Students and Alumni Comments on Teaching
When students were asked for their reason for choosing the Economics major and what aspects of the major are particularly strong, they responded - "Quality of instruction"
And under comments they responded - "Exceptional quality professors!"
The Graduating Senior Exit Questionnaire consists of 17 questions calling for scaled responses and 8 open-ended questions. The data for the 17 scaled responses may be found in http://www.csus.edu/portfolio/prog/econ/1Assess.stm.
A summary of common responses to these questions from Fall 2000 through Fall 2003 follows:
1. Why did you choose to major in Economics?
• Because of the small number of units required
• Business didn’t work out and Economics was either
more interesting or the next best alternative
• Career opportunities
• Interesting
• Quality of instruction
• Analytic approach to social issues
2. Are there aspects of the major program that you believe are
particularly strong?
• Core courses, especially Econ 100A, Econ 100B
• Variety of elective courses
• Quality of instruction
• Econ 141 and Econ 145
3. Are there aspects of the major program that you believe are
particularly weak?
• Calculus should be required
• More elective course offerings are needed
• Econ 141 should be a prerequisite for Econ 145
• More use of computer and oral communication skills is needed
• More internship opportunities
4. Which courses in math, statistics, and computer science required
or allowed in the major were the most helpful and which the least
helpful?
• Econ 141 and Stat 1 were most helpful
• Require more math!
• MIS 1A, 1B, 1C were most helpful
• MIS 1A, 1B, 1C were least helpful
• Require Econ 141
• Use more math in classes
5. What, if any, math statistics, or computer courses do you believe
should be added to or deleted from the major?
• Add calculus
• Add Econ 141
• Drop MIS 1A, 1B, 1C
• Add more advanced Excel class
• O.K. as is
6. What suggestions do you have for improving the economics major
program?
• Add more rigor to the program with addition of calculus
and Econ 141
• Add more electives to the program
• Add a Bachelor of Science option
• Include more applied and quantitative work
• Add concentrations
7. In what ways could the department have better helped you while
you were pursuing your degree?
• More advising—mandatory advising
• More student-teacher interaction
• Career development counseling
• More night classes/electives
• More tutoring
8. Please make any other comments you wish
• Exceptional quality professors!
Our Alumni Questionnaire reflects the following:
| Average | |
| Average Quality of instruction I received from the Economics Department | 3.84 |
| Variety of Courses offered by the Economics Department | 3.58 |
| Advising I received from the Economics Department | 3.23 |
| Knowledge of the Economics discipline provided me | 3.97 |
| Research skills developed as an Economics major | 3.65 |
| Communication skills developed as an Economics major | 3.42 |
| Computers and technology skills developed as an Economics major | 2.97 |
| Problem solving skills developed as an Economics major | 3.71 |
| Critical thinking skills developed as an Economics major | 3.94 |
| Data analysis skills developed as an Economics major | 3.68 |
| 5 =Very satisfied, 4 = Satisfied, 3 = Neutral, 2 = Dissatisfied, 1 = Very Dissatisfied | |
| Average | |
| I feel that my Economics courses taught me the skills needed
to analyze economic policies and business decisions. |
3.58 |
| I feel that through my courses, advising, or internships,
the Economics Department helped me in thinking about my graduate school choices. |
2.88 |
| I feel that through my courses, advising, or internships,
the Economics Department helped me in thinking about my career choices. |
3.10 |
| I feel the curriculum in my Economics major equipped me for
the job or profession(s) I have practiced since graduation. |
3.21 |
| If I had to do it over, I would major in Economics again. | 3.93 |
| 5 = Strongly agree, 4 = Agree, 3 = Neutral, 2 = Disagree, 1= Strongly Disagree | |
