Course Objective Analysis -- Fall 2003 to Spring 2005

		Steven Skiena
		Department of Computer Science
		SUNY Stony Brook
		May 18, 2005

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We have been running an end-of-semester online course objective survey
for all of our undergraduate Computer Science major courses since Spring 2003.
This survey serves several important roles in our assessment process:

(1) It helps faculty detect when their current course offerings diverge
from their intended place in the curriculum.

(2) It helps faculty detect when new developments imply that a change in
the 

(3) It helps the undergraduate committee assess that the program objectives
associated with our course offerings are satisfied.

	Here is an analysis of the end-of-semester course objective surveys
for the previous four semesters.   The raw data is tabulated in an associated
spreadsheet.   The data supports the notation that in general our courses
are doing what they are supposed to be doing.   Followup by the undergraduate
committee is advised for CSE 113, CSE 213, CSE 220, and CSE 320, however.

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CSE 110: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 113: The survey reflects a sense that discrete structures are not
	adequately covered.   This needs further investigation, but likely
	reflects that fact that we rely on AMS 301 for our major coverage
	of discrete structures.

CSE 114: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 213: Some concerns by students that the course does not continue the
	development of a strong theoretical foundation for further classes --
	this may reflect that fact that CSE 213 is not a prerequisite for
	many classes, which is one of the reasons for our plans to drop it
	in favor of requiring both algorithms and theory of computation in its
	place.

CSE 214: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 219: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.
	This is notable because CSE 219 often receives complaints from students
	because of the volume of work

CSE 220: The fourth objective (introduction to IO) is not deemed as satisfied
	by the majority of students.  This reflects that it has not been
	taught for several semesters because of a lack of time in the semester.
	We should either revise the objectives (as Shaunak has suggested)
	or identify what should be dropped to accommodate this subject.

CSE 230: Insufficient data because students are traditionally non-majors
	and outside the objective survey system.

CSE 300: Clear displeasure with the administration of the course in Fall 2004.

CSE 303: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 304: Insufficient data, but all objectives deemed satisfied by most
	students each semester.

CSE 305: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 306: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 307: Modulo an unpopular offering in Spring 2004, all objectives deemed
	satisfied by most students other semesters.

CSE 308: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 310: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 315: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 320: Mixed assessment of objectives, but particular concern about operating
	system support.

CSE 327: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 328: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 332: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 333: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 334: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 336: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 346: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 371: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 373: With the exception of the treatment of NP-completeness in Fall 2003,
	all objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 375: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 376: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 390: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 475: All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.

CSE 495/6:  All objectives deemed satisfied by most students each semester.