Departments and programs express their aspirations for student performance through their Program Learning Outcomes.
General Education
“Departments and programs should assess those aspects of their students’ performance that are most relevant to the programs’ own aspirations. Doing so will give programs the information needed to reform curriculum and practices to align actual student achievement more closely with the program’s goals”
– Davis Division of the Academic Senate
Assessment for Category I: Writing
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PLO1: Core Knowledge
Demonstrate a basic knowledge of central concepts in the biological sciences
Understand the current concepts in ecology, evolutionary biology, and organismal physiology
Demonstrate knowledge of a specialized discipline within ecology and evolutionary biology sufficiently to carry out substantive independent research
PLO2: Research Methods and Analysis
Read and critically evaluate the scientific literature
Formulate hypotheses based on current concepts in the field
Design, conduct, and interpret their independent research projects
Understand the range of tools appropriate for research in their sub-field
Understand and follow research ethics
PLO3: Pedagogy:
Communicate effectively to large and small groups in pedagogical settings including teaching, research seminars, and other formats
Identify and effectively deploy suitable technologies for use in all aspects of instruction
PLO4: Scholarly Communication:
Review and discuss relevant literature and their significance
Publish research results in peer-reviewed publications and in a dissertation
Communicate research results effectively through oral presentations at scientific seminars, conferences, and other venues
Make clear and cogent oral presentations, including effective use of technology
PLO5: Professionalism
Write compelling abstracts describing their research for consideration at research conferences
Prepare oral presentations suitable for presentation at a research conference
Make effective contributions to research teams and learning seminars
Make effective contributions to department, university, community, and professional service
Mentor junior researchers (e.g., undergraduates, beginning graduate students)
PLO6: Independent Research
Develop their own research projects that meet high standards of theoretical and methodological rigor with lasting impact
Produce scholarship that is comparable in scope and format to articles that appear in leading peer-reviewed journals in ecology, evolutionary biology, and organismal physiology
Supervise junior researchers (e.g., high school students, undergraduates, beginning graduate students) effectively
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