Program Assessment Plan
American University
CAS: Chemistry - MS
CAS: Chemistry - MS
Contact Person for Douglas Fox
Assessment:
Primary Department: Chemistry
Does 2014 report reflect No
changes in your LOs? :
Are there any changes in your No
assessment method?:
Learning Outcome: Concept Application
Apply advanced concepts in Chemistry and Biology (laws and theories dictating chemical behavior, interconnection between fields of chemistry, etc.) to the real problems in this field.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 11/03/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Performance on written comprehensive exams.
Assessed by all faculty on a thesis committee every four years (2011-Yr. 3)
75%
Administered yearly (2011-Yr. 3)
Comprehensive exam requirement was
eliminated during the 2011-2012 AY.
Instead, an oral presentation of proposed
research is now required.
No
Maximum 3 months lag to job/ school
acceptance; acknowledgment of
instrumentation in use at new location.
Data tabulated yearly in departmental
database and assessed every 4 years
(2015/16-Yr.7) using a 2-year rolling
average in departmental meeting.
Yes
Measure Type:
Quiz/ Exam
Survey of alumni as they finish M.S. and shortly thereafter.
Measure Type:
Alumni Feedback
Performance on exam problems tagged as "applications" in MS Chemistry courses.
Measure Type:
Quiz/ Exam
All students above 75%, and a class average Tabulated yearly by all faculty and assessed Yes
of 85% or more.
on a 4-year cycle (2014/15 - Year 6).
Learning Outcome: Experiments
Execute experiments designed to verify or produce de novo scientific information.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 11/03/2010
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Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Evaluation of thesis.
Well written procedure section.
Average 4/5 on item A of student
presentation scoresheet (v3).
Assessed by all faculty on a thesis
Yes
committee every four years (2012/13-Yr. 4).
Presentation adequately defends thesis
proposal for 100% enrolled.
Student feedback indicate course was useful
to 80% of those enrolled.
Assessed by CHEM-602 faculty (Dr. Girard Yes
and Dr. Fox). Performance and student
comments compiled yearly and assessed
every two years (2013/14-Yr.5).
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
Performance on CHEM-602 assignments and student feedback on course content.
Measure Type:
Presentation
Specific target varies by faculty, but in
Every four years, 2016/17 - Year 8.
general, 80% of MS students should be able
to formulate an experiment that is creative
and well thought out. A rubric is in
development.
Evaluation of monthly research plan.
Measure Type:
Field Work/ Internship
Active
Yes
Related Courses
- CHEM-602 - Research Method Design
Learning Outcome: Quantitative Literacy
Exhibit quantitative and computational literacy.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 11/03/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Evaluation of thesis.
Average 4/5 on items B & C of student
presentation scoresheet (v3).
Assessed by all faculty on a thesis
Yes
committee every four years (2012/13-Yr. 4).
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
For those faculty requiring presentation of Assessed by all faculty on a two year cycle Yes
data, calculations should be 80% correct.
(2012/13 - Year 4)
Instruction of how to analyze collected data
should not be repeated more than once.
Research updates during group research meetings.
Measure Type:
Focus Group
Learning Outcome: Scientific Literature
Locate, read, and interpret the body of scientific literature pertaining to a topic.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
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Active
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2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 11/03/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Performance on written comprehensive exams.
Assessed by all faculty on a thesis committee every four years (2011-Yr. 3)
75%
Administered yearly (2011-Yr. 3)
Comprehensive exam requirement was
eliminated during the 2011-2012 AY.
Instead, an oral presentation of proposed
research is now required.
No
Average 4/5 on item E of student
presentation scoresheet(v3).
Assessed by all faculty on a thesis
Yes
committee every four years (2012/13-Yr. 4).
Presentation adequately referenced thesis
proposal.
Average 4/5 on item E of student
presentation scoresheet (v3).
Performance and student comments
Yes
compiled yearly and assessed by CHEM602 faculty (Dr. Girard and Dr. Fox) every
two years (2013/14-Yr.5).
Adequate citations & use of reference
materials.
Average 4/5 on item E of student
presentation scoresheet (v3).
Data collected when papers assigned,
Yes
typically in 1 course per year. Overall
performance is assessed by advanced
laboratory faculty every four years (2014/15
- Year 6)
Measure Type:
Quiz/ Exam
Evaluation of thesis.
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
Performance on CHEM-602 assignments and student feedback on course content.
Measure Type:
Presentation
Advanced Course Research Paper
Measure Type:
Written Assignment
Related Courses
- CHEM-602 - Research Method Design
Learning Outcome: Present Research
Present research findings in an effective manner, both orally and in writing.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 11/03/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Evaluation of thesis.
Average 4/5 on item G of student
presentation scoresheet (v3).
Assessed by all faculty on a thesis
committee every four years (2012-Yr. 4).
Yes
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
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Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Active
Performance on CHEM-602 assignments and student feedback on course content.
Presentation suitable for thesis proposal
defense.
Average 4/5 on item G of student
presentation scoresheet (v3).
Performance and student comments
compiled yearly and assessed every two
years (2013/14 - Year 5) by CHEM-602
faculty (Dr. Girard and Dr. Fox).
Yes
Measure Type:
Presentation
100% of graduating students attend at least Data tabulated yearly in departmental
Yes
one conference.
database and assessed every 4 years (2014Average 4/5 on item G of student
Yr.6) in departmental meeting.
presentation scoresheet (v3).
External conference participation.
Measure Type:
Presentation
25% of graduating students publish at least Data tabulated yearly in departmental
Yes
one article.
database and assessed every 4 years (2010Yr. 2) by faculty involved on thesis
committees.
Publication in a refereed journal.
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
Related Courses
- CHEM-602 - Research Method Design
Learning Outcome: Instrumentation
Work with high level instrumentation.
Outcome Year: 2012 or prior
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
Start Date: 11/03/2010
Outcome Status: Active Learning Outcome
Assessment Plan
Assessment Method
Target
Schedule/Cycle
Evaluation of thesis.
Average 4/5 on item B of student
presentation scoresheet (v3).
Assessed by all faculty on a thesis
Yes
committee every four years (2012/13-Yr. 4).
Acknowledgment by 80% of students that
similar instrumentation in use at new
location.
Data tabulated yearly in departmental
Yes
database and assessed every 4 years (2011Yr.3) using a 2-year rolling average in
departmental meeting.
80% of students can independently train
undergraduates on more than one major
piece of scientific equipment.
Every 4 years (2016/15 - Year 8) in faculty Yes
meetings.
Measure Type:
Final Paper/ Final Project
Survey of alumni as they finish M.S. and shortly thereafter.
Measure Type:
Survey
Ability to train undergraduates on instrument operation.
Measure Type:
Field Work/ Internship
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Active