Institutional Research and Effectiveness
Promoting a Culture of Principled Evidence.
The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness serves Covenant College in four major areas:
- Support of Covenant College's Mission
- Institutional Effectiveness
- Academic Assessment
- Availability of Public Data
Support of Covenant College's Mission
Covenant College is a faith-based institution of higher education committed to the Bible as the Word of God written, and accepts as its most adequate and comprehensive interpretation the summary contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness supports this mission through the assessment of institutional effectiveness, student learning outcomes, and post-baccalaureate measures.
Institutional Effectiveness
Annually, the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness coordinates the collection of assessments that report student learning or program outcomes, methods of evaluation, evaluation results, and how programs will use their results to enhance their effectiveness. Effectiveness reports are provided by all academic programs, administrative support services (development, marketing and communications, accounting, business operations, human resources, etc.), academic support services (library, math center, writing center, center for calling and career, etc.) and student support services (athletics, student development, health services, chapel program, admissions, etc.). Additionally, broad institutional effectiveness is also assessed by how well the College has succeeded in helping students make significant progress toward maturity in the following areas: (1) Identity in Christ; (2) Biblical frame of reference; (3) Christ-like service.
Academic Assessment
Entering freshmen are tested on the Proficiency Profile published by Educational Testing Service, which provides a benchmark for assessing academic progress in critical thinking, reading, writing, and mathematics. Second-semester juniors are assessed using the same measure. Analysis of these data determine how well students are gaining general education skills through the Covenant College core curriculum. Results for both freshmen and junior cohorts are measured against national norms provided by ETS.
Seniors with majors in business, chemistry, economics, English, mathematics, music, physics, and sociology take the Major Field Test for that discipline, published by ETS. Their performance is measured against national norms provided by ETS. Seniors with majors in biology, history, and psychology take the Area Concentration Achievement Test published by PACAT Inc.
All seniors must complete a capstone project that requires them to demonstrate a mastery of a particular area of their major, written communication skills, oral presentation skills, and the ability to meaningfully integrate their faith with their discipline.
Availability of Data
The Office of Institutional Research provides institutional data to IPEDS, the Common Data Set, U-CAN, and U.S. News and World Report for consumption by the public. Additionally, we provide more detailed evidence on this page of our website.
Graduate School of Education
Undergraduate Departments, Majors, Minors, Certificates, Concentrations, and Programs
Academic Certificates
- Arts Administration
- Entrepreneurship
- Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability
- Journalism and Society
- Medical Ethics Consultation
- Neuroscience
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Art
- Art, 2-D Concentration
- Art, 3-D Concentration
- Art, Art History Concentration
- Art, Graphic Design Concentration
- Art, Photography Concentration
- Art minor
- Art History minor
Biblical & Theological Studies
- Biblical & Theological Studies
- Biblical & Theological Studies, Missions Concentration
- Biblical & Theological Studies minor
- Biblical Languages minor
- History of Christianity minor
- Missions minor
- Youth Ministry minor
Biology
- Biology, Biomedical Concentration
- Biology, Environmental Concentration
- Biology, General
- Biology, Health Professions Concentration
- Biology minor
Business
- Business
- Business, Accounting Concentration
- Business, Finance Concentration
- Business, Marketing Concentration
- Sport Management
- Business minor
- Sport Management minor
Chemistry
- Chemistry, Biochemistry Concentration
- Chemistry, General
- Biochemistry minor
- Chemistry minor
Computer Science
- Computer Science
- Computer Science minor
Economics & Community Development
- Community Development
- Economics
- Community Development minor
- Economics minor
Education
- Education Studies
- Elementary Education (P-5)
- Secondary Education Certifications through MAT program
- Education minor
Engineering 3:2 Program
- Natural Science, Pre-Engineering Studies Concentration
English
- English
- English, Writing Concentration
- English minor
- Writing minor
Health, Wellness and Coaching
- Coaching minor
History, Politics, and International Studies
- History
- History, Art History Concentration
- Political Science
- International Studies
- History minor
- Political Science minor
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies with Concentrations
Mathematics
- Mathematics
- Mathematics minor
Music
- Music, Church Music Concentration
- Music, Creative Studies Concentration
- Music, General Music Concentration
- Music, Instrumental Performance Concentration
- Music, Music Education (Pre-MAT) Concentration
- Music, Organ Performance Concentration
- Music, Piano Pedagogy Concentration
- Music, Piano Performance Concentration
- Music, Vocal Performance Concentration
- Music minor
Philosophy
- Philosophy
- Philosophy minor
Physics
- Physics
- Physics minor
Pre-Professional Programs
- Pre-Law Studies
- Pre-Medical Studies
- Pre-Nursing Studies
- Pre-Physical Therapy Studies
Psychology
- Psychology
- Psychology minor
Sociology
- Sociology
- Sociology, Family Studies & Social Work Concentration
- Sociology minor
Theatre
- Theatre
- Theatre minor
World Languages
- French
- Spanish
- French minor
- Spanish minor