The value of a redesigned program and capstone course in economics

Ishuan Li and Robert D. Simonson

International Review of Economics Education, 2016, vol. 22, issue C, 48-58

Abstract: This paper describes an undergraduate program in economics which redesigned its curriculum to include a required capstone research course. The outcomes of this program are noteworthy for several reasons. To assess the impact of the high-stakes capstone research course and the redesigned program, the authors provide evidence of labor market outcomes of its graduates. Further, student learning and program outcomes are measured using direct, objective, and indirect measures, among them the ETS MFT Economics scores, awards and recognitions in undergraduate research competitions, and Senior Exit Surveys. The overall evidence suggests the redesigned economics program improved research quality among its best students, and raised median hourly wages of its graduates within two to four years of graduation.

Keywords: Undergraduate curriculum; Capstone course; Assessment of program outcomes; Hansen proficiencies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A12 A14 A22 I29 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ireced:v:22:y:2016:i:c:p:48-58

DOI: 10.1016/j.iree.2016.05.001

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