FACULTY FORUM Assessing the Psychology Major: A National Survey of Undergraduate Programs

A represenmtir~e sample of305 four-year pos~cecondmy schwls, ranging from regional colleges to nutionnl universities, was sur-veyed to determine tk extent of assessment of the psycholog). major. Wc found that only a minority of psychology departments are doing such assessment. Regional schools seem more often engaged in acsessmrnt thnn national schools. Assessment snate-gies ~rsually mean exit exam scores a d sometimes exit interuiews or senior theses. References are provided to assist depamnenu planning assessment programs. Because of the emphasis that regional accreditation agen-cies (e.g.. the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) and numerots state legislatures have placed on outcomes assessment, many colleges and universities are de-veloping more formal assessment programs (Halpern. 19Ria). There is an increasing demand lrom politicians a