BIOLOGY (BA/BS)

Intended Program Outcomes / Methods of Assessment and Criteria for Success
Direct Measures / Indirect Measures
  1. Content Knowledge: Graduates will be able to demonstrate specific content knowledge, concepts, principles, and theories of biological sciences.
/ •All students will take a National standardized exam (Major Field Test) (BSC4930) and 70% of Biology Majors will score 50% or better on the Biology Major Field Test (ETS designed test) .
•Class exams in all Biology classes will measure content knowledge.
•Class projects that involve reading scientific literature and critically assessing specific biological phenomena will be required in two classes (BSC1011, BSC4930). / •All of the students graduating with a B.S. in Biology will have a minimum 2.0 in all biology core classes.
•All of the program outcomes will be assessed by an exit interview and an exit survey.
•Students completing 45 hours will also be given a survey regarding their perception of the department.
  1. Communication: Students will demonstrate communication skills which include - reading, speaking, writing, questioning, listening, and making presentations about issues related to life sciences.
/ •Every student will present orally in at least 4 classes. Presentation will be graded using a presentation rubric. (BSC1010, BSC1011, MCB3010, BSC4930).
•Every graduating student will receive a mean score of 75% in the Oral Presentation Exit Exam graded by a team of faculty members using the Presentation Rubric (BSC4930).
•Students will be required to complete written lab reports, critically critique scientific literature, or research papers (BSC1010, PCB3063, MCB3010, PCB2033, BOT2313).
•Students will write a scientific paper that includes an abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion (BSC4930). / •All of the students graduating with a B.S. in Biology will have a minimum 2.0 in all Biology core classes.
•All of the program outcomes will be assessed by an exit interview and an exit survey.
•Responding to an Exit Interview, 80% of the graduating students will indicate that the biology department has helped them improve their oral and written communication skills.
•Responding to an Exit Survey, 80% of the graduating students will indicate that they feel confident in their ability to write a scientific paper.
  1. Critical Thinking: Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to use critical and creative thinking in designing and conducting experiments, analyzing results, and solve problems in the biological sciences.
/ •Case studies, scientific projects, biological simulations and lab exercises will be required in ALL biology courses.
•A subset of question in the Major Field Test will be used to assess the students ability to think critically. / •All of the students graduating with a B.S. in Biology will have a minimum 2.0 in all Biology core classes.
•All of the program outcomes will be assessed by an exit interview and an exit survey.
•Students completing 45 hours will also be given a survey regarding their perception of the department. Responding to the survey, 70% of the students will indicate that they are being well prepared to assess problems using the scientific method.
•Responding to an Exit Interview, 80% of the graduating students will indicate that they are satisfied or very satisfied with their ability to think critically.
  1. Collaboration: Students will demonstrate the ability to successfully work collaboratively and independently in a variety of academic settings.
/ •Students will be required to work in groups in all laboratory classes.
•Success completion of projects including Identification of microbial unknown, Drosophila genetic crosses, DNA fingerprinting, and anatomy dissections require successful group interaction (MCB3010, PCB3063, PCB3723, PCB4023).
•Groups/Collaboration skills will graded using a Collaboration Rubric in two biology classes (BSC1010, PCB3723). / •All of the students graduating with a B.S. in Biology will have a minimum 2.0 in all Biology core classes.
•All of the program outcomes will be assessed by an exit interview and an exit survey.
•Students completing 45 hours will also be given a survey regarding their perception of the department. Responding to the survey, 70% of the students will respond positively that their experience in the department has enhanced their ability to work collaboratively with members of other departments and with peers.
•Responding to an Exit Interview, 70% of students will respond positively that their experience in the department has prepared them to work in a team setting.
  1. Laboratory skills: Graduates will be able to demonstrate biological laboratory and field skills.
/ •All students will score a 100% on the mastery test of correct laboratory procedures. Each student may retake the test until a score of 100% is earned (BSC1011).
•All students (100%) will earn a ‘satisfactory’ or higher on laboratory procedures. Laboratory skills will graded using a Scientific Procedures Rubric in three biology classes (PCB2033, PCB3723, BOT2013). / •All of the students graduating with a B.S. in Biology will have a minimum 2.0 in all Biology core classes.
•All of the program outcomes will be assessed by an exit interview and an exit survey.
•Students completing 45 hours will also be given a survey regarding their perception of the department. Responding to the survey, 70% of students will respond positively that their experience in the department has enhanced their ability to work in a laboratory setting.
•Responding to an Exit Interview, 70% of students will respond positively that their experience in the department has prepared them to work in a laboratory or field biology.