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Academic Assessment Program	Biology
University of Central Arkansas

Browse or click to view assessment plans for the following programs:

BS in Biology
Departmental Honors in Biology
MS in Biology

Statement of Departmental Purpose
The primary mission of the Biology Department is to promote, enhance, and contribute to the science of Biology. The department serves several student constituencies in different ways. Because a knowledge of biology relates directly to an understanding of contemporary human life and the natural world, the department contributes a vital element in the liberal education of all students through required and elective courses in general education. Biology majors are provided a basic foundation in biological concepts, principles, and organisms that allows them to pursue a variety of careers, including those requiring advanced degrees. Finally, students in related degree programs, including health science and education, receive the appropriate biological component of their programs from fundamental and applied biology courses.

Statement of Departmental Purpose

The primary mission of the Biology Department is to promote, enhance, and contribute to the science of Biology. The department serves several student constituencies in different ways. Because a knowledge of biology relates directly to an understanding of contemporary human life and the natural world, the department contributes a vital element in the liberal education of all students through required and elective courses in general education. Biology majors are provided a basic foundation in biological concepts, principles, and organisms that allows them to pursue a variety of careers, including those requiring advanced degrees. Finally, students in related degree programs, including health science and education, receive the appropriate biological component of their programs from fundamental and applied biology courses.

BS in Biology

Most recent assessment report: Spring 2002

View this plan in PDF format.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. Students completing a BS degree will be well versed in organismal, cellular/molecular, and ecological/evolutionary biology.	1a. Seventy percent of biology students taking the MFAT will earn scores at or above the national average. 1b. Eighty percent of biology alumni polled will agree or strongly agree with the following two statements: Overall, I am well satisfied with the education I received in the Biology Department at UCA. I would recommend the Biology program at UCA to others interested in pursuing a career in Biological Sciences.
2. Baccalaureate graduates will compete very successfully in gaining admission to professional and graduate programs.	2a. The acceptance rate of UCA biology students applying to professional schools will be greater than or equal to that of other public institutions of similar size. 2b. Ninety percent of alumni applying to graduate schools in Biology will gain admission to a program. 2c. Seventy percent of students who apply to graduate school will be awarded financial assistance.
3. Biology graduates will be successful in finding employment that utilizes the knowledge and training they have received during their academic program.	3a. Eighty percent of graduates polled will agree or strongly agree that the department prepared them well for their first position. 3b. Seventy percent of graduates will find employment in a biology-related field within a year of graduation.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives

Assessment Procedures and Criteria

1. Students completing a BS degree will be well versed in organismal, cellular/molecular, and ecological/evolutionary biology.

1a. Seventy percent of biology students taking the MFAT will earn scores at or above the national average.
1b. Eighty percent of biology alumni polled will agree or strongly agree with the following two statements:

Overall, I am well satisfied with the education I received in the Biology Department at UCA.

I would recommend the Biology program at UCA to others interested in pursuing a career in Biological Sciences.

2. Baccalaureate graduates will compete very successfully in gaining admission to professional and graduate programs.

2a. The acceptance rate of UCA biology students applying to professional schools will be greater than or equal to that of other public institutions of similar size.
2b. Ninety percent of alumni applying to graduate schools in Biology will gain admission to a program.
2c. Seventy percent of students who apply to graduate school will be awarded financial assistance.

3. Biology graduates will be successful in finding employment that utilizes the knowledge and training they have received during their academic program.

3a. Eighty percent of graduates polled will agree or strongly agree that the department prepared them well for their first position.
3b. Seventy percent of graduates will find employment in a biology-related field within a year of graduation.

Departmental Honors in Biology

Most recent assessment report: Spring 2002

Statement of Program Purpose
A departmental Honors Program is available in the Department of Biology for junior or senior students with an overall GPA of 3.00 or better, and a biology GPA of 3.25 or better. Consent of the department chair and the collaborating faculty are required. To graduate with Honors in Biology, the student will successfully complete all biology courses with a grade point of 3.25 or better, plus at least 3 additional hours of independent research (BIO 3350), usually consisting of not less than two semesters of laboratory and/or field research in biology with a faculty mentor. An acceptable written and oral report of the research must also be completed and presented publicly.
Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
1. To graduate with Honors in Biology, students will demonstrate biological research competency by successfully conducting independent research under the direction of a biology faculty mentor and two additional faculty members.	1. Graduates will earn 3 or more hours of academic credits through one or more 1-, 2-, 3-, or 4-hour undergraduate courses in Independent Research (BIO 3150, 3250, 3350, 3450) with grades of B or better.
2. Honors students will write an acceptable research prospectus, or collaborate with their faculty mentor in writing a research prospectus before initiating the lab or field project.	2. The written research prospectus will be approved as acceptable by the student's research advisory committee and the Biology Department Chair, and if necessary, other regulatory groups (e.g., the UCA Animal Care and Use Committee). If funding is sought, the research prospectus also will be routed through the UCA Sponsored Programs Office and will meet that office's criteria for approval.
3. Honors students will write an acceptable report of their research methods and results using the CBE (Council of Biological Editors) format suitable for the student's specific research field. The report will be written with proper English language mechanics.	3. The faculty mentor with other research advisory committee members will evaluate the written report. The report will be judged as acceptable or unacceptable. Reports deemed unacceptable may be resubmitted for re-evaluation twice within six months of the original submission. A report must be judged acceptable before the oral presentation is given.
4. Each student will demonstrate proficiency in public speaking by making an acceptable oral presentation of his/her research results to the research advisory committee, other biology faculty members, and students.	4. The faculty mentor of the student's research advisory committee will evaluate the student's oral presentation. The presentation will be evaluated as acceptable or unacceptable.
5. Each honors student will be strongly encouraged to give at least one oral and/or poster presentation outside the Biology Department.	5. Honors students will present the results of their research at one or more local (e.g., CNSM Research Symposium), regional (e.g., Arkansas Academy of Science), or national meetings (society or association within research field).
6. Biology Department Honors graduates will view the honors experience as beneficial to their postgraduate lives.	6. At least 50% of the honors graduates who respond to a questionnaire, mailed approximately one year following their graduation, will report that their training in the departmental honors program has been useful in their current situation.

MS in Biology

Most recent assessment report: Spring 2002

View this plan in PDF format.

Statement of Program Purpose
The mission of the MS program in Biology is to produce students having an advanced knowledge of biological principles and biological research methodology that will allow them to acquire positions of increased responsibility in industrial, research, and educational institutions.
Intended Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment Procedures and Criteria
The objectives of the MS program in Biology are
1. To develop students' independent research skills.	1a. All students completing the MS degree in Biology must complete a scientific inquiry or library-based research project. 1b. All students completing the MS degree in Biology must enroll for and complete a minimum of 2 credit hours of courses requiring independent research. 1c. All students must defend the results of their research (be it thesis, literature-based, or teaching-based) before the faculty of the Department of Biology and receive a rating of Satisfactory. Students receiving an Unsatisfactory rating may be asked to repeat their preparation and defense and will not receive the MS degree until their performance has been judged Satisfactory.
2. To strengthen students' scientific communication skills.	2a. All students completing the MS degree in Biology must write a scientific research report/thesis. 2b. All students completing the MS degree in Biology must present and defend the results of their research before the Biology faculty and receive a rating of Satisfactory. Students receiving an Unsatisfactory rating may be asked to repeat their preparation and defense, and will not receive the MS degree until their performance has been judged Satisfactory. 2c. At least fifty percent of thesis students will present the results of their research at a scientific conference.
3. To enhance a students' likelihood of successful admission into doctoral and professional programs or finding employment in the biological field.	3a. Seventy percent (or more) of students completing the MS degree in Biology applying to professional schools will gain admission. 3b. Eighty percent (or more) of students completing the MS degree in Biology applying to graduate school will gain admission to the program. 3c. Seventy percent (or more) of students completing the MS degree in Biology who gain admission to PhD programs will be awarded institutional financial assistance. 3d. Ninety percent of graduates with the MS in Biology who do not enter professional or graduate schools and who seek employment in a biology-related field will find such employment within one year of graduation.

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