Learning Outcomes
Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes
Goal #1 Biology majors will achieve basic proficiency in biology through exposure to areas of fundamental importance to the field.
- Develop a basic understanding of the diversity of life evolved over time by the processes of mutation, selection, genetic drift, and migration
- Identify, characterize and classify each of the major groups of living organisms
- Demonstrate an understanding of evolutionary mechanisms
- Understand how the basic units of structure define the function of all living things
- Identify and describe the relationship between structure and function at all biological levels
- Develop a basic understanding of the mechanisms underlying how growth and behavior of organisms are activated through the expression of genetic information.
- Describe the flow of genetic information
- Describe the development of animals and plants
- Develop a basic understanding of how living systems interact and how they are interconnected
- Describe how organisms and the environment influence each other.
Goal #2 Biology majors will achieve basic proficiency with scientific competencies.
- Use laboratory equipment and techniques appropriate to the field of study.
- Demonstrate correct usage of laboratory equipment
- Demonstrate competency in performing biochemical techniques
- Demonstrate competency in manipulating organisms and models
- Understand the rationale behind the choice of laboratory methods
- Demonstrate basic information literacy skills
- Identify a suitable research topic and determine the nature and extent of information needed.
- Acquire published information effectively, efficiently, and ethically
- Critically evaluate information and sources; decide if there is a need to modify query and/or seek additional sources
- Use information effectively to address and acknowledge sources with proper citations
- Demonstrate basic quantitative literacy skills
- Be able to use appropriate computational skills for questions in biology
- Use, evaluate and convert units
- Interpret and evaluate quantitative representations (e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, tables and words describing quantitative information)
- Plan and execute experimental design, data collection and data processing
- Understand probability and interpret statistical methods to analyze quantitative biological data
- Communicate quantitative results and interpretations
- Understand and use mathematical models in the evaluation of biological phenomena
- Communicate effectively and accurately
- Effectively communicate scientific information
- Effectively communicate their credentials
- Apply the scientific method to solve problems, make predictions and evaluate information