Students will develop the professional skills necessary to complete projects relevant to the field of biology.
Objective
Communicate Research Findings
Each student will demonstrate the ability to communicate research findings in oral and written form through presentations at professional conferences and scientific publications
Indicator
Professional Aspects Course
All students are required to complete a professional aspects course (in their first semester, BIO520) in which they: 1) Prepare a mock proposal based on their research prospectus; 2) Deliver oral presentations of results in a simulated conference setting; 3) Prepare and edit manuscripts for publication. Student assignments are reviewed by 3 - 5 faculty members including their director.
Criterion
Professional Aspects Course
All graduate students will perform at a level deemed acceptable by the course instructor and associated faculty.
Finding
Success
All 11 students successfully completed BIO 520W Professional Aspects of Science and all its requirements. While all students had some weakness in basic knowledge, the weaknesses could not be collectively summarized as they were unique to individual students.
Action
Assessment Development
We will be working on refining our assessment rubric for this objective so that we can celebrate students' collective strengths and identify collective weaknesses.
Goal
Develop Students' Scientific Skills And Knowledge
Students will develop scientific skills and knowledge relevant to the field of biology.
Objective
General Knowledge In Biological Sciences
Students completing the master's degree will possess sufficient knowledge in the general biological sciences to teach freshmen and sophomore level courses.
Indicator
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
All graduate students will demonstrate mastery of graduate course content through an oral graduate comprehensive exam, administered by a faculty committee. The examination consists of questions in three areas of concentration, depending on the student's emphasis and research area. While questions are originally posed by the faculty member who taught the respective courses, all members of the committee or faculty who are present may probe the student's understanding of the material through further questions.
Criterion
Mastery Of Knowledge - Oral Exam
Each student is required to pass all three areas addressed in the examination as determined by a consensus of the entire committee. In the event that a student does not pass a portion(s) of the oral exam, the committee may choose to offer the student a written examination. The student MUST pass the written exam to continue in the program.
Finding
Oral Exam Results
Nine students took the oral examination. Eight passed; one failed. What became obvious was that the failure lacked the basic fund of knowledge. The student was allowed to retake the exam and failed a second time. Thus, the student was dismissed from the program.
Action
Oral Exam Preparation
The Mastery of Knowledge oral examination did just as it is proposed to do: identify those students who should proceed in the program and identify those students who should be dismissed from the program. Since the exam is based on the student's research emphasis, students are mentored by department faculty also interested in the research area. Although faculty are prepared to mentor, students must be self-disciplined and motivated to seek the mentoring.
Goal
Develop Students' Knowledge Of A Subfield In Biology
Students pursuing the thesis route will develop detailed knowledge in a subfield of biology.
Objective
Detailed Knowledge Of Current Research
Each student will develop detailed knowledge of current research within their thesis area of biology.
Indicator
Thesis Bibliography
Each student completes a thesis describing their research problem, experiments, findings, and conclusions. To demonstrate relevance of the research topic, each student must prepare a detailed bibliographical outline of current research in the area. The ability to complete this section of the thesis will serve to demonstrate the students understanding and familiarity of the literature.
Criterion
Thesis Defense
As part of the defense of the thesis, thesis committee members evaluate the quality of the bibliographical presentation in the manuscript. All students must demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the literature through the preparation of this document before the thesis is approved.
Finding
Thesis Results
We had 6 students do a public defense of their thesis in the time period covered. All were successful, received approval by their committee, and have now published their theses and graduated. Weak areas including format and writing style are corrected through mentoring of the thesis committee chair.
Action
Future Theses
Currently, it seems that we are progressing nicely with this goal. If the 100% success continues, we will retire this goal and choose another.