Social Sciences ULO Rubric

Boise State University Learning Outcomes

“The Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing disciplines offer a rigorous examination of human experiences. In studying various behavioral and social theories, research methods, perspectives of inquiry, and historical and cultural influences, students analyze the complex forces that shape human consciousness, interactions, activity, and social institutions.”

University Learning Outcome (ULO) Criteria

Apply knowledge and the methods of inquiry characteristic of the social sciences to explain and evaluate human behavior and institutions.

Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical and conceptual frameworks of a particular Social or Behavioral Science discipline.
Develop an understanding of self and the world by examining the dynamic interaction of individuals, groups, and societies as they shape and are shaped by history, culture, institutions, and ideas.
Utilize Social and Behavioral Sciences approaches, such as research methods, inquiry, or problem-solving, to examine the variety of perspectives about human experiences.
Evaluate how reasoning, history, or culture informs and guides individual, civic, or global decisions.
Understand and interpret similarities and differences among and between individuals, cultures, or societies across space and time.

To fulfill the University Foundations social sciences requirement for general education at Boise State University, courses must require that students demonstrate competency or growth for learning objective 1 above, plus three additional learning objectives selected from 2 – 5. Further, at least 50% of the course time and course topics are expected to focus on learning objective 1.

The Boise State University Learning Outcomes for Social and Behavioral Sciences are closely based on the Idaho State Board of Education’s Ways of Knowing rubric.

Rubric

Downloadable Version: Social Sciences ULO Rubric

CRITERIA	4 Exemplary Work	3 Good Work	2 Developing Work	1 Unsatisfactory Work
1 Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical and conceptual frameworks of a particular Social or Behavioral Science discipline.	Analyzes and applies theoretical and conceptual ideas in a particular discipline.	Identifies and accurately summarizes key theoretical and conceptual frameworks.	Needs help to identify key theoretical and conceptual frameworks and does not always summarize them accurately.	Unable to identify or present coherent summaries of key theoretical and conceptual frameworks.
2 Develop an understanding of self and the world by examining the dynamic interaction of individuals, groups, and societies as they shape and are shaped by history, culture, institutions, and ideas.	Analyzes and critiques the interactions of individuals, groups and societies; Evaluates and reflects on how social understanding leads to social actions.	Discerns and articulates the impact of the reciprocal relationship between the individual, group, and society.	Shows awareness of one’s own identity within one’s historical or cultural environment.	Shows little or no awareness of one’s own identity within one’s historical or cultural environment.
3 Utilize Social or Behavioral Sciences approaches, such as research methods, inquiry, or problem- solving, to examine the variety of perspectives about human experiences.	Employ an appropriate social science approach to arrive at an informed position on a complex problem, issue or topic.	Through an understanding of an appropriate social science approach. Identifies well- reasoned arguments and critiques information in order to evaluate fact vs. opinion.	Makes use of evidence from sources and presents it in a summary form though may be from a limited and/or biased perspective.	Makes little or no use of evidence from sources. Shows little ability to present coherent summaries of sources.
4 Evaluate how reasoning, history, or culture informs and guides individual, civic, or global decisions.	Connects and extends acquired knowledge from a social science discipline to examine the impact of agency on individual, civic, or global decisions.	Defines and describes how decisions influence individual(s) or communities.	Has a basic understanding of how personal and political decisions impact the individual.	Shows little or no understanding or acknowledgement of the ways that personal and political decisions impact the individual.
5 Understand and interpret similarities and differences among and between individuals, cultures, or societies across space and time.	Understand and interpret similarities and differences among and between individuals, cultures, or societies across space and time. Articulates a complex understanding of the similarities and differences of human experience by asking complex questions and seeking out answers that reflect multiple perspectives.	Explains the impact of similarities and differences on interactions and begins to negotiate a shared understanding based on those differences.	Recognizes that similarities and differences exist and influence human interaction; acknowledges that learning about others is necessary.	Disregards the existence of similarities and differences or does not recognize how similarities and differences influence human interaction. Does not acknowledge that learning about others is necessary.