Also, recently, we revised our program outcomes so that they are essentially identical to the EAC Criterion 3 outcomes with the exception that at the end of outcome (3.k), we used the phrase "practice as a CSE professional" in place of the phrase "engineering practice". For details, please see, the objectives and outcomes page of the on-line brochure.
Our program outcomes were revised in Feb. 2009, following changes in the CAC Criteria. The changes were the introduction of outcomes (l), (m), and (n), and some changes in the wording of outcomes (a) and (c). The net effect of these changes was relatively minor since what they did was to elaborate our previous set of outcomes by explicitly incorporating computing into the outcomes rather than, as did the previous set of outcomes, refer to generic engineering. Our existing assessment processes did not need any major revision following this revision of the (statement of) program outcomes. But we are still in the process of updating various documents to reflect the revised outcomes.
Our program outcomes are:
These outcomes may be classified into three groups:
2.1 Group 1 outcomes (technical skills): To evaluate the degree of achievement of outcomes in the first group, we have instituted an exit test that all BS-CSE majors will take prior to graduation. When a BS-CSE major applies for graduation, generally three quarters before the expected date of graduation, he or she will be asked to sign up to take the test. The test will be offered once each quarter, typically in the third week of the quarter. The questions on this test are designed to help assess the degree to which each outcome in the first group is achieved by BS-CSE students as they near completion of the program. Full details of this test, including a sample test, are available. Of course, in addition to this test, in the courses that help students achieve these outcomes, faculty use a variety of student activities and related assessments (such as midterm and final exams, programming projects, etc.) to assess the extent to which the course is achieving its intended outcomes and use the results of the assessments to effect improvements in the courses. Summaries of those assessments are included in the respective course group reports.
2.2 Group 2 outcomes (soft skills): The degree of achievement of the outcomes in the second group which deal with effective oral and written communication, teamworking, and lifelong learning, clearly cannot be tested in the same manner as the outcomes in the first group. Instead, the degree of achievement of these outcomes have to be assessed based on performance of students in suitable activities that require them to exercise the corresponding skills. Each of our capstone courses has been designed to incorporate, in an essential manner, such activities. We have designed specific rubrics that each of the capstone course instructors uses to evaluate specific student activities directly related to each of these specific outcomes, in their respective courses. Details of our approach to evaluating this group of outcomes, including these rubrics, are available.
2.3 Group 3 outcomes (societal issues): The degree of achievement of the outcomes in the third group which deal with "broad education" and "contemporary issues", also cannot be easily tested in the exit test. Hence, these outcomes are evaluated in CSE 601, the one credit required course on social and ethical issues in computing that students typically take immediately prior to the capstone course. Students in this course are required to write a paper on a suitable topic such as privacy, copyright, first amendment rights, etc., that is directly related to these outcomes. A suitable rubric has been designed that is used in CSE 601 to evaluate these papers in an appropriate manner. Given the nature of this student activity, it also contributes to further developing students' written communication skills (outcome (g)) and the rubric evaluates this aspect as well. Details of our approach to evaluating this group of outcomes, including this rubric, are available.