The Assessment of Students’ Key Content Knowledge Following Completion of Required General Education Courses

This article reports on the findings of a two-year study designed to evaluate undergraduate students’ content knowledge following completion of required general education courses. Specific student learning outcomes that align with state and regional standards were identified for the assessment initiative. The categories of foundation, communication, and critical thinking were used as common pillars across each course, and scoring rubrics were developed to assess the student learning outcomes associated with each of these pillars, creating a coherent approach. A systematic assessment of these learning outcomes was conducted across multiple disciplinary domains using designated courses that covered approximately 20% of the student population. Findings are presented for two assessment periods: Fall 2022–Winter 2023 (744 students) and Fall 2023–Winter 2024 (941 students).