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MAIS
Goals
The MAIS program offers an opportunity for advanced work to those
whose career interests involve more than one traditional content-
area. It aims to (a) develop the competencies of its students in
several concentrations and (b) introduce its students to problems
of an interdisciplinary nature. The first aim is addressed by way
of the multiple concentrations and the second is addressed through
the two core courses, the Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
and the Capstone Seminar. Of particular interest are (a) the development
of the students' awareness of the limits of disciplinary methods
and (b) a critical understanding of those limits for the authority
of the various disciplines.
Objectives
Methods
of Assessment
At this time the only formal mechanism which the program has had
to assess the achievements of its students is its comprehensive
exam, which is taken in the last semester of degree work. That exam
requires the student to synthesize materials used in several areas
into coherent responses to interdisciplinary problems. In the judgment
of the exam committees, the exam has served to reflect the progress
of the students in their ability to handle interdisciplinary problems
and to reflect their understanding of the methodological problems
of various disciplines.
For the future, we are considering the possibility of alumni surveys
to assess the usefulness of MAIS degree work for their career goals.
Assessment
Results
(Contact IR)
Use
of Results
Over-the years, our Capstone Seminars and Comprehensive Exams have
allowed us to monitor the progress of our students in the development
of their analytical and critical skills. We have been able to make
adjustments in both the reading assignments and in the writing assignments
to achieve a balance of challenging and accessible materials.
Gaging the utility of our program for career purposes is a more
difficult matter. Because the primary aim of this program is to
allow a more flexible curriculum than the traditional Masters level
program, much of the content of the student's degree plan is driven
by student's choices and courses derived from other programs. If
we are able to activate an alumni survey regarding the program's
ability to address career needs, we may discover areas where we
might improve offerings and approaches.
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