Academic Affairs Mission Statement
Academic Affairs serves as the heart of the academic enterprise. Our Mission is to provide access to high-quality academic programs, to support scholarly and creative activities, and to facilitate, foster and promote inquiry, innovation, academic excellence and achievement.
University Learning Outcomes and Assessment Program
Participation in University Assessment Program
Dickinson State University has an on-going program of assessing university-wide learning outcomes for students who graduate from the institution with either an associate or baccalaureate degree. A graduate of Dickinson State University will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of human cultures, the humanities, and the fine and performing arts.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the social sciences.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the physical and natural worlds.
- Demonstrate mathematical reasoning and quantitative and qualitative analysis.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving.
- Demonstrate creative thinking and problem solving.
- Demonstrate discipline-specific knowledge.
- Demonstrate written, oral, and visual communication literacies and knowledge of communication technologies.
- Demonstrate knowledge of personal and community health and wellness.
- Demonstrate responsible ethical reasoning and social and intercultural engagement.
These learning outcomes are institutional in nature and are incorporated within specific outcomes for each major program. Major programs, courses, and university programs are all geared to implement and develop the above learning outcomes during the academic careers of Dickinson State University students in order to provide students with the quality education needed for future employment and function as a productive member of society. All faculty and students are active participants in producing and inculcating these learning outcomes. Therefore, participation in assessment activities is mandatory for all students as part of the University experience. Each program must have a method(s) for assessing seniors on the program’s outcomes.
NOTE: Degrees will not be posted on the transcript until assessment requirements are met at an acceptable level as determined by the University.
Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) And Writing in the Disciplines (WID)
Participation in Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) and Writing in the Disciplines (WID)
The Dickinson State University Writing Across the Curriculum Program endorses the following goals:
- To integrate Writing Across the Curriculum and Writing in the Disciplines, emphasizing their relationship and differences.
- To implement, develop, and document effective writing practices within the Dickinson State University curriculum.
- To improve student learning to write for a variety of audiences and purposes necessary for college students and graduates, enhancing their future employability.
- To teach students to write specifically as professionals in their academic disciplines.
Dickinson State University students seeking an associate or baccalaureate degree participate in the university’s WAC program. All courses the university designates as writing courses are part of the WAC program. In addition, university schools and degree programs designate certain courses and practices as WID requirements necessary for students to develop written communication skills appropriate for their disciplines. All WID courses and requirements are part of the WAC program.
WAC trains students in writing necessary for multiple audiences and situations throughout their college curriculum and after graduation. Students begin their WAC experience in the General Education program by completing College Composition I and College Composition II no later than the sophomore year. Successful completion of these two composition courses is a prerequisite for enrollment in 200, 300 or 400 level writing courses. College Composition I and College Composition II are writing intensive courses providing students with practical experience writing in multiple genres. Student’s progress to other WAC courses subject to the requirements of their major and minor programs of study or their free elective choices.
Concurrent with or upon completion of their required General Education writing courses, students continue their WAC experience by taking required WID courses. WID courses consist of those courses which schools and programs consider essential courses for introducing students to writing within their disciplines. Schools and programs also identify certain courses or required writing practices they designate as writing intensive.
Required writing practices may consist of any degree or program requirement in addition to or supplemental of credit bearing coursework that engages students in writing intensive practices; these practices may consist of such activities as portfolios, capstone projects, or any other assessable practice schools and programs consider necessary and are able to document.
All WID courses and requirements are part of WAC, but not all WID courses are writing intensive courses. Writing intensive courses or practices are courses or practices with a significant writing component. Although each discipline is responsible for determining what represents significant writing within the discipline, writing intensive courses share the following characteristics: an emphasis on the forms and quality of writing necessary for the discipline; a clearly defined process appropriate for that writing; and the use of models, guided instruction, and feedback for improving content writing.
The university’s WAC program emphasizes quality of the students’ writing experience over quantity measured by credit hours. Students earning a baccalaureate degree must complete a minimum number of credit hours designated as writing courses or a combination of writing courses and documentable required writing practices subject to the following guidelines:
- 18 hours of designated writing courses or 12 credit hours of designated writing courses with additional required writing practices; if less than 18 credit hours, the students’ school must document writing practices required for degree completion.
- A minimum of six hours of designated writing courses or additional required writing practices; these can be either within or outside of the discipline. If additional writing practices are required rather than six additional credit hours of coursework, the students’ school must document writing practices required for degree completion.
- A minimum of nine credit hours of writing intensive coursework, three hours of which must be a WID course designated for the students’ major; in lieu of a three credit hour writing intensive WID course, the students’ school may designate and document discipline appropriate writing intensive practices required for degree completion.
- A minimum of six credit hours of WID courses, 3 hours of which must be writing intensive.
- A minimum of six credit hours of general education writing courses not part of students’ degree plans; this credit must consist of the required composition sequence but may include any designated writing course credit transferred from another institution, not inclusive of developmental writing.
Students completing a two-year degree program must complete the following basic WAC/WID requirements:
- 12 hours of designated writing courses or nine hours of designated writing courses with either three WID hours that are writing intensive or an alternative writing intensive practice; if less than 12 credit hours of designated writing courses, the students’ school must document writing practices required for degree completion.
- A minimum of three credit hours of WID courses.
- A minimum of six credit hours of general education writing courses not part of students’ degree plans; this credit must consist of the required composition sequence but may include any designated writing course credit transferred from another institution, not inclusive of developmental writing.
- A minimum of three hours of additional designated writing courses or additional required writing practices; these can be either within or outside of the discipline. If additional writing practices are required rather than three additional credit hours of coursework, the students’ school must document writing practices required for degree completion.
Schools and programs will identify their WID and writing intensive courses and practices in the academic catalog using statements appended to the Writing Across the Curriculum and Writing Across the Curriculum policy statement. Whereas changes in the policy statement are subject to the curriculum process, each discipline’s catalog statement identifying its WID and writing intensive courses is subject to internal review. All courses designated as part of the university WAC/WID program will be identified in the academic catalog by the following designation added to their course description: “This course is part of the university’s Writing Across the Curriculum/Writing in the Disciplines program.”
Writing intensive courses have a significant writing component. Although each school is responsible for determining what represents significant writing within its discipline(s), writing intensive courses share the following characteristics: an emphasis on the forms and quality of writing necessary for the discipline; a clearly defined process appropriate for that writing; and the use of models, guided instruction, and feedback.
WI courses are based in strategies that involve both writing-to-learn and learning-to-write activities.
Writing-to-learn practices use writing to help students learn course content. Learning-to-write practices emphasize the teaching of writing itself, whether as an independent goal within the course (as in ENGL 110 and ENGL 120 ) or as a discipline-specific goal of the course (for example, a business professor might teach students how to write a company or SWOT analysis). Classroom strategies that incorporate both writing-to-learn and learning-to-write activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- careful, thoughtful sequencing of writing tasks in order to enable students to 1) move from simpler to more complex tasks and 2) improve as creative and critical thinkers and writers. In first-year composition courses, the sequencing of writing tasks will focus on the preparation of students as WAC and WID writers; in WI courses in the disciplines, sequenced writing tasks will emphasize students’ preparation to write within their major fields and future careers.
- the teaching of key concepts about writing (audience; rhetorical situations; genres; accurate and meaningful data collection; use of evidence; professional standards; the research process; integrity in writing; and writing conventions, including citation styles, as appropriate to the course and/or the discipline).
- the use of professional readings and student writing, as appropriate, to provide models of the kind(s) of writing that is (are) required by the course and/or discipline.
First-year composition courses and courses taught within particular disciplines will be bolstered by pedagogical strategies such as these:
- writing activities that are completed by means of a multi-step or scaffolded process (for example, a short in-class reflective writing assignment could lead to a longer and more formal essay);
- frequent and extensive writing with an emphasis on feedback from the professor, peer writing tutors (in the case of discipline-based WI courses, these should be discipline-specific writing tutors), and/or other students in the course;
- reflective writing /metacognitive learning strategies; and
- an emphasis on formative as well as evaluative feedback and low-stakes writing in first-year composition and 100- and 200-level WI courses within the disciplines.
WI courses taught within particular disciplines will also benefit from the use of strategies such as these:
- movement from simpler to more complex discipline-based writing, focusing on the types of writing that are most central to work in a particular discipline and
- an increasing emphasis on evaluative feedback and high-stakes writing in 300- and 400-level courses.
Writing Requirements in Agriculture
Agriculture majors earning a BS degree must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education WAC courses as part of graduate requirements. Those credits may consist of DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II , which are writing intensive, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE placement and transfer policies. Agriculture majors must also complete an additional 12 hours of WAC/WID credit from the courses listed below including three hours of writing intensive courses marked by an asterisk:
AGEC 241 Introduction to Agricultural Economics (3)
AGRI 350 Agricultural Data Analysis and Statistics (4)
*AGRI 391 Junior Seminar (1)
*AGRI 394 Undergraduate Research (1)
*AGRI 491 Agricultural Seminar (1)
PLSC 110 World Food Crops (3)
*RNG 491 Range Seminar (1)
Agriculture majors earning an AS degree must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education WAC courses as part of graduate requirements. Those credits may consist of DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II , which are writing intensive, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE placement and transfer policies. Agriculture majors earning an AS degree must also complete an additional six hours of WAC/WID from the following:
AGEC 241 Introduction to Agricultural Economics (3)
ANSC 114 Introduction to Animal Science (3)
ANSC 123 Feeds and Feeding (3)
PLSC 110 World Food Crops (3)
Writing Requirements in Accounting, Administration, Finance, Human Resource Management, and Business Education
Majors in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education WAC courses not part of students’ degree plans. Those credits may consist of DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II , which are writing intensive, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE placement and transfer policies. All School of Business and Entrepreneurship majors are required to take all of the following courses which meet or exceed the University requirements for WAC/WID (i.e. 12 WID credit hours of which nine credit hours must be writing intensive courses as indicated with an asterisk.)
ACCT 315 Business Law I (3)
*ACCT 316 Business Law II (3)
ACCT 407 Auditing I (4)
BADM 336 Management and Leadership (3)
*BADM 369 Business Ethics and Critical Thinking (3)
BADM 455 International Business (3)
*BADM 485 Business Policy (4)
*BOTE 210 Business Communication (3)
*ENTR 366 Entrepreneurship (3)
MRKT 301 Principles of Marketing (3)
Writing Requirements in Music
Music majors must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education WAC courses not part of students’ degree plans. Those credits may consist of DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II , which are writing intensive, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE placement and transfer policies. Music majors must complete an additional 12 hours of WAC/WID courses, including at least three hours of writing intensive courses marked by an asterisk:
MUSC 122 Music Theory and Analysis I (3)
MUSC 124 Music Theory and Analysis II (3)
*MUSC 201 Introduction to World Music (3)
MUSC 222 Music Theory and Analysis III (3)
MUSC 224 Music Theory and Analysis IV (3)
*MUSC 326 Music History and Literature I (3)
*MUSC 327 Music History and Literature II (3)
*MUSC 488 Senior Recital (1)
Writing intensive credit may also be available through alternative means, such as completing other upper-level courses, including internships, which require extensive guided instruction and recursive practice in writing. Such alternative credit requires the student to submit a writing portfolio documenting the intensive writing accompanied by a program substitution form filed by the school dean.
Writing Requirements in Exercise Science
Exercise Science majors must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education WAC course not part of students’ degree plans. Those credits may consist of DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II , which are writing intensive, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE placement and transfer policies. Exercise Science majors must complete an additional 12 hours of WAC/WID courses from the list below, all of which are writing intensive:
HPER 300 Performance Assessment & Training Prescription (3)
HPER 430 Measurement & Evaluation (2)
HPER 432 Physiology of Exercise (3)
HPER 435 Advanced Exercise Science (4)
HPER 494 Undergraduate Research (1-6)
Writing intensive credit may also be available through alternative means, such as completing other upper-level courses, including internships, which require extensive guided instruction and recursive practice in writing. Such alternative credit requires the student to submit a writing portfolio documenting the intensive writing accompanied by a program substitution form.
Writing Requirements in Physical Education
Physical Education majors must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education WAC course not part of students’ degree plans. Those credits may consist of DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II , which are writing intensive, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE placement and transfer policies. Physical Education majors must complete an additional 12 hours of WAC/WID course from the list below, all of which are writing intensive:
EDUC 300 Teaching for Diversity (2)
EDUC 390E Health Education Methods (2)
EDUC 405 - Educational Psychology (2)
HPER 410 Psychology & Sociology of Sport & Exercise (2)
HPER 430 Measurement & Evaluation (2)
HPER 432 Physiology of Exercise (3)
Physical Education Majors may substitute their required Teacher Education Portfolio as a writing practice equivalent to three hours of writing intensive credit at any level. Writing intensive credit may also be available through alternative means, such as completing other upper-level courses, including internships, which require extensive guided instruction and recursive practice in writing. Such alternative credit requires the student to submit a writing portfolio documenting the intensive writing, accompanied by a program substitution form.
Writing Requirements in English
English majors must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education WAC courses not part of students’ degree plans. Those credits may consist of DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II , which are writing intensive, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE placement and transfer policies. All English courses are WAC/WID courses, but not all of them are writing intensive. English majors must complete an additional 12 hours of WAC/WID courses in English, nine hours of which must consist of any of the following combination of writing intensive courses with six of those hours consisting of upper-level credit:
ENGL 210 College Composition III (3)
ENGL 211 Introduction to Creative Writing (3)
ENGL 280 Sophomore Project (1)
ENGL 288 Collaborative Writing and Special Projects (1-6)
ENGL 300 Technical Writing (3)
ENGL 305 Writing About Literature (3)
ENGL 310 Advanced Creative Writing (3)
ENGL 440 Literary Criticism (3)
ENGL 480 Senior Project (1)
ENGL 488 Collaborative Writing and Special Projects (1-6)
English Education Majors may substitute their required Teacher Education Portfolio as a writing practice equivalent to three hours of writing intensive credit at any level. Writing intensive credit may also be available through alternative means, such as completing other upper-level courses, including internships, which require extensive guided instruction and recursive practice in writing. Such alternative credit requires the student to submit a writing portfolio documenting the intensive writing accompanied by a program substitution form filed by the school dean.
Writing Requirements in Computer Science
Computer Science majors must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) courses. These credits would typically consist of DSU’s ENGL 110 - College Composition I and ENGL 120 - College Composition II , which are writing intensive courses, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE transfer or placement policies. Computer Science majors must then complete 12 credit hours of Writing in the Discipline (WID) courses, six credits of which must be upper-level and three credits of which must be writing intensive. The following courses will fulfill these requirements, including the writing intensive course marked by an asterisk:
CSCI 161 Computer Science II (4)
*CSCI 342 Object Programming with Data Structures (4)
CSCI 486 Social Implications of Computing (3)
CSCI 491 Seminar (3)
In the case of a student transferring in a course for one above that does not have a significant writing component, the student may substitute courses from other areas such as courses in a student’s minor or other alternative means. Such alternative credit requires the student to submit documentation of intensive writing accompanied by a program substitution form filed with and approved by the school dean.
Writing Requirements in Computer Technology Management
Computer Technology Management majors must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) courses. These credits would typically consist of DSU’s ENGL 110 - College Composition I and ENGL 120 - College Composition II , which are writing intensive courses, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE transfer or placement policies. Computer Technology Management majors must then complete 12 credit hours of Writing in the Discipline (WID) courses, six credits of which must be upper-level and three credits of which must be writing intensive. The following courses will fulfill these requirements, including the writing intensive course marked by an asterisk:
CSCI 161 Computer Science II (4)
*CSCI 220 Computer Aided Design (3)
CSCI 486 Social Implications of Computing (3)
CSCI 491 Seminar (3)
In the case of a student transferring in a course for one above that does not have a significant writing component, a student may substitute courses from other areas such as courses in a student’s minor or other alternative means. Such alternative credit requires the student to submit documentation of intensive writing accompanied by a program substitution form filed with and approved by the school dean.
Writing Requirements for Natural Science
Students pursuing a major in the natural sciences must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education WAC courses that are not part of students’ degree plans. Those credits may consist of DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II , which are writing intensive, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE placement and transfer policies. Natural sciences majors must also complete an additional 12 hours of WAC/WID from the approved DSU courses listed below that includes four mandatory credit hours of writing intensive courses as indicated with an asterisk.
Biology programs:
BIOL 150L General Biology I Lab (1)
BIOL 151L General Biology II Lab (1)
BIOL 170 General Zoology (4)
BIOL 254 Introduction to Botany (4)
BIOL 305 General Microbiology (4)
BIOL 315 Genetics (4)
BIOL 330 Cell Biology (4)
*BIOL 390 Biology Research I (1)
BIOL 410 Animal Physiology (4) OR BIOL 454 Plant Physiology (4)
BIOL 415 Ecology (4)
BIOL 459 Evolution (4)
*BIOL 491 Biology Senior Seminar (1)
*SCNC 389 Scientific Writings and Reading (2)
Chemistry programs:
CHEM 420 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (3)
CHEM 461L Physical Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHEM 462L Physical Chemistry II Lab (1)
*CHEM 470 Spectroscopy (3)
*CHEM 491 Chemistry Seminar (1)
*PHYS 251L University Physics I Lab (1)
*PHYS 252L University Physics II Lab (1)
Composite Science Education program:
BIOL 150L General Biology I Lab (1)
BIOL 151L General Biology II Lab (1)
*BIOL 300 Environmental Biology (3)
BIOL 305 General Microbiology (4)
GEOL 320 Hydrogeology (3)
*PHYS 211L College Physics I Lab (1) OR * PHYS 251L University Physics I Lab (1)
*PHYS 212L College Physics II Lab (1) OR * PHYS 252L University Physics II Lab (1)
SCNC 315 Weather and Climate (3)
SCNC 389 Scientific Writings and Readings (2)
SEED 490S Secondary Education Science Methods (3)
Environmental Science program
BIOL 150L General Biology I Lab (1)
GEOL 320 Hydrogeology (3)
*PHYS 211L College Physics I Lab (1)
*PHYS 212L College Physics I Lab (1)
SCNC 315 Weather and Climate (3)
SCNC 389 Scientific Writings and Reading (2)
*SCNC 390 Science Research I (1)
Biology, Chemistry, and Composite Education Majors may substitute their required Teacher Education Portfolio as a writing practice equivalent to three hours of writing intensive credit at any level. Writing intensive credit may also be available through alternative means, such as completing other upper-level courses, including internships, which require extensive guided instruction and recursive practice in writing. Such alternative credit requires the student to submit a writing portfolio documenting the intensive writing accompanied by a program substitution form filed by the school dean.
Writing Requirements in Nursing
Nursing majors must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education WAC courses as part of the graduate requirements. Those credits may consist of DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II , which are writing intensive, or transfer courses or credits considered equivalent according to SBHE placement and transfer polices. Nursing majors must complete an additional 11 hours of WAC/WID courses, all of which are writing intensive:
NURS 241 Intermediate Nursing Concepts I (4)
NURS 328 Nursing Role Transition (2)
NURS 330 Nursing Research (2)
NURS 425 Nursing Leadership and Management (3)
Writing Requirements in Social Science
Students pursuing degrees in Composite Social Science, Political Science, and History must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education WAC courses that are not part of the students’ degree plan. Those credits must include DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II , which are writing-intensive, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE placement and transfer policies. Composite Social Science, Political Science, and History majors must complete an additional 12 hours of WAC/WID courses from the list below, all of which are writing intensive:
ECON 106 Global Economics (3)
GEOG 454 Conservation (3)
HIST 325 Research Methods (3)
HIST 330 History of the American West (3)
HIST 345 History of the U.S. Presidency (3)
HIST 399 Special Topics (1-6)
HIST 491 History Seminar (1-6)
POLS 315 Public Opinion (3)
POLS 375 Environmental Economics, Law, and Public Policy Development (3)
POLS 380 Energy Politics (3)
POLS 399/ECON 399 Special Topics - American Political Economy (3)
SOC 115 Social Problems (3)
SOC 491 Senior Seminar (1-6)
SWK 256 Development of Social Welfare (3)
SWK 330 Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3)
Writing Requirements in Psychology
Psychology majors must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education WAC courses, which should consist of or be equivalent to DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II , which are writing intensive, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE placement and transfer policies. Psychology majors must complete an additional 12 credit hours of WAC/WID courses, which include the following writing intensive courses:
PSYC 260 History and Systems (3)
PSYC 345 Research and Experimentation in Psychology I (3)
PSYC 346 Research and Experimentation in Psychology II (3)
PSYC 491 Seminar in Psychology (3)
Undocumented, Additional Writing Intensive Practices in Psychology
PSYC 494 - Independent Study, Undergraduate Research may also be considered a writing intensive course upon approval by the dean, providing that the instructor can document writing intensive practices.
Students in Psychology are required to provide a written analysis of their research activities at the end of their last semester of study. Additionally students often submit an abstract to at least one conference and present their work either orally or by poster presentation (or both) at the Red River Psychology conference and/or the Celebration of Scholars conference at DSU.
Writing Requirements in Education
Elementary Education majors must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education WAC courses not part of their professional education course sequence. Those credits must include DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II , which are writing-intensive, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE placement and transfer policies. Elementary Education majors must complete an additional 10 hours of WAC/WID courses consisting of the following writing-intensive courses:
EDUC 300 Teaching for Diversity (2)
EDUC 405 Educational Psychology (2)
ELED 238 Children’s Literature (3)
ELED 300 Teaching Language Arts in the Elementary Curriculum (3)
Elementary Education majors also complete a required Teacher Education Portfolio, which is considered a writing-intensive project in addition to the courses indicated above. Writing-intensive credit may also be available through alternative means, such as completing other upper-level courses, including internships, which require extensive guided instruction and recursive practice in writing. Such alternative credit requires the student to submit a writing portfolio documenting the intensive writing accompanied by a program substitution form filed with and approved by the school dean.
Secondary Education majors must complete the writing requirements of the school of their major. In order to meet the requirements for teaching licensure, a minimum of 6 credit hours of general education WAC courses must include DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II or their equivalents in transfer courses, according to SBHE placement and transfer policies. An additional 6 hours of WAC/WID courses are offered through the following required education courses, which are writing-intensive:
EDUC 300 Teaching for Diversity (2)
EDUC 405 Educational Psychology (2)
Secondary Education majors also complete a required Teacher Education Portfolio, which the school of their major may accept in substitution for 3 hours of writing-intensive credit. Secondary Education majors should consult their faculty advisor to insure completion of all writing requirements for the school of their major.
Writing Requirements in University Studies
University Studies majors must complete a minimum of six credit hours of general education WAC courses not part of students’ degree plans. Those credits may consist of DSU’s College Composition I and College Composition II , which are writing intensive, or transfer courses or credit considered equivalent according to SBHE placement and transfer policies. University Studies majors must complete an additional 12 hours of courses designated as WAC/WID courses, including 3 hours of upper-level writing intensive coursework
|
