Skip to content
Contact USI

Biology
Program Objectives and Student Outcomes

Program Objectives

  1. Graduates have sufficient background in Biology content and basic scientific skills to succeed in post-baccalaureate programs (graduate school, professional school, fellowships) and careers in teaching and industry.

 

  1. Graduates effectively analyze biological information from a wide array of sources and apply their scientific knowledge to problems and situations they face in their professional lives and in their communities.

 

  1. Graduates have effective communication skills enabling them to convey biological information and results (data, observations, interpretations) of investigations of biological significance to professional colleagues and members of their community

 

  1. Graduates have an appreciation for and actively seek out opportunities for life-long learning.

Student Outcomes

  1. Conceptual Understanding

 

    1. Students will understand fundamental biological concepts including those that characterize Botany, Zoology, Ecology, Cell Biology, Physiology, Genetics, and Evolution.

 

    1. Students will understand how scientific knowledge develops, including the historical development of foundational theories, the nature of science (particularly its tentativeness and creativity), and the relationship between science, technology, and society.

 

    1. Students will understand the process of scientific inquiry including critical thinking; the use of the literature; experimental, observational, and comparative methods of testing hypotheses; and that investigations commonly lead to additional questions.

 

    1. Students will understand the relationship between Biology and the applicable concepts in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and other disciplines.

 

B. Skills and Application of Knowledge

 

    1. Students will be able to reason analytically

 

    1. Students will demonstrate basic scientific skills and use of equipment.

 

    1. Students will employ appropriate methodology in conducting scientific investigations.

 

    1. Students will critically analyze biological information from the scientific literature and other media.

 

    1. Students will effectively communicate underlying principles of biology and related societal issues.