Master of Liberal Arts

PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOR MLA PROGRAM

  - Approved by MSUM Graduate Council For Students Entering MLA Program Starting June 2004

Sample MLA Portfolio (PDF)

WHO MUST PARTICIPATE?

In addition to an exist interview conducted by the Program Director when an MLA student applies for graduation, any student in the MLA Program after June 2004 must participate in the portfolio assessment program as a requirement for graduation.

WHY IS THIS REQUIRED?

This assessment program has been adopted in response to:

  1. A state mandatethat the department/programs regularly evaluate the academic progress of its majors/graduates,

  2. A national awareness regarding accountability in higher education, and

  3. The need to assess the effectiveness of our teaching.

Specifically we seek to evaluate students' ability to use demonstrate their mastery of the interdisciplinary objective of the program, including a synthesis of  ideas as well as the language, to organize ideas and use reference materials,  and to apply sophisticated philosophical, artistic, literary and other concepts.  A student’s portfolio may also be a valuable planning tool leading them to their Thesis project.

WHAT IS THE PORTFOLIO?

The portfolio consists of four papers. Three must be either analyses or argumentative essays from any MLA course or 500-600 level graduate course. These essays should be examples of  the student's best thought and writing. At least one of the three papers must demonstrate competence with MLA citation form, and at least one must reflect computer literacy and use of the internet. The fourth paper must be a personal statement giving the rationale for the selection of the three other papers and an assessment of the skills learned. In the portfolio, the assessment essay precedes the three other essays.

Portfolio Format Requirements:

  • Students will submit their Portfolios to the Program Director at least one semester or no later than three weeks prior to completing the Oral Defense of their Thesis project.

  • The papers must be submitted in a binder which has the student's name and semester of graduation printed on the outside cover.

  • Papers must be typed double spaced on white 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper. Pages must be numbered, and the student's name must be typed in the upper right-hand corner of each page.

  • Fresh, clean copies are required. No grades or instructor comments should be visible.

  • Each paper must have a cover sheet which indicates the course it was submitted for and the semester and year it was submitted. The papers should be arranged chronologically.

  • Portfolios not conforming to the content/format requirements will not be accepted. They will be returned to the student for correction and resubmission before the degree will be awarded.

  • The MLA Program Director or professors in the MLA program can help students in the selection of  papers and can answer format questions.

Options and Guidelines for Selecting Papers:

Papers writtenafter the student has taken at least two MLA classes are preferable to papers written after only one MLA class.

One paper may be submitted from a discipline other than the student’s undergraduate major.

WHEN MUST THE PORTFOLIO BE SUBMITTED?

The completed portfolio must be submitted, along with the appropriate approval form, to the MLA Program Director at least one semester before, but no later than three weeks before the student’s Oral Defense. Approval will not be given unless the portfolio has been submitted within the suggested timeline.

HOW WILL THE PORTFOLIO BE EVALUATED?

Each portfolio will be evaluated by the MLA Committee.  Portfolio’s are for Program assessment purposes only and the student will receive no evaluation of the portfolio, and it will not be returned.