Natural Sciences Department
Goals, Learning Objectives and their assessment
Our departmental goals are as follows:
- students will acquire an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of the sciences and
mastery of the scientific vocabulary
- students will gain proficiency in experimental design
- students will be able to critically read the current scientific literature and will be able to
perform literature searches using all available sources.
- students will be able to communicate scientific knowledge both orally and in writing.
- graduates will be prepared for further education in the sciences, for teaching science or
for direct entry to the work force in a science-related career.
Goal 1 – Students will acquire an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of the sciences and mastery of the scientific vocabulary.
Objectives:
- Students will understand the similarities and differences among the
major scientific disciplines in terms of methods, acquired knowledge and
collective understanding (i.e. be able to explain the similarities and
differences between physics and biology, or inorganic and organic chemistry).
- Students will understand how the scientific method unifies all disciplines
in the natural sciences, and distinguishes these disciplines from other areas of
human inquiry (i.e. art history).
- Students will acquire a basic knowledge of scientific terms in the major
scientific disciplines as well as specific and more profound knowledge in one or more specialized areas.
Assessment:
- Course performance in seminars (NSC 131, 231, 331, 443).
- Assessed by ETS Major Field Achievement Test as Seniors.
- Assessed by faculty as applied in research project.
Goal 2 – Students will gain proficiency in the process of experimental science.
Objectives:
- Students will conduct experimental science, either as part of their required coursework or as independent research in their junior or senior year under the guidance of a faculty research advisor.
- Students will be able to state hypotheses for experimental work.
- Students will be able to describe appropriate controls for an experiment, where appropriate.
- Students will be able to use appropriate laboratory and/or field techniques and instrumentation to obtain experimental data.
- Students will be able to analyze/interpret data by appropriate statistical methodologies or other methods of analysis.
- Students will be able to draw conclusions based on generated data and analysis of that data.
Assessment:
- Faculty research mentors will evaluate for students conducting independent research.
- Faculty directing senior capstone seminar course will assess using departmental rubric.
- Faculty teaching lab courses will evaluate.
Goal 3 – Students will be able to critically read the current scientific literature and will be able to perform literature searches using all available sources.
Objectives:
- Students will be able to search online databases for primary literature and obtain appropriate journal articles by visiting the library or by interlibrary loan.
- Students will be able to read primary literature and discuss in written and oral format.
- Students will be able to use primary literature to support their experimental findings in laboratory courses or independent research.
Assessment:
- Course assessment-use of primary literature is required in several courses including the Junior and Senior Research Seminars.
Goal 4 – Students will be able to communicate scientific knowledge both orally and in writing.
Objectives:
- Students will recognize the different writing styles of newspapers, popular science magazines and scientific journals and will be able to provide effective written communication in each format, including the use of proper
citations.
- Students will prepare graphs and tables to clarify and supplement the presentation of scientific results in their writing.
- Students will be able to clearly describe methodologies used in their experiments, results of the work and convincingly present their conclusions.
- Students will orally present scientific topics to their peers and faculty using PowerPoint or other visual aids and will demonstrate good public speaking skills, good organization of material and use of appropriate graphs,
tables and photographs.
Assessment:
- All departmental faculty will assess the oral presentations of seniors using a departmental grading rubric.
- A minimum of two faculty members will assess the written presentations of sophomores, juniors and seniors using a departmental grading rubric.
Goal 5 – Graduates will be prepared for further education in the sciences, for teaching science, or for direct entry to the workforce in a science-related career.
Objectives:
- Students will have adequate knowledge in one or more scientific areas.
- Students will have a thorough knowledge of the scientific method and its application.
- Students will have the resources (knowledge, understanding, skills) to be life-long learners in the sciences and all fields of knowledge.
- Students will have sufficient skills in biology, chemistry, and other areas to allow them to be reasonably marketable.
- Students will have strong written and oral skills to allow them to effectively communicate with other professionals.
- Students will be able to work with groups of diverse individuals in problem-solving, experimentation and presentation.
- Students will have technological competency to be effective in the work place.
Assessment:
- Assessed by Educational Testing Service Major Field Achievement Test at end of senior year.
- Assessed by senior research project and presentation.
- Assessed by post-graduate departmental questionnaire.
- Assessed by job, graduate/professional school placement and scores on national tests.
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