COURSE DESCRIPTION

Guidelines for Writing Outcomes

As a way of promoting consistency and quality across the institution, anyone drafting course or program outcomes must follow the guidelines and examples below.

Basic Parameters

  • Every outcome should reflect something that can be measured
  • Outcomes should illustrate what a student should know, demonstrate, and/or value
  • Outcomes should use active verbs, like those included in Bloom’s taxonomy

See “How to Format Course Outcomes” on the next page for examples

Program Outcomes

  • Compose 3–6 outcomes per program
  • Ensure the outcomes are measurable by using active verbs from Bloom’s taxonomy
  • Examples:
  • Apply a comprehensive knowledge of design including composition, color systems, imagery, and typography.
  • Articulate ideas and formal strategies through visual and written presentation.
  • Demonstrate professional business practices and character, both as an individual and as part of a group.

Course Outcomes

  • Compose 1–4 outcomes per course
  • Ensure outcomes reflect only the main areas assessed within the course
  • Do not attempt to describe everything that’s done in the classroom

See “How to Format Course Outcomes” on the next page for examples

COURSE NUMBER: TBDCREDIT HOURS: 3

COURSE TITLE: Introduction to Visual StudiesTYPE OF COURSE:

LECTURE X

STUDIO

PREREQUISITES: Graduate level standing or REQUIREMENT:

permission of the instructor

ELECTIVE: X

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will introduce students to the writing of key scholars associated with the emergent field of Visual Studies. Additionally, this course will also include material from cognitive science on the mechanics of sight, theories of “mind,” and perception.[ske1]

COURSE OUTCOMES[AS2]

The student will:[AS3]

  • produce a scholarly, advanced research paper[AS4]
  • execute and apply appropriate research[AS5]
  • apply critical theory and cognitive studies to an analysis of visual culture[AS6]

TEXT:

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENT: Microsoft Office Suite

SUPPLEMENTARY RESOURCES FOR STUDENT RESEARCH

Bloom’s Taxonomy Verbs

Here’s a short list of possible active verbs to include when writing your outcomes.

Compose / Create / Apply
Design / Analyze / Discuss
Build / Produce / Solve
Assess / Construct / Invent
Determine / Develop / Evaluate

DATE APPROVED BY THE SENATE:

REVISED:

[ske1]Use complete sentences (e.g., “This course will,” “Students in this course,” etc)

[AS2]Include 14 outcomes. Each should be measurable, beginning with an active verb. (See examples below.)

[AS3]Introduce your outcomes with these exact three words only. Use a colon at the end of the statement.

[AS4]Include a space before listing your bullet points. No spaces between bullets.

[AS5]Because they are not complete sentences, begin your bulleted statements in lowercase.

[AS6]Do not include periods or any other punctuation at the end of the statements.