Identification of Student Competencies Across the CSU System

Kinesiology Degree

Description of the California State University System

The CSU System is one of the largest regional-based system of universities in the world. Degrees offered are primarily the bachelor's and master's degrees. Each campus retains considerable autonomy in determining degree requirements and student competencies.

Identification of Student Competencies (March 13-15, 1998)

The Chairs of CSU Departments responsible for the Kinesiology degree organized a conference of faculty and chairs to initiate the quest to identify common expectations for students across the CSU System.

Pre-Conference Materials for 1998

Competencies that have been identified by other sources were compiled for distribution to conference participants prior to their arrival. It was not the expectation that the attendees would ratify these competencies but rather that the materials would serve to stimulate discussion.

Post-Conference Results from 1998

Following the conference, the results were compiled and reviewed by numerous sources, eventually being sent to all department faculty for review and input.

Adoption of Student Competencies

The input of the faculty was reviewed by the CSU Department Chairs and student competency statements plus a mission statement were negotiated. These statements became the basis for the Assessment Conference.

Assessment of Student Competencies (March 4-6, 1999)

After completing the student competencies, a second conference was planned to determine how best to assess the competencies. At that point, some competencies could be modified or dropped as being not assessible, but preliminary work seemed to indicate that faculty would be able to assess the competencies.

Pre-Conference Materials for 1999

Several of the CSU departments contributed ideas for activities that would serve to develop the student competencies as well as suggestions about how those activities might be assessed.

Post-Conference Materials from 1999

Following the conference, campuses were asked to developed examples of objectives and outcomes that were applicable to assigned student learning competencies. It was decided to limit the number of examples to three for document consistency, but there were other ideas that were generated.

Final Document of Student Learning Objectives

Using the input of the conference participants and the campuses, the Department Chairs organized the materials. The examples were then reviewed by a committee of faculty and chairs who specialize in measurement and evaluation. After several rewrites, the following document has emerged as a statement of core student learning objectives that has achieved system-wide support. Each campus is using these objectives as a template for faculty review of how these might be interpreted on their own campuses.

Final Document

If you want to download a formatted copy of the document, you can click on either of the following links:

Macintosh format Final Report
PC format Final Report