Weathering the Perfect Storm or Thriving in a New Environment: Assessing a Proficiency Based Economics Major

Abstract:     
Increased pressure from institutional accrediting agencies has required economic departments to develop program assessment plans. Episodic program reviews that focus on departmental inputs are no longer acceptable in an environment that stresses student outcomes and continuous improvement processes. Yet there is little specific guidance on how to construct and implement an effective assessment process for the economics major. We provide such guidance based on good practices from the general program assessment literature and the best standards of the economic discipline. Practical implementation issues are also discussed. The plan, which embraces Hansen's student outcome proficiencies, embeds formative and summative assessment in the curriculum, captures data in student portfolios and a capstone experience for all majors.

JEL Classifications: A, A2, A22

Working Paper Series