Institution: Florida A&M University

Location: Tallahassee, FL

Tuner: Reginald Ellis

Year: 2014

Degree Name: Masters of Applied Social Sciences

Purpose of the Degree

Florida A&M University is committed to inspirational teaching, exemplary research, and meaningful public and community service through creative partnerships at the local, state, national, and global levels. The University is also committed to the resolution of complex issues that will enhance humankind.

Characteristics of the Program

Master of Applied Social Science Program Mission Statement:
The MASS Program is designed to emphasize strong and broad education and research, plus the improvement of individual and community living. The program endeavors to produce holistic graduates who are responsive and responsible citizens. More specifically, drawing from areas of History, Political Science, Public Management, Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Economics, the MASS Program is designed to prepare students to (1) pursue professional careers in selected areas of study, (2) continue their studies beyond the masters level, and (3) achieve a mastery of reading, writing, computation, and analytical competencies needed to function as effective and productive citizens.

Career Pathways for the Graduate

The results of this degree will enable faculty members to effectively advice students about their doctoral degree goals.

Educational Style

1. Content Area: Depending on their concentration, MASS graduates will demonstrate satisfactory knowledge of a subject content area:
   • History - understand historical chronology from the origin of mankind to the present, and U.S. History from the colonial era to the present, with an emphasis on the African and African American experience.
   • Political Science - understands the structure, functions, problems and purposes of government along with the role of the citizen of American democracy, legislatures and legislation, political socialization, and psychology of political behavior.
   • Public Management - understands public policy issues, public personnel administration, administrative politics, and public finance.
   • Sociology - understands sociological concepts and theoretical perspectives; social change and disorganization, urban ecology, demography, and social stratification.
   • Economics - understands the characteristics of different economic systems and institutions.
   • Criminal Justice - understands criminal theory, practice and research, corrections management, and contemporary issues in criminal justice.
2. Critical Thinking Skills: Graduates will demonstrate critical thinking and/or analytical skills within the subject content area as well as other disciplines.
   • Understand how ideas and beliefs, decisions, and chance events have been used in the process of writing and interpreting history.
   • Recognize key elements in understanding history, political science, public management, criminal justice, sociology, and/or economics (e.g., cultural achievements, major figures, historical contexts, geo-political boundaries, and social and political developments).
   • Understand the economic, social, political interactions, etc., that have shaped the development of this country.
   • Discuss competing ideas, concepts, and theories about the linkage between politics and social, cultural, economic, and geographical factors across various time periods.
   • Understand how wages and prices are determined in market, command, and mixed economic systems.
3. Communication Skills: Graduates will demonstrate satisfactory communication skills through written and oral mediums.
   • Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written communication.
   • Use technology and library resources efficiently and effectively to conduct and present research.
   • Demonstrate competency in using standard professional writing styles, i.e., Turabian, Chicago, or APA style.
4. Graduates will demonstrate satisfactory understanding of Social Science perspectives.
   • Appreciate the roles and contributions African Americans have made to the American life, culture, and history.
   • Understand politics, economics, sociology, history, criminology, etc, as it relates to the African American experience.
   • Analyze how the presence of African Americans has profoundly affected the nature and development of American life and culture.
   • Understand the history of African Americans from the colonial era to the present.
5. Diversity and Interdisciplinary Perspectives: Graduates will demonstrate satisfactory appreciation for diversity perspectives and interdisciplinary groups.
   • Appreciates various scholarly positions on racial matters.
   • Understands the importance of various multi-cultural issues in American society.

Recognizes cultural bias when analyzing research and writing from various disciplines.

Program Competencies and Outcomes

Graduating MASS students will demonstrate critical thinking and/or analytical skills within the subject content area as well as other disciplines.

• Understand how ideas and beliefs, decisions, and chance events have been used in the process of writing and interpreting history.
• Recognize key elements in understanding history, political science, public management, criminal justice, sociology, and/or economics (e.g., cultural achievements, major figures, historical contexts, geo-political boundaries, and social and political developments).
• Understand the economic, social, political interactions, etc., that have shaped the development of this country.
• Discuss competing ideas, concepts, and theories about the linkage between politics and social, cultural, economic, and geographical factors across various time periods.
• Understand how wages and prices are determined in market, command, and mixed economic systems.

Direct Measure(s)

1. 85% of MASS students will successfully pass classroom examinations administered by MASS faculty and earn 80% or higher (e.g., ISS 5939, AMH 5930, POS 5208, PAD 5025, CCJ 5669, etc).
2. 85% of MASS students will be required to score at least 80% in 5000 and 6000 level MASS courses (e.g., CCJ 5940, PAD 6060, POS 6427, AMH 5409, etc).

Indirect Measure(s)

1. 85% of MASS faculty teaching 5000 and 6000 level courses will respond to the following department survey item: Describe the quality of graduating MASS students' analytical and critical thinking skills (Superior, Good, Fair, Poor).
2. 100% of graduating MASS students will rate their perceived analytical and critical thinking skills (Superior, Good, Fair, Poor).

Direct Measure(s)

1. Faculty who teach MASS courses will measure student performance through in-class examinations that will include essay questions.
2. Faculty who teach MASS courses will measure student performance through a combination of in-class exams, research papers, and book reviews.

Indirect Measure(s)

1. The Department will administer and analyze a Departmental Survey to ascertain student responses.
2. The Department will administrator and analyze a Student Survey.

Direct Measure(s)

1. 60% of students in AMH 5930 in the Fall 2009 earned 90% or above grades; 90% of the students earned 80% or above.
2. 20% of students in AMH 5578 in the Fall 2009 earned 90% or above grades; 80% of the students earned 80% or above.
3. 7% of students in ISS 6305 in the Fall 2009 earned 90% or above grades; 97% earned 80% or above.
4. 9% of students in PAD 5417 in the Fall 2009 earned 98% or above grades; 100% earned 80% or more.

Indirect Measure(s)

1. The research papers and essay tests that were used for the tests for the above classes indicate that the students have developed very strong critical thinking and analytical skills.