Educational Evaluation of the Master of Arts Program

Kenrick School of Theology continuously monitors its programs to assess the extent to which they fulfill their stated purposes, meet the needs of constituents, and conform to requirements. Such an educational evaluation is conceived as part of a cycle of institutional effectiveness, in four phases: (1) educational outcomes are proposed as goals; (2) a program is implemented to bring about the outcomes; (3) the achievement of the outcomes is assessed; and (4) the results of assessment lead to either a reformulation of goals or a revision or development of the program.

Kenrick School of Theology employs an outcomes-based assessment method of evaluating the effectiveness of its program. Means of assessment are devised to demonstrate in varying ways that the students have or have not achieved the intended outcomes of the program. Since this method of assessment is still a relatively new educational tool, and thus an inexact one, multiple means of assessment are employed in which the weaknesses of any one means are offset by the advantages of others.

The following chart displays the intended outcomes of the Master of Arts Degree Program, against which multiple means of assessment are deployed.