Major Field Tests (MFT)

What are Major Field Tests?  

Major Field Tests help professors and instructors assess the effectiveness of an academic program and evaluate student performance to improve curricula and student learning outcomes.

The Major Field Tests help the University:

• Meet requirements for accreditation and accountability initiatives and performance funding by measuring the effectiveness of your program.
• Evaluate and inform teaching and learning, and pinpoint strengths and areas of improvement to strengthen curricula and student learning outcomes.
• Demonstrate the strengths of your program to prospective students and faculty.
• Track longitudinal performance and trend analysis to evaluate program improvement efforts.
• Measure your program's effectiveness and your students' performance against programs at similar institutions nationwide using comprehensive national comparative data.

What disciplines have an MFT?

• Associate of Business
• Biology
• Business
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Criminal Justice
• Economics
• Literature in English
• Mathematics
• MBA
• Music
• Physics
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology

More information can be found at https://www.ets.org/mft/about/.

How is an MFT administered? 

MSU utilizes the paper and pencil MFT. Tests must be proctored by an instructor.

How to request

Contact the testing center director at testingcenter@moreheadstate.edu to discuss administering MFT in your academic program. Consider how you plan to utilize MFT (e.g. as a capstone metric, pre-/post-, etc.) and determine the approximate date(s) of administration. Please understand that materials may not be on hand, so early notification is appreciated.

Test Material Security and Sign-Out:

• Test material security is paramount.
• Test materials will be released only to the instructor administering the test. No materials will be released to students, student workers or administrative staff.
• Testing materials will be available to the instructor no more than 2 (class) days before the administration date.
• Instructors will be issued everything needed for the test administration.
• When an instructor picks up testing materials, they are asked to:
  1. Provide the date the test will be administered.
  2. Provide the date the materials will be returned for processing.
  3. Sign an agreement attesting they will secure and safeguard all aspects of the test, administer the test carefully according to instructions, and collect and return all test materials promptly to the Testing Center.

Material Return/Score Processing:

• Instructors should return all of the materials (used and unused) promptly after administering the test. Testing Center personnel will mail in testing materials for scoring and provide test results and comparative data when available.
• Typically, results are available in approximately two weeks.

MFT Fees:

• Currently, the Testing Center does not charge a fee for MFT.