Biology Program Goals
Goal 1. Foundations of interdisciplinary knowledge
Through a comprehensive curriculum, students will expand their core knowledge and integrate new knowledge.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students who graduate with a Biology degree will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of core patterns and principles of biology
- Synthesize knowledge across disciplines
- Understand, integrate, and evaluate sources of information
Goal 2. Communication
Students will develop skills to effectively communicate ideas, information and arguments to diverse groups such as peers, professionals, and the general public.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students who graduate with a Biology degree will be able to:
- Communicate biological concepts using technical vocabulary in the format of a formal lab report, a scientific poster, or an oral presentation
- Communicate complex biological concepts using audience-appropriate language
- Analytically review the work of their peers to provide constructive feedback and incorporate feedback to improve their own analysis and communication
Goal 3. Analytical Skills
Students will develop skills to apply the scientific method.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students who graduate with a Biology degree will be able to:
- Formulate a testable and falsifiable hypothesis and discuss the merits of alternative hypotheses
- Develop an appropriate experimental design to test specific hypotheses
- Identify trends in data and communicate them using figures and tables
- Analyze empirical data to evaluate a hypothesis and draw appropriate inferences
