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Biology, MS

Student Outcomes

Assessment of Student Outcomes

Outcome P Effective Written Communication (BIO MS)

Graduate students will effectively communicate scientific observations, analyses, and arguments in a written format typically required by biology professionals in their fields of expertise.
Objective 11 Graduate students will effectively communicate scientific observations, analyses, and arguments in a written format typically required by biology professionals in their fields of expertise.

Measure 1

2019 Status
Achieved
For the admission-year cohort 2017/2019 (BIO 610/BIO 698), the average grade in BIO 610 on the research/project proposal was 91.5%, while the average grade in BIO 698 on the final manuscript was 81.4%.

2018 Status
Achieved
For the admission-year cohort 2016/2018 (BIO 610/BIO 698), the average grade in BIO 610 on the research/project proposal was 97.8%, while the average grade in BIO 698 on the final manuscript was 93.9%.

Measure 2

2018 Status
Achieved
Students exceeded the threshold of 4.0 in all areas of evaluation on the quality of their final written product (thesis, project, or internship report).

2018 Status
Achieved
Students exceeded the threshold of 4.0 in all areas of evaluation on the quality of their final written product (thesis, project, or internship report).

Outcome Q Effective Oral Communication (BIO MS)

Graduate students will orally communicate scientific observations, analyses, and arguments in group interactions and presentations in an effective way.
Objective 12 Graduate students will orally communicate scientific observations, analyses, and arguments in group interactions and presentations in an effective way.

Measure 1

2018 Status
Achieved
For the admission cohort (BIO 610/BIO 698) in 2016/2018, the average grade on final oral presentations in BIO 610 was 95.9% and in BIO 698 was 97.3%.

2018 Status
Achieved
For the admission cohort (BIO 610/BIO 698) in 2017/2019, the average grade on final oral presentations in BIO 610 was 94.7% and in BIO 698 was 89.9%.

Outcome R Mastery of Relevant Information (BIO MS)

Graduate students will demonstrate mastery of information relevant to their coursework and to their specific areas of independent work (internship, project, thesis).
Objective 13 Graduate students will demonstrate mastery of information relevant to their coursework and to their specific areas of independent work (internship, project, thesis).

Measure 1

2018 Status
Not Yet Achieved
For the cohort of students admitted to the BIO MS program in fall, 2016 (n=14), 57.1% passed their qualifying exams by the end of their first year. 100% of students had passed their qualifying exams by the spring of their second year.

2018 Status
Achieved
For the cohort of students admitted to the BIO MS program in fall, 2017 (n=14), 79% passed their qualifying exams by the end of their first year.

Measure 2

2018 Status
Achieved
Graduate students demonstrated mastery of information relevant to their coursework and to their specific areas of independent work (internship, project, thesis), and met or exceeded the threshold of 4.0 in all areas of evaluation.

2018 Status
Achieved
Graduate students demonstrated mastery of information relevant to their coursework and to their specific areas of independent work (internship, project, thesis), and met or exceeded the threshold of 4.0 in all areas of evaluation.

Outcome R1 Career Preparation (BIO MS)

Graduate students will successfully enter professional careers and/or terminal degree programs post-graduation.
Objective 30 Graduate students will be competitive for a variety of biology professional careers and/or terminal degree programs.

Outcome R2 Analytical Skills (BIO MS)

Graduate students will demonstrate proficient analytical skills including mastery of relevant univariate and multivariate statistical reasoning.
Objective 31 Graduate students will master a suite of statistical tools commonly used for thesis, internship, or project experiences.

Measure 1

2018 Status
Achieved
In the Univariate Statistics class (BIO 593), the average score on student final projects was 96% indicating that we are meeting our assessment target evaluating student competency in univariate statistics relevant to the individual student's research interests.

Measure 2

2018 Status
Achieved
In the Multivariate Statistics class (BIO 594), the average score on student final projects was 96% indicating that we are meeting our assessment target evaluating student competency in multivariate statistics relevant to the individual student's research interests.

Outcome S Public Dissemination of Professional Knowledge (BIO MS)

Graduate students will publically disseminate the results of their professional work at local, state, regional, national, and international meetings and conferences.
Objective 14 Graduate students will publically disseminate the results of their professional work at local, state, regional, national, and international meetings and conferences.

Measure 1

2018 Status
Achieved
79% of the 2016 cohort have made professional presentations at local, state, regional, national, or international meetings.

2018 Status
Achieved
79% of the 2017 cohort have made professional presentations at local, state, regional, national, or international meetings.