For more information, please contact Dr. Michael Morrow | (406) 683-7254 | m_morrow@umwestern.edu.
The primary objective of the BA: Biology option program is to provide students with the educational background, laboratory and field skills, and research experience to obtain employment in a variety of biological fields, as well as prepare students to further their education in graduate and professional schools. Student development occurs through a course of study that emphasizes interdisciplinary, field and laboratory-based research projects that have biology-related and societal relevance. Students also gain authentic disciplinary experience through thesis research and/or internships that are supervised by faculty and/or industry mentors.
Discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities
Display an understanding of basic concepts in the diverse fields of biology and related fields including cell biology, zoology, ecology, molecular biology, genetics, evolution, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, statistics, calculus, and physics. (BIO 111, BIO 112, BIO 255, BIO 270, BIO 343, BIO 450, CHEM 131 & 132, CHEM 331, MATH 201, MATH 232, PHYS 233)
Acquire practical experience with research techniques and methods in the biological sciences by mastering basic laboratory and field techniques for asking biological questions. (BIO 111, BIO 112, BIO 255, BIO 270, BIO 343, BIO 450, CHEM 131 & 132, CHEM 331, MATH 201, MATH 232, PHYS 233)
Demonstrate ability to read and understand primary scientific literature in his/her discipline. (BIO 111, BIO 255, BIO 270, BIO 343, BIO 450, CHEM 131 & 132, CHEM 331, MATH 201, MATH 232, PHYS 233)
Exhibit ability to write a basic scientific paper. (BIO 111, BIO 255, BIO 343, BIO 450)
Acquire real-world experience in biology through an internship or a senior thesis project. BIO/CHEM 400/498, HHP 479)
Communication skills (especially oral and written)
Acquire skills and methods necessary to collect, analyze, and present data relevant to his/her field of study. (BIO 255, BIO/CHEM 400/498, CHEM 331, MATH 232)
Mastery of oral communication for effective interaction with colleagues and the community. (BIO 111, BIO 112, BIO/CHEM 400/498, CHEM 331)
Problem-solving skills
Demonstrate the ability to use the scientific method for asking biological-related questions and formulating questions in a testable manner. (BIO 111, BIO 112, BIO 255, BIO 343, BIO/CHEM 400/498, MATH 232, PHYS 233)
Acquire skills and methods necessary to collect, analyze, and present data relevant to his/her field of study. (BIO 111, BIO 255, BIO 343, MATH 201, MATH 232, PHYS 233)
Develop the ability to conduct research both independently and as a member of a team. (BIO 111, BIO 255, BIO 343, BIO/CHEM 400/498, MATH 201, MATH 232, PHYS 233)
Discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities
Biology professors assess students' discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities via exams, written research reports, oral presentations, and internship/thesis reports. Midpoint benchmark for this program is the final exam in BIO 255, Cell Biology. Capstone for the program is a final exam in BIO 450, Evolution. Students and faculty also receive feedback from internship/thesis supervisors.
Specific courses and assessment activities:
BIO 111, Biology I - exams, quizzes, problem sets, group project, lab work
BIO 112, Biology II - exams, laboratory/experiential assignments, research project (team)
BIO 255, Cell Biology - exams, quizzes, problem sets, group research paper, lab work
BIO 270, Conservation Biology - exams, lab/field work, problem-solving, research project, quizzes.
BIO 343, Genetics - quizzes, exams, lab work
BIO/CHEM 400/498 or HHP 479, Sports Medicine Internship - oral presentation, report
BIO 450, Evolution - new course, will be taught Spring Semester 2007, Block 8
CHEM 131 & 132, General Chemistry - homework assignments, written exams, lab reports (following a template), internet research project, small group problem-solving (participation based).
CHEM 331, Organic Chemistry - exams, lab work, summary of journal article, presentation of journal article
MATH 201, Calculus - exams, quizzes, assignments
MATH 232, Statistics - projects, exams, quizzes, assignments
PHYS 233, General Physics - homework assignments, written exams, lab reports (following a template), small group problem-solving (participation based).
Communication skills (especially oral and written)
Biology professors assess students' communication skills via observation and assessment of students in field and laboratory settings, oral and written student presentations of research, or the thesis option. Internship supervisors also provide feedback on the students' communication skills via evaluations.
Students develop the ability to conduct research both independently and as a member of a team. Both oral and written communication skills are necessary to successfully conduct and report research to colleagues and the broader community.
Specific courses and assessment activities:
BIO 400: Students' presentations of their internship experiences are assessed by their biology professors, as well as their peers. Their internship notebooks and written reports are evaluated by their biology professors and internship supervisors.
BIO 498: Those choosing to write a thesis instead of an internship have their thesis evaluated in the following ways: faculty and peer evaluation of the student's thesis presentation, faculty evaluation of the written thesis and laboratory notebook, extensive interaction and mentoring with his/her advisor.
CHEM 331, Organic Chemistry: - presentation of journal article related to organic chemistry; written summary of journal article related to organic chemistry.
Problem-solving skills
Biology students' problem-solving skills, including critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, analytical synthesis, and decision making, are assessed in Biology-specific courses, as well as other science and math-related courses.
Students develop the ability to conduct research both independently and as a member of a team. Possession of problem-solving skills is necessary for successfully conducting and reporting research.
Specific courses and assessment activities:
BIO 111, Biology I - students conduct research activities in the lab both independently and as a member of a team. Application-type test questions. Many test questions pose research problems/results and students must use problem solving to arrive at answers.
BIO 112, Biology II - students work in teams to complete a research project, conduct research activities in the laboratory/experiential assignments.
BIO 255, Cell Biology -group research paper, conduct research activities in the lab Application-type test questions. Many test questions pose research problems/results and students must use problem solving to arrive at answers.
BIO 343, Genetics - conduct research activities in the lab
BIO/CEM 400/498, Internship/Thesis or HHP 479, Sports Medicine Internship - oral presentation, report
MATH 201, Calculus - assignments
MATH 232, Statistics - projects
PHYS 233, General Physics - lab reports (following a template), small group problem solving (participation based).
Feedback from current students (e.g., exit interviews, focus groups)
Biology faculty receive program feedback from current students via the following venues:
UMW graduate/exit survey
Biology faculty ask current students for feedback on how the program is helping them achieve their future goals. (During advising sessions and BIO courses)
Students presenting their internship experience or thesis at the "On the Rocks" forum are given opportunities to provide feedback on content knowledge and preparedness for employment to BIO faculty and other forum attendees.
Mid-point assessment: final exam in BIO 255, Cell Biology
Capstone assessment: final exam in BIO 450, Evolution
Feedback from outside constituencies (e.g., employers, graduates, accrediting agencies, professional licensing examinations)
Biology faculty receive program feedback from outside constituencies in the following ways:
Feedback from internship supervisors
Survey feedback from graduates one year after graduation (implemented AY 2006-07, feedback from 2004-05 program/option graduates)
Survey feedback from employers of one-year-out graduates (implemented AY 2006-07, feedback of 2004-05 program/option graduates)
Biology faculty make attempts to follow where graduates from the BA: Biology option go after graduation (employment, graduate school). Currently, the small number of students enrolled in the BIO option allow faculty to maintain contact with most of them after graduation.
Feedback from BIO option graduates in graduate schools regarding their success/preparedness. Acceptance rates at graduate schools is high for these graduates.
The Biology faculty collaborated with personnel in the Career Services Office to draft Graduate and Employer Surveys. The suveys will be distributed by and returned to the Career Services Office. After the data are compiled by Career Services, this information will be disseminated back to Biology faculty around mid-January for review and to assist with making program/curriculum decisions.
Evaluation of teaching (e.g., student and peer evaluations)
During fall semester, the VCAA chooses the faculty member's course to be evaluated. Each BIO faculty member chooses a course during spring semester that s/he wants evaluated by students. Feedback is compiled and shared with the faculty member and VCAA. In addition, each faculty member also has at least one peer evaluation per year.
Curriculum Review
The curriculum for the BA: Biology option was reviewed extensively in preparation for implementation of Experience One (block scheduling). Program faculty continue to review curriculum both formally and informally during departmental meetings. This option area has undergone major changes over the past few years including: name changed from Biological and Biomedical Sciences to Biology (2006) and major changes in course content from when it was previously known as Preprofessional Health (2005). Some Biology courses also changed including: 1) BIO341 Cell and Molecular Biology into BIO255 Cell Biology and BIO425 Molecular Biology. 2) BIO343 Genetics and Evolution into BIO343 Genetics and BIO450 Evolution. 3) Dropped BIO151 Zoology and replaced with BIO111 Biology I. 4) Dropped BIO152 Botany and replaced with BIO112 Biology II. The changes to the option area allow more detail and content to be covered in each course, thereby strenthening the offerings and required courses in the degree. In addition, the Biology option meets the prerequisite courses for post-graduate programs. The changes essentially make the Biology option as complete and versatile as possible for students, graduates, and employers.
Once the BIO faculty begin receiving the results of employer and alumni surveys from the Career Services Office, they will review the information and make adjustments to the Biology option area as necessary.
Criteria and procedures for admission and retention of students (e.g., benchmarks)
Currently, criteria and procedures for admission and retention of Biology option students parallel the criteria and procedures for admission to UMW.
Appraisal of annual program goals and asessment of their success:
Potential modification of curriculum based upon feedback from recent graduates, alumni following one year of employment or graduate/professional school, employers, collected exhibits/artifacts, as well as current students.
Self-study or reports from program reviews
As part of UMW's systematic academic program review cycle, a self-study of the BA: Biology option will be prepared and completed prior to or during the 2009-10 academic year. An initial review of this academic program by an external reviewer(s) will occur during the 2010 academic year as well.
Description of program-specific curriculum development bodies and advisory groups
All faculty teaching in the Biology option area assist with program-specific curriculum development. No other program-specific curriculum development bodies exist at this time.