general education courses

Who does the Assessment?

Category 5 Course Instructor's Assessment Group

Assessment Rubric for O/O #1: Employ the methods and data that historians and social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition.

1	Employ the methods and data that historians or social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition.
2	Employ the methods and data that historians and social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition.

Level of Mastery
For year 1, baseline data will be gathered

Assessment Rubric for O/O #2: Examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.

1	Identify social institutions and processes in one historical period or culture.
2	Identify social institutions and processes across historical periods or cultures.
3	Analyze social institutions and processes in one historical periods and cultures.
4	Analyze social institutions and processes across historical periods and cultures.

Level of Mastery
For year 1, baseline data will be gathered

Assessment Rubric for O/O #3: Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.

1	Identify explanatory systems or theories.
2	Use explanatory systems or theories.
3	Use alternative explanatory systems or theories.
4	Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.

Level of Mastery
For year 1, baseline data will be gathered

Assessment Rubric for O/O #4: Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.

1	Identify an explanation or solution for a contemporary social issue.
2	Identify multiple explanations or solutions for more than one contemporary social issue.
3	Develop and communicate an explanation or solution for a contemporary social issue.
4	Develop and communicate more than one explanation or solution for more than one contemporary social issue.

Level of Mastery
For year 1, baseline data will be gathered