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PC Program Review – History (May 2006)

 

Name of Program:  History

Division:  Social Science

Contact Persons:  Bezayiff/Hargis

 

Program Mission Statement

1.  Promote understanding of the impact of historical forces of change on the US and other countries/regions and relate the relevance of these changes to contemporary problems and conditions

2.  Provide ethnic group/nationality/regional cultural/historical perspectives to broaden the educational scope of PC students

3.  Meet graduation and transfer program requirements in History (US history, western civilization, and ethnic studies)

 

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Analysis of Current Performance

PC’s 2005-2006 History Program successfully offered students 22 US History sections per year with only two full time instructors and one adjunct.   Including Dr. Keele, we successfully offer students 8 sections in ethnic studies.  Western Civilization continues to be a popular choice for students.  The History program does a good job of offering classes throughout the day to best meet student needs.

 

Program Strengths and Areas for Improvement

A.  Strengths

1.  For a small college with only two full time history instructors, we provide a wider option in history course selections than many larger colleges.

2.  Strong coverage throughout the day in our primary need content area:  US History. 

3.  A wide variety of classes/sections in historical ethnic studies in areas that meet the interests of many of our students:  East Asian, Latin American, Mexican, and Mexican American history.

4.  A commitment to offer an increasing number of classes online

5.  Other popular classes that include Western Civilization

 

B.  Strategies for Improvement:

1.  Revise catalog classes that are not currently offered to meet student and/or current interests; and better reflect a noneurocentric perspective (History of the Middle East; other “World Beyond Europe” classes)

2.  Create new classes (similar to those in other community colleges) that offer greater options to social science majors, broaden the scope of content to appeal to students in other majors/programs and to attract community members (California History; History of Britain, Russian History, and special one-unit undergraduate seminar classes)

3.  Continue to focus on class scheduling that best meets student needs, including offering more online options and sections and making sure that afternoon and evening classes continue to be scheduled.

4.  Investigate the feasibility of offering nontransfer level US History classes that may meet non AA/AS program graduation requirements

 

Goals

 

Goal #1

Finish revision of History 120 (Middle East History)

To be completed early Fall 2006

No resources necessary

No obstacles to completion

 

Goal #2

Prepare class description/seek approval for new California History class

To be completed by end of  Fall  2006

Necessary resources:  current course descriptions from other colleges; survey of course texts

Obstacles: Finding time within already busy schedules to complete

 

Goal #3

Prepare online version of History 119 (Mexican Americans in US History0

To be completed by end of Fall 2006

No resources necessary

No obstacles to completion

 

Goal #4

Prepare class description/seek approval for new History of Britain class

To be completed by end of Spring 2007

Necessary resources:  current course descriptions from other colleges; survey of course texts

Obstacles: Finding time within already busy schedules to complete

 

Staffing

Current Levels

FTE staff          Part-time staff

Faculty    2       Faculty    1

 

Budget