Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Assessment Rubric - Biochemistry Program Outcomes

The Biochemistry BA and BS share several expectations and goals for all graduates of our two undergraduate Biochemistry degree programs. The following educational outcomes, classified in four major areas, cover the basic knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students completing a BS or BA degree in Biochemistry are expected to develop.

1. Key Concepts of Biochemistry

Demonstrate understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry and biology by applying these principles to key concepts of biochemistry.

Objective
Demonstrate understanding of the following key concepts: / Addressed in courses / Assessment Activity / Assessment Benchmarks / Assessment Results
Biomolecules structure and function / 181L, 462a, 462b, 466, 463a / 1- overall course GPA
2- exam question tracking for 463a, 462a / 1- no significant shifts from historical GPA
2- maintain or improve exam tracking value / Reporting of benchmark results to Chair at end of each semester by course instructor
Biological catalysts / 462a, 463a
Ligand binding / 462a, 463a
Enzyme kinetics / 462a, 463a
Allosteric regulation / 462a
Bioenergetics and equilibria / 462a, 463a
Metabolism and regulation / 462b
Signal transduction / 462b
Supramolecular assemblies / 462a
Enzyme mechanisms and inhibition / 462a, 463a
Protein folding and denaturation / 462a, 463a

2. Laboratory Practice, Information Resources, Safety Practices and Ethics
Demonstrate basic laboratory skills in modern biochemical techniques, including the ability to work safely, effectively, and ethically and a comprehension of the mechanisms underlying these techniques through in-class activities.

Objective / Addressed in courses / Assessment Activity / Assessment Benchmarks / Assessment Results
Perform and explain isolation and characterization of proteins and other biomolecules / 463a
498* / 1-Thesis
2-overall grade GPA
3- exam question tracking for 463a, 462a
4- pre/post test for 463a
5- detailed learning and subject assessment for 463a / 1-accurate and relevant articulation of practices
2-no significant shifts from historical GPA
3- maintain or improve exam tracking value
4- maintain or improve pre/post test scores / Reporting of benchmark results to Chair at end of each semester by course instructor or by research mentor upon completion of the senior thesis
Perform and explain recombinant DNA techniques / 463a, 466
Perform, interpret and explain common biochemical techniques such as spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrophoresis / 463a,498
492
Measure enzyme kinetics and inhibition / 463a
Demonstrate safe and effective laboratory practices in line with established protocols / 463a
498
Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues and articulate their implications / 296b, to be implemented

3. Creative Scientific Inquiry

Demonstrate basic laboratory skills in modern biochemical techniques, including the ability to work safely, effectively, and ethically and a comprehension of the mechanism underlying these techniques through mentored original research projects.

Objective / Addressed in courses / Assessment Activity / Assessment Benchmarks / Assessment Results
Design experiments, use appropriate controls, and understand the limitations of different experimental approaches / 296b, 463a, 498 / Identify successful completion of 498 including final senior thesis
In class oral presentation of data and interpretation / Completion of supervised, independent work that demonstrates putting knowledge into practice / Reporting of benchmark results to Chair by research mentor upon completion of the senior thesis
Interpret experimental data and identify consistent and inconsistent components / 296a, 463a, 498
Dissect a problem into its key features / 296a, 498

4. Communication in Science

Demonstrate information and communication skills (oral, written, and computer skills) needed to be a professional biochemist.

Objective / Addressed in courses / Assessment Activity / Assessment Benchmarks / Assessment Results
Critically assess scientific literature at multiple levels (popular accounts, review articles, and primary literature). Interpret, evaluate, explain and ask appropriate questions about biochemical data / 296b, 462a, 462b, 463a, 466 / Identify presentations of either talks or posters in class, at departmental event(s), or at a national/international conference(s)
Generation of molecular graphics web pages for departmental and public use and visualization
For graded courses, overall course GPA. / Clear and effective completion of presentations
Functional and useful pages
For graded courses, no significant shifts from historical GPA / Reporting of benchmark results to Chair at end of each semester by course instructor or by research mentor upon completion of the senior thesis
Locate and gather relevant information from credible resources and make reliable conclusions based on scientific literature. / 498
463a
462b
462a
296b
Communicate and collaborate with other researchers / 498, 463a
462a, 462b
Summarize original research results. Create and present oral, written, and visual presentations / 463a, 498
Use computers to retrieve information, depict molecules, and perform original research. / 462a, 463a