Outcome	Assessment Plan
1. Economics majors will be numerically literate, and possess strong written and oral communication skills.	ECON 4980 presentations evaluated by departmental faculty.
2. All Economics majors should be able to use statistical methods for problem solving (e.g., hypothesis testing, regression analysis).	ECON 4980 presentations evaluated by departmental faculty.
3. All economics majors should be able to use the concepts of supply and demand to analyze current economic issues.	ECON 4980 presentations evaluated by departmental faculty.
4. All economics majors should be able to use the aggregate demand/aggregate supply framework.	ECON 4980 presentations evaluated by departmental faculty.
5. All Economics majors should be able to identify the benefits and costs of a global economy.	ECON 4980 presentations evaluated by departmental faculty.

The economics department changed its assessment plan after requiring economics majors to complete ECON 4980 Research Methods. ECON 4980 focuses on individual components in the research process and the integration of these components into a substantial research paper and oral presentation. Specifically, the course focuses on how to develop an effective research question, review existing research, formulate a testable hypothesis, conceptualize research, interpret results from empirical and theoretical analysis, and communicate findings in a research report and an oral presentation.

Students will use skills and knowledge learned in both economics courses and in other college coursework to contribute to the field of economics by producing original research. Students will present their research to departmental faculty at the end of each fall semester.