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The Department of Biological Sciences has three degree programs:
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Master of Science (M.S.)
Program goals, outcomes, and assessments have been established
for each program and for the three specializations (which become effective
Fall 2004) within the B.S.
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Goals |
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Graduates will have a comprehensive knowledge
base of the biology of organisms. |
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Graduates will be critical thinkers with
the ability to reflect upon scientific knowledge and continue
to expand upon this knowledge throughout their careers. |
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Graduates will be able to employ appropriate
experimental design and methodology to solve problems in biology. |
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Graduates will be able to describe the
societal place of biology as a science, and appropriately
communicate and apply underlying principles biology to current issues. |
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Program Outcomes |
Assessment |
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Students will exhibit basic mastery of biological
content. |
Students take the ETS Major Field Achievement Test
as a requirement of BIOL 499S. |
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Students will be able to critically analyze
the primary literature. |
Students will discuss relevant research
during Senior Seminar (BIOL 499S), and appropriate biology courses. |
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Students will be able to reason analytically. |
Students take the ETS Major Field Achievement Test as a
requirement of BIOL 499S. |
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Students will employ appropriate experimental
design and methodology. |
Students will write research proposals and conduct
research projects in appropriate courses. |
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Students will effectively communicate underlying
principles of biology. |
Students will prepare oral, written, and poster
presentations. |
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Students will demonstrate basic scientific skills. |
Students use various scientific instruments to make measurements
in the lab and field. |
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Cell and Molecular Biology Area of Specialization within B.S.
Cell and Molecular Biology is the study of what cells are, how they
are put together, what makes them work, what makes them differ from each
other, how they associate and interact, and what goes wrong in disease states.
The study of cell and molecular biology facilitates understanding of a wide
variety of disciplines including genetics, developmental biology, microbiology,
immunology and physiology. The emphasis in Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB)
is designed for students with interests in the cellular and molecular basics of
life and the application of molecular techniques to medical, technological and
environmental issues. The goal of the CMB emphasis is to prepare graduates to
be competitive in applications for entry into graduate degree programs, professional
programs, or technical/ industrial jobs.
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Goals |
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Graduates will be able to critically analyze
primary literature in the cell-, molecular-, and microbiology
fields. |
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Graduates will be critical thinkers with the
ability to reflect and grow professionally throughout their career.
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Graduates will identify themselves as scientists
and use the scientific method to address questions in cell- molecular-,
and microbiology.
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Graduates will be able to employ appropriate
experimental design and methodology to solve problems in cell-,
molecular- and microbiology.
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Graduates will be able to appropriately
communicate and apply underlying principles of cell-, molecular and
microbiology to current issues.
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Program Objectives |
Assessment |
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Students will find and comprehend peer reviewed cell-, molecular-,
and microbiology literature. |
Students will search for published cell-, molecular-, and
microbiology literature and incorporate facts and ideas gleaned from
the literature into research papers. |
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Students will write review papers and research proposals pertinent
to cell-, molecular-, and microbiology topics. |
Students will conduct literature reviews and present results of
laboratory investigations in formal scientific format.
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Students will be exposed to the complexity of cell
and molecular biology. |
Students will identify sources of variability that
affect results of their own research studies. |
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Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) |
Assessment of SLO |
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Students will be familiar with flow of genetic information,
cell structure, function and development |
Students will identify these systems in lab
practica or exams. |
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Students will identify and explain issues in the
molecular sciences and biotechnology. |
Students will answer essay questions on exams
and quizzes. |
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Students will critically analyze primary literature
from cell-, molecular- and microbiology journals. |
Students will present a critical analysis of primary
literature in oral or written format. |
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Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with their physical and
biological environment. The Ecology specialization is designed for students
interested in basic and applied ecology, including fisheries, wildlife management,
forestry, ecological restoration, and conservation biology. Students following
this specialization will gain experience in natural history, field research, and
experimental design. Potential careers may be found in federal, state, and
tribal agencies, or private environmental consulting firms. The Ecology faculty
strongly suggest that every student augment the single required taxonomy course
with an elective second taxonomy course. Students interested in graduate study
in ecology should work closely with their advisor to tailor this specialization
to their particular field of interest.
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Goals |
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Graduates will recognize the
ecological basis for regional and global environmental issues. |
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Graduates will be critical thinkers with the
ability to reflect and grow professionally throughout their career.
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Graduates will identify themselves as
scientists and use the scientific method to explore the world.
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Graduates will recognize the complexity of
biotic and abiotic interactions that influence an organism.
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Graduates will recognize major features and
characteristic organisms of ecological systems in nature (e.g.
shrub-steppe, forests, lakes, rivers).
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Program Objectives |
Assessment |
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Students will find and comprehend peer reviewed ecological
literature. |
Students will search for published ecological literature
and incorporate facts and ideas gleaned from
the literature into research papers. |
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Students will complete field studies of their own
design to test ecological hypotheses. |
Students will conduct ecological field studies and
present results of ecological investigations in formal
scientific format (paper, poster, or oral presentation). |
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Students will be exposed to the complexity of the natural world. |
Students will identify sources of variability in
nature that affect results of their own field studies. |
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Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) |
Assessment of SLO |
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Students will be familiar with characteristic organisms
of at least one major biome or ecological assemblage (e.g.
shrub-steppe system; aquatic system; forest system; alpine system;
or others). |
Students will identify species assemblages in field notes,
written reports, field practica, or exams. |
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Students will be familiar with at least one major
taxonomic group (i.e. plants, animals, fungi, algae or
bacteria). |
Students will identify important regional species
from one or more taxonomic groups using appropriate keys. |
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Students will identify and explain regional
global ecological issues. |
Students will answer essay questions on exams and
quizzes. |
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Students will critically analyze primary
literature from ecological journals. |
Students will orally present a critical
analysis of primary literature. |
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The Organismal Biology Specialization allows a student to explore the
structure (morphology), function (physiology), development, behavior, and
taxonomic diversity of animals, plants, fungi, and/or microbes. A student
looking for a traditional Zoology or Botany program will be well served by
this Specialization. The Organismal Specialization is a good choice for
students preparing for graduate study in organismal biology or planning for
a career in the health professions forensics, or state or federal agency work,
and it can complement other programs such as teaching, biological anthropology,
and psychology.
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Goals |
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Graduates will be able to identify organismal
structures and describe the function and evolution of these structures.
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Graduates will have a comprehensive knowledge
base of the morphology, physiology, development, behavior, and
taxonomic diversity of animals, plants, fungi, and /or microbes.
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Graduates will be critical thinkers with the
ability to reflect upon scientific knowledge and continue to
expand upon this knowledge throughout their careers.
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Program Outcomes |
Assessment |
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Students will be able to critically analyze
the primary literature. |
Students will discuss relevant research during
Senior seminar, BIOL 499, and appropriate organismal
courses. |
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Students will employ appropriate experimental
design and methodology. |
Students will write research proposals in appropriate
courses (ex. Ichthyology, Invertebrate Zoology, Mycology). |
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Students will effectively communicate underlying principles of
organismal biology (structure, function, behavior, evolutionary
relationships). |
Students will prepare oral, written, and
poster presentations. |
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Student Learning Outcome |
Assessment |
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Identify the general taxonomy of organisms from at least
three major Kingdoms. |
Laboratory and field practical exams. |
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Identify major morphological structures of organisms from
specific Kingdoms, Phyla, and Classes |
Practical examinations during laboratories. |
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Discuss the function (physiology) of major structures
(organs) for members of specific groups of organisms. |
Discussion, examinations, laboratory reports. |
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Discuss the evolutionary relationships of organisms within
a specific group and differentiate concepts of convergent and
divergent evolution. |
Discussion of research papers, examinations, position papers. |
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Integrate concepts of behavior, ecology, and development
into the evolutionary framework of a specific group of organisms. |
Examinations, literature research papers, discussions. |
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Apply knowledge of organismal physiology and/or behavior
to a unique research project. |
Individual/group research projects designed by the student(s). |
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Degree Program Goals |
Student Learning Outcomes |
Assessment Instruments |
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Upon completion of this program, students will understand
the process of conducting biological research and will produce a
professional level thesis. |
A. Students will take courses designed to enhance their
knowledge in their chosen area of specialization and to bolster
areas deemed deficient in their undergraduate education. |
A. Graduate Committee determination based on GRE scores,
undergraduate transcripts, and consultation. |
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B. Students will define an area of interest within biology and
demonstrate historic and current knowledge of that area. |
B. Oral examination conducted by the student's Graduate Committee
and departmental faculty. |
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C. Students will design a research project
which will serve as the basis of the thesis. |
C. Acceptability of the project will be judged
by the Graduate Committee. |
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D. Students will demonstrate the results of their graduate
research in the form of a professional level thesis. |
D. Acceptability of the thesis will be judged by the Graduate
Committee and the office of Graduate Studies and Research. |
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