Department of Mathematics
 Assessment Plan

 Links to Measures:
    Rating Sheet for Capstone Courses.

Student Outcomes:

• Students should understand the theory and applications of calculus and linear algebra.
• Students should develop the capacity for rigorous analytical thought and the ability to communicate ideas in a precise manner.
• Students should possess an awareness of the abstract nature of theoretical mathematics and the ability to write proofs.
• Students should possess an understanding of the breadth of the mathematical sciences and their deep interconnecting principles.
• Students should be able to solve multi-step problems and perform complex tasks.
• Students should develop the ability to detect basic mathematical structures (patterns) and make generalizations from them.

Assessment Plan:

• Students will be required to take the ETS Major Field Test in Mathematics their senior year.  This will provide a direct and objective measure of knowledge acquired in the major. (outcomes: 1, 2, 5, 6).
• Students must complete a capstone course selected from Math
• 362, 436, 451, 477 or 416.  Since mathematics majors now have four choices of emphasis in their advanced course work, the capstone courses listed are appropriate to each emphasis. For example, a student in the actuarial emphasis must complete Math 436, the second semester of an advanced calculus based mathematical statistics sequence which incorporates ideas from calculus, the 300-level probability and statistics sequence, and its direct prerequisite, Math 435.  Hence its '1capstone" nature.  Successful completion of this course, then, measures not only mastery of the material from this course but that of the prerequisite preceding courses as well which range from the 200 level to the 400 level.  Similar situations pertain with the other courses mentioned.  (outcomes: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7).  Accordingly, to evaluate the success of this process instructors of capstone courses will complete a learning outcome rating sheet for each student, based on direct observations and measurements of the goals being evaluated.
• The department will collect data concerning the pass rate on the actuarial examination (outcome: 7).